Lady Sings the Blues

[MrsWLeach]

I can't believe LIZA MINELLI won over Diana! This movie was WAY better than Caberet

[Starkardur]

@MrsWLeach riiiiight

[OneTrillNigga07]

i was no ms ross fan until i seen this movie.....she definetly was robbed but it was the times were all black actors were robbed after this movie i have a great appreciation for ms ross for introducing me to to billie and keeping black history alive!

[kungblao]

Damn that nigga Billy Dee was a pimp.

[huichol53]

Outstanding Diana, Billie Holliday would be so proud...huichol53......

[morik1]

Steve McQueen wanted Diana for a movie he would make: THE BODYGUARD,

later on, someone else's did it.

[CharlieSanan]

I'm not against Diana at all, I'm just saying that this wasnt Billie's life... nor voice! Diana has her singing style and that's fine with me, but it's nothing like Billie's voice, it's a Billie Holiday movie, it should have been her voice... among other things, some facts are absolutley untrue!

[whatigot2say]

@CharlieSanan well most movies embellish the story of peoples lives to sell tickets. I'm sure this one is no exception in that area.

[PatrickRobinFF]

BEST MOVIE EVERRRRRR!!!!!!! Love my handsome, classy Billy Dee Williams and my stunning, talented Diana Ross!!

[CharlieSanan]

The worst and most unfaithfull biographic movie I have ever seen... It's a shame for Billie Holiday's memory,,,

[whatigot2say]

@CharlieSanan it kept that old cows memory alive.. she'd be a forgotten nobody if Ross didn't inject some life into her tired existence. Ross introduced her to millions of people who would have never known anything about her had she not done the film. Ross greatest struggle was not to allow her own talent and charisma to completely obliterate Holiday's memory.

[CharlieSanan]

@whatigot2say i'm sorry you think that, she will never be a forgotten nobody, with or without this "movie", she will always be remembered as one of the best, if not the best jazz singer in history, anyways all you people talk about here is how great Diana Ross was... I don't see much comments on Billie's life...

[whatigot2say]

@CharlieSanan ok maybe I over did it on the forgotten nobody comments, BH is still considered to be one of the worlds greatest singers. People are making comments about how great Ross was in this flick because she gave one of the great all time acting performances in film. Ross thinks Holiday was great at least that what she says everytime she's asked about her.

[friendofthefunk]

@whatigot2say Wow that was an idiotic comment even by YouTube standards. And that's saying a lot.

[whatigot2say]

@friendofthefunk & what comment would that be? i've posted many. all of them more enlightening than the one before it.

[TheLizzie12]

@CharlieSanan When LSTB was released many of us who were teenagers at the time had grown up with and loved Diana but we had no idea who Billie was (sorry!). We flocked to see the film but whatever you think of Diana and the biopic's innacuracies, a positive outcome was that we were introduced to Billie (even if my paperback copy of the resissue of her LSTB bio had Diana as Billie on the cover!). So we learned about Lady Day, and discovered her music via Miss Ross. No shame there.

[whatigot2say]

@LAwoman1956 those similarities that you speak of were intentional on Jacko's part. He spent decades Imitating her even though he surpassed her professionally.

[2toofine]

My favorite movie!!!!

[TheLizzie12]

If Diana had won the Oscar, would her movie career have turned out differently? Probably not. As a teenager in the 70s I was a HUGE fan and colleected press cuttings of movie projects announced for her, and some of them were pretty awful: a musical remake of Breakfast at Tiffany's (playing a hooker), a remake of Born Yesterday (playing the "dumb" Billie Dawn) etc. Oscar or no, Diana should have made the Josephine Baker story. That was her destiny. Re: Liza, her movie career didn't last either.

[whatigot2say]

@TheLizzie12 she was offered and turned down The Body Guard even after many serious attempts to convince her to take the role. she refused. Whitney Houston didn't refuse... and the rest is history.

[morik1]

@whatigot2say The Bodyguard was a project Steve McQueen wanted to film with Diana in the 70's. Unfortunately he died in 1980. Miss Ross had in mind making a French film remake called DIVA for many years.I would have loved seeing her in that one.

[Patrickibens]

@morik1 I thought it was Ryan O'Neil instead of Steve McQueen.

[morik1]

@Patrickibens Ryan O'Neil was considered for the part after Steve McQueen refused to be billed second to Ross. The new project fell through due to irreconcilable difference in the relationship of the two stars

[WhiteFlowerLei76]

Its interesting to me that both Diana Ross and Whitney Houston have made about the same number of films and then they just stopped making movies. They should make a film together.

[whatigot2say]

@WhiteFlowerLei76 diana says she probably won't do another film again in her career. looks like her ship has sailed. she's pushing 70.. Whitney couldn't stay sober long enough to learn her lines or take direction on the set. her ship has sailed too.

[morik1]

@whatigot2say Diana had an outstanding debut in films, unfortunately her follow ups were not as good as LSTB. She should have chosen best scripts and best directors. Whitney could have been a major movie star but.....we all know how the story went on. I just read Beyonce is about to star a new version of A Star Is Born directed by Clint Eastwood himself. I wonder who's gonna be her leading man.

[whatigot2say]

@morik1 diana is the most talented as an actress of those 3 but will never do another film her time is past, whitney was a below average actress, beyonce is the new black diva on the throne, although she seems to be a mediocre actress she's young and beautiful and popular and no doubt would generate huge ticket sales.

[morik1]

@whatigot2say I'm not a Beyonce fan (Diana is irreplaceable, and janet comes second) but I must admit she's extremely talented and gifted as singer, and with a big potential to develop as an actress. Check out CADILLAC RECORDS , every film critic praised her performance as Etta James in it. I think a ggod director (Eastwood in this case) would bring out the best of her.

[MJRookieRook]

I love this movie !!!!

[THEmotownboy]

"...you want my arm to fall off?".....

[egogo816]

@musiclover77able well actually i was praising diana because she deserved to win for Lady sings the Blues....Liza's role was campy....Diana was not....therefore Diana should have won....but it's ok racist hater...I see you...haha!!!!

[Giharl21]

@musiclover77able , dude you need to grow up and stop bringing color up. I never once mentioned Diana's color. For that simple fact your entire rant is ignorant and pointless. And if you had taken the time to stop and read my comment before. You would have realized that I gave Diana her due, and said she gave a great performance.

[korky]

Is it possible to get this trailer? I would pay for it?

[ComoLaFlorr]

it doesnt mather whether she had win the osca or not she was amazing! she walked away with an nomination !! thats amazing too

[Celluloidkid]

The same year, Motown released a successful soundtrack double-album of Ross' recordings of Billie Holiday songs from the film, also titled Lady Sings the Blues. The album became one of the Number-one albums of 1973 (U.S.) in the Billboard Hot 200 Album Charts, in the weeks of April 7 and 14, 1973.

[Celluloidkid]

It was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning none.

The nominations were for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Diana Ross), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Carl Anderson, Reg Allen), Best Costume Design, Best Music, Original Song Score and Adaptation (Gil Askey) and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced.

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

Regarding Diana's vocal depiction of Billie, it should be noted that many times during the soundtrack's recording sessions, the musicians-many of whom had played with Billie-would erupt into thunderous applause at the end of takes, her recordings were so good.

If THOSE GUYS lauded her interpretations, 'nuff said. They're a helluva more qualified than anyone else to make any critiques about Diana's performances.:)

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

It should be noted that despite the bickering amongst their "fans", Diana & Liza have been great friends for nearly 40 years. Diana was Liza's bridesmaid at her wedding to what's-his-name, proving once again that great stars are usually far more mature than their "fans".:)

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

Diana Ross lost the Oscar for two reasons:Berry Gordy & H'wood politics.

BG STUPIDLY began a mega-campaign to get the trophy, posting massive billboards, full page ads in trade mags, inviting voters to dinners & giving them gifts, etc., making it IMPOSSIBLE for them to vote for her, as her win would have looked bought & paid for. Many of the voters were Judy fans who wanted to make up for not giving her the Oscar she deserved for "A Star Is Born", etc.

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

These anonymous online "critics" always find their way to Diana's clips, just to bash her, don't they? Hmmmm...I guess that's actually a good thing in that it shows that they see her mere presence as enough of a threat to their chosen idols that they have to post disparaging comments about her, as if doing so will make their "star" look "better", when, in fact, it has the opposite effect, reflecting poorly on their idols.

[mangopaper]

People who watched this movie were looking at what saying Ross deserved an Oscar? She skinned and grinned the entire movie. She acted like she was doing the Diana Ross life story. She should have been sued by the screen actors guild.

[smoker954]

I couldn't see how did not get the

acadamy award for this role....still today, i can't understand why....

[sfb001]

smoker954,

The answer to that is simple, she was up against Liza Minnelli for her lead in Cabaret, there was no way Diana was going to win against Minnelli! Minnelli owned the year with her portrayal as Sally Bowles. Besides Diana's portrayal of Billie Holiday was horrible-a great deal of rubbish really. Horrible film. All lies. She should have been banned from films after this performance.

[andydiana]

Diana was AMAZING in LSTB!!!! It wasnt Diana's fault about the story, one thing thing she was outstanding, the drug scenes are remarkable!!!! Minnelli even said the oscar was going to DIANA ROSS!!!

[chalik360]

I remember the first time I saw this movie... I had to have been 9. It realy scared me then, Great film. The trailer shouldve introduced Billy Dee and Richard Pryor as well.. they showcased Diana didnt they?

[smithty01]

the shoot up scene where she threatned too kill her lover, the padded drug withdrawal scene, the haunting way she brought billie holidays songs too life was amazing and Diana Ross truely deserved the Academy Award for this is one of the greatest debut performaces on any movie screen, sorry Liza! Even her comments were...."one word for OSCARS...DIANA ROSS!"

[Giharl21]

She looked and sounded nothing like Billy Holiday, and the story was completely wrong. In a sense it's not really even a biopic once you take in to acount how much they got wrong, but that doesn't change the fact that Diana Ross was amazing this film. She didn't deserve the Oscar over Liza though, that's an iconic performance.

[andydiana]

Diana said herself she didnt want to copy Billie's voice, she knew she didnt sound like her. What Diana did was giver her take on Billies life. Outstanding performance, should have walked away with the Acadamy award

[NJNupe1911]

Sissy Spacek looked NOTHING LIKE LORETTA LYNN. AND LIP SYNCHED MOVIE AND STILL WIN THE OSCAR. Bottom line Diana didn't win because of politics..Liza Minelli's father was a part of the old Hollywood, and her MOM WAS JUDY GARLAND..NUFF SAID.

[Giharl21]

I'm pretty sure that the story to a Coal Miners Daughter was atleast somewhat accurate and truthful to Loretta Lynns life, whereas Lady Sings The Blues was a false and exagerated depiction of Billy Holidays life. Which is why it's generally viewed as nothing more than a soap opera drama. Caberet, although they changed the story a bit, generally stayed faithful to the original stage play. Adding to that, Sally was not Lizas first role, Billy was for Diana, one good role doesn't mean an oscar.

[mary71257]

Love this movie, it is one of my favorites....

[Nazzo6]

deanriam you big homo grow up.. "Over LIZZZZA"..LMAO.. you must be some cackliong Queen... Liza was NEVER Judy.. she wasn't even ehrslef, her depth escapes me, her voice well, that WARBLE with rasp... Oh Shit... Go kick up your Chorus Line heels somewhere else...

[gjmf]

Please, someone who share this movie on ares...

[andydiana]

BREATHTAKING PERFORMANCE by Miss Ross!!!! She should have walked away with the Oscar!!! GREAT FILM!!!

[egogo816]

I know as much as I loved Liza for winning the oscar for Cabaret....Ross's role as Billie Holiday was not as campy as Cabaret

[komjj14]

I can't count how many times I've watched this movie. Diana Ross was robbed by the Academy ... she should have won the Oscar for her performance.

[deanriam]

Over Liza Minnelli? LMAO!

[califgirl101]

@komjj14 I agree totally!

[LiquidSolidRaiden]

@komjj14 True, she was definitely robbed, so was Angela Basset for "Whats Love Got To Do With It".

[armanisilk]

My favorite movie of all time!

[saanzacs]

Diana Ross's career-best performance to date!

[deanriam]

As if that's saying much.