Diana Ross made a creditable acting debut here in the role of real-life legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. Billie managed to overcome humbling beginnings - working as both a maid and prostitute - before making her mark with her great voice and natural entertaining ability. She also finds the love of her life with the slick Louis McKay (Billy Dee Williams). Unfortunately, Billies' life and promising career are derailed after she becomes a drug addict. With the love and support of Louis and her loyal friend "Piano Man" (Richard Pryor), she works to beat the addiction and give her career a second shot.
Despite not really looking or sounding like Lady Day, Ross delivers a show-stopping performance; while it may be a matter of personal taste, this viewer at least commends how obviously deeply committed Ross was to the part. The affable Williams is an endearing love interest, and Pryor here got a rare chance to show off his dramatic abilities by delivering an excellent supporting performance. A steady supply of familiar faces in other supporting roles (James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton, Sid Melton, Virginia Capers, Isabel Sanford, Ned Glass, Milton Selzer, Jester Hairston, Scatman Crothers, etc.) further aids in the entertainment value.
Granted, this viewer does understand that this is often pure Hollywood treatment of a true story, with quite a bit of dramatic license taken. Which is why films such as this should really just be taken for what they are: entertainment, although the material on hand may motivate interested viewers in digging into the real Billie Holiday tale. It's basically adequately directed, by Sidney J. Furie, a veteran journeyman filmmaker with some gems on his resume and some not-so-hot efforts. At 144 minutes, "Lady Sings the Blues" feels a little unwieldy, and could have been edited down a little, but at least the audience does get some sense of the impact that Holiday had in her chosen genre. One debit is the incidental score by Michel Legrand, which in no way compares to the standards performed by Ross and the bands here.
Ross and Williams were reunited for the film "Mahogany" three years later.
Seven out of 10.
Despite not really looking or sounding like Lady Day, Ross delivers a show-stopping performance; while it may be a matter of personal taste, this viewer at least commends how obviously deeply committed Ross was to the part. The affable Williams is an endearing love interest, and Pryor here got a rare chance to show off his dramatic abilities by delivering an excellent supporting performance. A steady supply of familiar faces in other supporting roles (James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton, Sid Melton, Virginia Capers, Isabel Sanford, Ned Glass, Milton Selzer, Jester Hairston, Scatman Crothers, etc.) further aids in the entertainment value.
Granted, this viewer does understand that this is often pure Hollywood treatment of a true story, with quite a bit of dramatic license taken. Which is why films such as this should really just be taken for what they are: entertainment, although the material on hand may motivate interested viewers in digging into the real Billie Holiday tale. It's basically adequately directed, by Sidney J. Furie, a veteran journeyman filmmaker with some gems on his resume and some not-so-hot efforts. At 144 minutes, "Lady Sings the Blues" feels a little unwieldy, and could have been edited down a little, but at least the audience does get some sense of the impact that Holiday had in her chosen genre. One debit is the incidental score by Michel Legrand, which in no way compares to the standards performed by Ross and the bands here.
Ross and Williams were reunited for the film "Mahogany" three years later.
Seven out of 10.