La venere nera

In the early 20th century there weren't many avenues of success for Black people in America. Josephine Baker found that out early and made a break for it and went to France. She was going to do things her way no matter what whether that meant dancing semi-nude, or coming back to America to perform, or adopting twelve kids. That was both good and bad. It helped her rise to the heights she rose to and it also caused her to fall as hard as she fell. When she wasn't appreciated in the U.S. for her talents, she took them overseas to France and became a sensation. France was far more progressive and tolerant than the U.S. and wasn't threatened by a Black woman's talents.

Not many people go out on top in sports and entertainment and Ms. Baker was no exception. Fortunately, she wasn't undone by drugs and alcohol like so many. If anything, her biggest impedance was her own stubbornness and good ol' American racism.

Some outstanding performances here by Whitfield, Blades, Gossett, and others in this overly long biography of an important, outspoken, and controversial African American woman, who was years ahead of her time. It was quite a revelation to see how African Americans were treated in St. Louis and in New York in the decades before the civil rights advances of the 50's and 60's. We all know about the history of the South, but in many places up North, things were nearly as difficult for minorities in the 1930's and 40's.

The story of Josephine Baker had to be told since so many of us are not familiar with her achievements. And HBO and the cast did an outstanding job doing so. The movie was entertaining and sexual, eye-opening and thought provoking. It covered American society as well as French and even gave us some insights into Josephine's heroics and patriotism during WWII and her push for equality of the races in the U.S. military. I would have preferred to see the movie end while Josephine was at the top and still young, rather than drag on with her numerous adoptions and comeback attempts. That's why it was not a major motion picture.....too long and drawn out for theater audiences.

A good movie to watch at home while putting away the laundry or brushing the dog.

This is not a great movie, it's barely a good movie, just scraping across the average line. However, mainly in part to a fantastic leading performance from Lynn Whitfield makes this an enthralling, if very abbreviated, encapsulation of Josephine Baker's life. Baker is not a performer I have much knowledge of so this was massively educational as well as entertaining. It certainly makes me want to find out more about Josephine and delve into her back catalogue of music and film. The story telling is disjointed and some of the characters seem unrealistic even though they are on actual persons. Thankfully, the performances of the stunning Lynn Whitfield and Louis Gossett Jr make this a great watch and one I will return to again in the future.

An entertaining and informative film about Josephine Baker, the well-known dancer who subsequently became a leading civil rights campaigner. Lynn Whitfield is quite a bit lighter-skinned than the real Josephine Baker, but she still gives an excellent performance (although the end credits do acknowledge the use of a 'dance double'). Understandably, the film does simplify some aspects of Josephine's life (particularly her complex private life). Louis Gossett and Ruben Blades are also excellent in supporting roles. One minor criticism (only added because my original wording was too short for IMDB) is that the film devotes a bit too much time to the notorious racist journalist and broadcaster Walter Winchell.

Rags to riches, in which Lynn Whitfield's exhibitionism rivals that of the woman she portrays. Whitfield fills her character with purpose and determination, and her feud with Walter Winchell is well done. However the routine showbiz bio formula is hard to enliven. I love the stuff about her adopted children (what a great way to spend a fortune!) but it was more touching as described in the documentary "Chasing a Rainbow."