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Movies / On DVD / Lady Sings the Blues
Lady Sings the Blues

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Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

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75 %
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Reviews Counted:12

Fresh:9

Rotten:3

Average Rating:6.7/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Diana Ross made her film debut opposite Billy Dee Williams in this romantic biopic. LADY SINGS THE BLUES captures the essence of Billie Holliday in this semi-biographic sketch of the tragic life of... Diana Ross made her film debut opposite Billy Dee Williams in this romantic biopic. LADY SINGS THE BLUES captures the essence of Billie Holliday in this semi-biographic sketch of the tragic life of the famous blues singer. Academy Award Nominations: 5, including Best Actress--Diana Ross, Best (Original) Screenplay, Best Song Score. [More]

Starring: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James Callahan

Starring: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James Callahan, Paul Hampton, Sid Melton, Virginia Capers, Scatman Crothers

Director: Sidney J. Furie

Director: Sidney J. Furie
Producer: Jay Weston, James S. White
Screenwriter: Terence McCloy, Chris Clark, Suzanne De Passe
Composer: Michel Legrand

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Lady Sings the Blues

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1 - 14 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
N/R

Geoff Andrew

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 03:50 AM

Time Out

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 24 2003 08:18 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato
3/4

View this film about Billie Holiday as a completely fictional story, and you'll enjoy it far more than you would otherwise.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 03 2006 11:45 AM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato
4/5

Robert Roten

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 03 2006 01:27 PM

Laramie Movie Scope

tomato
4/5

Cole Smithey

Ross so perfectly captures the essence of Billie Holiday’s vocal style that it sends chills down your spine.

comment Comment | Jan., 25 2006 09:27 AM

ColeSmithey.com

tomato

Douglas Pratt

Ross conveys the vulnerability and determination of her character across a very believable arc of maturation.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 24 2006 03:15 AM

Hollywood Reporter

splat
2/4

Eric Henderson

Berry Gordy's gift to Diana Ross was this lavish, bloated Billie Holiday biopic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 28 2005 07:27 AM

Slant Magazine

splat
3/5

Don Willmott

Ross and director Sidney J. Furie seem to feel that the slower the song, the more serious the mood, so at times the film seems to be grinding almost to a halt

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 07 2005 08:29 PM

Filmcritic.com

tomato
3/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 29 2005 08:23 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

splat
2.5/5

Vincent Canby

How is it possible for a movie that is otherwise so dreadful to contain such a singularly attractive performance in the title role?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 09 2005 03:16 AM

New York Times

tomato
3/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment Comment | Mar., 18 2005 12:22 PM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

tomato
3/5

Steve Crum

Great score, great singing, but overdramatic thanks to Ross.

comment Comment | Nov., 01 2004 08:58 PM

Kansas City Kansan

tomato
3/4

Roger Ebert

The movie is filled with many of the great Billie Holiday songs, and Ross handles them in an interesting way. She doesn't sing in her own style, and she never tries to imitate Holiday, but she sings somehow in the manner of Holiday.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 23 2004 10:38 PM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato

Dave Kehr

Clearly, it's an affront to Holiday's art, but just as clearly, it's a good piece of low entertainment.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

Chicago Reader

 
 
1 - 14 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Lady Sings the Blues

December 12, 2005: Richard Pryor Passes Away at 65
Richard Pryor passed away yesterday morning, and while he's probably best remembered for his incendiary stand-up material (as evidenced in 1979's "Live in Concert,"... More...

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