Vintage African-American musical with wonderful songs , marvellous dances and good cast with reputable singers . The story is well known , though this time replacing characters as a deserter soldier , a boxer and the cigarette-maker with a rose instead of a fag between her teeth is transformed into a parachute factory worker . As the romance with GI Joe is interrupted by Harlem's equivalent of the toreador , a boxer .Being freely based on Prosper Merinee's fine old tale of high passion and low morals.
It is filled with music , dances , ringing tunes and emotive power , being an Oscar Hammerstein's all-black Broadway rendition of Bizet's Carmen , including fine actors, such as the good-looking Harry Belafonte , the sexy dynamic Dorothy Dandridge and supported by Pearl Bailey who enjoys her coolest movie hour . It seems to be a shame that Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge , both notorious singers , were not allowed to use their own voces, but their acting are alright on the ball . Outstanding some attractive songs , such as : Stand up and fight until you hear the Bell, and That's love, originally Habanera , along with the lushly familiar score with catching voices from Marilyn Horne and Laverne Hutchinson .
The picture was well staged and compellingly directed by Otto Preminger who got a triumphant filmmaking . However , somewhat heavy-handed direction leave you admiring the workmanship with no plucking at the necessary emotional and romantic heart-strings . Otto Preminger was a prestigious actor and filmmaker directing good films in alll kinds of genres , such as : Moon is Blue , Man with the Golden Arm, Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, Saint Joan, Advise and consent , Anatomy of a murder , The Cardinal, Exodus , Rosebud , among others . Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent movie with spectacular musical numbers . The picture will appeal to musical genre aficionados as well as Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge fans .
It is filled with music , dances , ringing tunes and emotive power , being an Oscar Hammerstein's all-black Broadway rendition of Bizet's Carmen , including fine actors, such as the good-looking Harry Belafonte , the sexy dynamic Dorothy Dandridge and supported by Pearl Bailey who enjoys her coolest movie hour . It seems to be a shame that Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge , both notorious singers , were not allowed to use their own voces, but their acting are alright on the ball . Outstanding some attractive songs , such as : Stand up and fight until you hear the Bell, and That's love, originally Habanera , along with the lushly familiar score with catching voices from Marilyn Horne and Laverne Hutchinson .
The picture was well staged and compellingly directed by Otto Preminger who got a triumphant filmmaking . However , somewhat heavy-handed direction leave you admiring the workmanship with no plucking at the necessary emotional and romantic heart-strings . Otto Preminger was a prestigious actor and filmmaker directing good films in alll kinds of genres , such as : Moon is Blue , Man with the Golden Arm, Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, Saint Joan, Advise and consent , Anatomy of a murder , The Cardinal, Exodus , Rosebud , among others . Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent movie with spectacular musical numbers . The picture will appeal to musical genre aficionados as well as Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge fans .