News

“SNL” revived its beloved “Black Jeopardy” sketch for its 50th anniversary, except this time with Eddie Murphy playing Tracy Morgan.

In the sketch, Kenan Thompson returned as the host of “Black Jeopardy,” introducing the sketch by saying “Welcome to ‘Black Jeopardy,’ the only ‘Jeopardy’ where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance,” referencing Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show at last week’s Super Bowl.

Leslie Jones also returned as Shanice alongside Morgan, who played a man named Darius, and Murphy, who played “Tracy Morgan.”

“Darius, Tracy, y’all seem like you might be related,” Thompson said, though Murphy’s Morgan immediately rejected the idea, saying “Well, James Earl Jones is my biological father. James Earl Jones impregnated my mother on the set of ‘Claudine.’ You know what? We might be related.”

Still, Morgan, said, “I don’t see it.”

Black Jeopardy! #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/QFKKTRWeer

— Saturday Night Live...

“Black Jeopardy,” one of Kenan Thompson’s most popular recurring “Saturday Night Live” sketches, came back to 30 Rock during the show’s 50th anniversary special on Sunday. As usual, Thompson played host Darnell Hayes aka Alex Treblack, with contestants being played by former cast members Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and, most notably, Eddie Murphy.

The biggest laughs were earned by Murphy, who did an impression of Morgan, while Morgan played a man named Darius and Jones played a woman named Shanice.

“Welcome to ‘Black Jeopardy,’ the only ‘Jeopardy’ where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance,” Thompson said, opening the sketch with a reference to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl appearance.

As Thompson introduced him, Murphy called out, “Big dog gonna make some big money!” in an exaggerated put-on of Morgan’s voice.

“Now wait a minute, Tracy. Don’t you already have a lot of money?” Thompson asked him.

On Tuesday January 28 2025, MyNetworkTV broadcasts Divorce Court!

Claudine Terry vs. Mikhjia Terry Season 26 Episode 92 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Divorce Court,” titled “Claudine Terry vs. Mikhjia Terry,” promises to be an engaging hour of courtroom drama. Judge Star Jones will be at the helm, bringing her wisdom and experience to the proceedings. As always, she will listen carefully to both sides of the story, making sure that all voices are heard.

In this episode, Claudine and Mikhjia Terry will present their case, highlighting the challenges they have faced in their relationship. The couple will discuss their differences and the emotional toll that their disputes have taken on them. Viewers can expect to see a mix of tension and heartfelt moments as they navigate their issues in front of the judge.

Judge Jones is known for her fair approach and insightful guidance. She will likely offer advice and perspective that...

Cynthia Erivo made Oscar history on Thursday morning with her Best Actress bid for Wicked. She is now only the second Black female performer to receive multiple bids in this category, after Viola Davis.

Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West, in director Jon M. Chu‘s big-budget adaptation of the beloved Broadway stage musical. Wicked actually marks her second Best Actress mention after Harriet (2019), for which she also earned a Best Song bid for “Stand Up” (cowritten with Joshuah Brian Campbell). Wicked received 10 Oscar nominations this year, including for Erivo’s supporting co-star Ariana Grande.

Davis was the first to accomplish such a feat, thanks to her double Best Actress Oscar bids for The Help (2011) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). While she lost both of those contests, she did win the Best Supporting Actress prize for Fences (2016); she also had a prior bid in that...

In Marc Forster's 2001 drama "Monster's Ball," Halle Berry plays Leticia Musgrove, a woman at the end of her rope. Her husband has been convicted of murder and is executed by the state of Georgia early in the film. Leticia is trying to put her life back together when her son Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun) is hit by a car and dies. Leticia can only find comfort in the arms of a gruff prison warden named Hank (Billy Bob Thornton), whose own son (Heath Ledger) recently died by suicide. What Leticia doesn't know, however, is that Hank oversaw her husband's execution. It's all very complicated, but handled tactfully and with the utmost sensitivity. "Monster's Ball" is a pretty great film.

Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress for playing Leticia at the 2002 Academy Awards ceremony, beating out Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Sissy Spacek, and Renée Zellweger. Her victory was well-deserved.

She...

There are several members of the A Different World cast who have died - and the actors who have passed away after appearing on the NBC sitcom shows how high the caliber of talent in the show truly was. Airing between 1987 and 1993, A Different World was a spin-off of The Cosby Show that went on to gain a solid following in its own right. Jasmine Guy led the cast as Whitley Gilbert-Wayne, and the show followed her life at the fictional Hillman College.

In the years following the cancelation of the 1990s sitcom A Different World in 1993, several former cast members have passed away. Some were recurring presences on the show, whereas others were guest stars who only appeared in single episodes. However, each member of the A Different World cast who has died left with an incredible career behind them, highlighting how important the performances of the actors in...

Chicago – On September 9th 2024, the world lost an icon of acting, voice work and pop culture stardom. The great James Earl Jones passed away at age 93, after a career of prominent statute, memorable characters and a voice to a generation through Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King” (both versions). Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took an Exclusive Portrait of Jones in 1993 during a Chicago book tour.

Jones was born in Mississippi, and was raised in Michigan by his maternal grandparents. His estranged father became an film actor, and they reconciled in the 1950s. Jones graduated from the University of Michigan as a drama major, and after a stint in the military made his major Broadway debut in 1958 as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s butler in “Sunrise at Campobello.”

James Earl Jones in Chicago, 1993

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

He shifted to Shakespearian roles thereafter,...

Lee Daniels is anything but typical. He’s made sobering character studies (“Precious”), historical and political epics (“The Butler”), and even supernatural horror films (“The Deliverance”), so when it comes to his choices in the Criterion Closet, it’s not surprising to learn his range of influence would be so eclectic. Daniels himself calls the space a “candy store” at the top of his video, signaling a visit that will see him lean into his varied taste and take home selections that encompass Italian surrealism, the work of John Waters, and 1950s noir. First in the bag for Daniels was Essential Fellini, a box set that features 14 of the beloved filmmaker’s work.

“Fellini is my god, my hero,” said Daniels. “Fellini made it possible for me to think that I was a filmmaker because none of his stuff makes sense really, at the end of the day, but it does make sense.

The sad passing of James Earl Jones marks the passing of the greatest voice that film and TV has ever heard, along with one of the greatest performers of all time. From his iconic roles as Darth Vader and Mufasa, James Earl Jones's voice was present in most people's lives, providing them with entertainment, fear, and lessons in right and wrong. His role in The Big Bang Theory is a testament to his kind and humble persona, able to laugh at himself and embrace the love of fans. His illustrious career saw him do everything, from debuting on the screen in Dr. Strangelove, to breaking down racial barriers in Claudine. However, what many may not know is that Jones, a legendary voice actor, couldnt speak for eight years after developing a stutter as a child. His approach to his stutter, how he viewed, embraced and overcame it, speaks to Jones'...

The late, great James Earl Jones passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93, leaving behind a massive artistic legacy, not to mention shelves and shelves full of acting awards. Jones began acting professionally in the late 1950s, appearing on stage in a production of "Sunrise at Campobello," moving to film in 1964 with Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb." Jones continued to act on stage, on TV, and in movies all the way through 2021, when he made his final film appearance in Craig Brewer's "Coming 2 America." 

A sequel to John Landis' 1988 comedy "Coming to America," "Coming 2 America" returned to the fictional country of Zamunda, which was overseen by the wealthy and intense King Jaffe Joffer (Jones). The comedy was derived from Zamunda's prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) going to New York City to look for a potential bride; the women in Zamunda,...

The legendary actor and voice behind Darth Vader has passed away at the age of 93.

One of the worlds finest actors has left us, as actor James Earl Jones has sadly passed away at the age of 93 in his home in Dutchess County, New York. Jones had an incredibly long career, spanning multiple decades in theater and film. He was loved not only by fans of his films but also by his fellow actors and actresses. Mark Hamill posted a tribute to the actor on X simply stating #Rip dad, referring to Jones's voice-acting role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise.

#Rip dad https://t.co/YXpFoBb2Ua Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) September 9, 2024

Related Star Wars: Ahsoka Is Now an Emmy-Winning Series

Star Wars: Ahsoka has officially become an Emmy-winning show.

James Earl Jones Will Be Remembered as a Legendary Actor

Born on January 17, 1931, in the small town of Arkabutla,...

Legendary star of stage and screen James Earl Jones has passed away at the age of 93, it has been confirmed. The Egot winning actor, whose inimitable baritone brought life to the likes of The Lion King's Mufasa and Star Wars villain Darth Vader, died this morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York, Jones’ representatives shared with Deadline.

Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi on 17 January, 1931 to Ruth and Robert Earl Jones, it may surprise you to learn that James Earl Jones — one of the great masters of oration across film, TV, and theatre — overcame great struggles to gain control of his voice as a child. Having moved from Mississippi to Michigan to live with his maternal grandparents at just 5 years of age, Jones grew up with a profound stutter, and has in the past gone on record describing how he was all but mute throughout primary and early secondary school.

This is news you never want to hear: The great James Earl Jones passed away at 93. The Oscar and Emmy-winning actor became as known for his voice as he was for his commanding presence. While he gained accolades for leading films like 1970’s The Great White Hope and voicing Darth Vader, one of the greatest villains of all time, it turns out his amazing career started out on soap operas.

Started Out on Soaps

James Earl Jones was a groundbreaking Black actor from day one when he replaced future fellow Star Wars icon Billy Dee Williams on the daytime serial Guiding Light. On the CBS soap, he starred as Dr. Jim Frazier, while the late great actress Ruby Dee played Jones’s wife.

The ex-military man joined soaps after he left the Army and after he studied acting at the American Theatre Wing. He also appeared on Gl’s sister daytime drama,...

James Earl Jones, a commanding presence onscreen who nonetheless gained greater fame off-camera as the sonorous voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and Mufasa, the benevolent leader in The Lion King, died Monday. He was 93.

Jones, who burst into national prominence in 1970 with his powerful Oscar-nominated performance as America’s first Black heavyweight champion in The Great White Hope, died at his home in Dutchess County, New York, Independent Artist Group announced.

The distinguished star made his big-screen debut in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) and was noteworthy in many other films, including Claudine (1974) opposite Diahann Carroll; Field of Dreams (1989), as the reclusive author Terence Mann; and The Sandlot (1993), as the intimidating neighborhood guy Mr. Mertle.

For his work on the stage, Jones earned two best actor Tony Awards: for originating the role of Jack Jefferson — who was...

James Earl Jones, the renowned actor of stage and screen who lent his booming, inimitable voice to Darth Vader and The Lion King, died Monday morning at the age of 93.

Jones died at his home in Duchess County, New York, with his family surrounding him, the actor’s representatives at Independent Artist Group confirmed to Rolling Stone. No cause of death was given.

In the decades before venturing off to “a galaxy far, far away,” Jones was a Tony-winning Broadway star, first winning Best Actor in 1970 for his role of...

Very sad news to report today as it has been confirmed that James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93. The actor is best known for providing the iconic voice of Darth Vader throughout the Star Wars franchise, but that’s really only scratching the surface of his incredible legacy. A huge loss.

For an actor known for his deep, commanding voice, it’s remarkable that he struggled with speaking at an early age. When he was just five years old, he was sent to live with his grandparents in Michigan. The experience was so traumatic that he developed a severe stutter that led to him refusing to speak. “I was a stutterer. I couldn’t talk,” Jones explained. “So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school.” The actor credited his English teacher, Donald Crouch,...

James Earl Jones, the Egot-winning actor known for voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise for four decades, has died at age 93.

Jones passed away at his home in Dutchess County, New York, on Monday, September 9th, according to the actor’s representatives.

The son of actor and boxer Robert Earl Jones, James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi on January 17th, 1931. His father left the family shortly after his birth, and Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents in Michigan from the age of five. Jones found the transition to living with his grandparents so traumatic that he developed a stutter and spent his time in school mute. He credited his high school English teacher, Donald Crouch, for helping him with his stutter; Crouch discovered Jones had a talent for poetry, and encouraged him to read his work aloud in class.

After graduating high school in 1949, Jones attended the University of Michigan,...

Forget the rivalry rumors, y’all! Star Wars legend James Earl Jones shuts down competition rumors with Morgan Freeman. Respecting Freeman’s talent, Jones insists their styles are pretty distinct. The Star Wars voice actor’s own deep, iconic tone—the one that brought Darth Vader to life—is simply one-of-a-kind, and Freeman is no less.

James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer in Coming 2 America | Paramount Pictures

This refreshing perspective from a Hollywood voice icon reminds us: There’s room for multiple unforgettable voices to narrate our world.

Morgan Freeman and James Earl Jones Celebrate Unique Narration Styles Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd from the movie The Shawshank Redemption | Castle Rock Entertainment

Morgan Freeman, the voice of God himself, and James Earl Jones, the man behind Darth Vader’s iconic breathing? Rivals? In a recent interview with the New York Times, the voice artist shuts down whispers of competition between him and Freeman,...

by Cláudio Alves

Last weekend, on Mother's Day of all days, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore celebrated its 50th anniversary. The occasion calls for some acknowledgment here at The Film Experience, where actressexual Oscar obsessives abound. After all, Ellen Burstyn won the Best Actress race at the 47th Academy Awards, triumphing over what could be described as the greatest lineup in the category's history. Along with the eventual victor, AMPAS nominated Diahann Carroll in Claudine, Faye Dunaway in Chinatown, Valerie Perrine in Lenny, and Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence. They might have also nominated Liv Ullmann in Scenes from a Marriage had she been eligible, but we'll get there in time.

As Faye Dunaway presents a new doc at Cannes, the stars have aligned to relitigate the 1974 Best Actress race. Are you ready? Let's go…...

Diahann Carroll supported Shirley Chisholm in her historic 1972 presidential campaign in the Netflix political biopic Shirley. Amirah Vann portrays Diahann Carroll in Shirley. Carroll is known for her groundbreaking role in Julia, the first show to star a black woman in a non-stereotypical role. Carroll, a trailblazing actress, received multiple awards throughout her career and had a lasting impact on representation in television.

Actress Diahann Carroll was briefly portrayed in the Netflix political biopic Shirley. Carroll is shown supporting Shirley Chisholm's historic 1972 presidential campaign in the film as she became the first black woman to ever run for President of the United States. Carroll is one of many real-life figures portrayed in Shirley's cast, which also includes depictions of Congresswoman Barbara Lee and prominent attorney Robert C. Gottlieb, both of whom had been early supporters of Chisholm's trailblazing political efforts.

Carroll is portrayed by Amirah Vann in Shirley, who is...

Over the course of her career, Gina Prince-Bythewood has proven she can do it all. Across five films and roughly 20 years, she had made an enduring romantic sports story, a southern family drama, a pop star star-crossed romance, a superhero fantasy action film, and a feminist historical epic. And with every new genre the filmmaker has ticked off her list, Prince-Bythewood has shown a mastery for its particularities every time.

Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Pacific Grove, California, Prince-Bythewood attended University of California in Los Angeles, where she studied film and graduated in 1991. After several years as a writer on TV shows like “A Different World” and “South Central,” her first film, 2000’s “Love and Basketball,” was released to critical acclaim. The story of two childhood best friends with a shared love for basketball — and a chronicle of their tumultuous relationship through the years as they both seek...

Ava DuVernay has only made five narrative features, but she’s one of the busiest women in Hollywood.

Before 2023, the California-born filmmaker’s last feature was her “A Wrinkle in Time” adaptation, released in theaters in 2018 — a five-year gap between releases that’s partially attributable to projects that sputtered in development like DC’s “New Gods” film and a Prince biopic. And yet, DuVernay has remained a constant presence during that relatively long gap, translating her numerous talents to producing and TV work. She created and directed the acclaimed Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” about the controversial Central Park Five case. Several other TV projects followed, including OWN’s “Cherish the Day,” Netflix’s “Colin in Black and White,” and The CW’s “Naomi.” But while many of those projects have been terrific, it’s great to see the director of great films like “Middle of Nowhere” and “Selma...

Exactly 20 years after he made history as the first Black performer to win a Golden Globe for a multi-part limited series, Jeffrey Wright is widely expected to triumph on his second general notice from the same organization. According to Gold Derby’s odds, he is the frontrunner in the 2024 Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor race based on his work in “American Fiction,” which is also set to compete for Best Comedy/Musical Film and Best Screenplay. If Wright at least prevails and thereby maintains his perfect Golden Globes record, he will become the third Black winner in his category’s seven-decade existence.

Adapted from the no-holds-barred 2001 novel “Erasure,” “American Fiction” was written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Cord Jefferson, who has collected numerous accolades (including a Primetime Emmy) for his script work on such TV programs as “Watchmen” and “Succession.” Wright leads a primarily Black cast as fictional author Thelonious “Monk” Ellison,...

While there are certainly critiques that can be applied to Japan and its treatment of various LGBTQ+ groups, stories inspired by their lives and struggles have always thrived in the creative medium. The history of these stories can be traced back to the 1920s wherein the work of novelist Yoshiya Nobuko's exploration of female same-sex relationships influenced the development of both shojo and yuri manga in the decades that followed. The genre would continue to grow to what it is today thanks to seminal works like “The Heart of Thomas” and “Claudine“. While titles like these were trailblazers and worthy of note, the growth of the industry in better understanding various relationships still continues.

While there are classics worthy of checking out, from the previously mentioned “The Heart of Thomas” and “Claudine” to Naoko Takeuchi's “Pretty Sailor Moon” favorable portrayal and acceptance of queer characters such as Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune,...

The legendary RZA joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)

Cut Throat City (2020)

Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)

Cooley High (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Car Wash (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Grease (1978)

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s best of 2020

The Devil You Know (2022)

The Last American Virgin (1982)

The Beastmaster (1982)

Porky’s (1981)

Sixteen Candles (1984)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Carmen Jones (1954)

An American In Paris (1951)

Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – John Badham’s trailer commentary

Is That Black Enough for You?!?...

Despite the increase in pop-culture amnesia, there are actually a lot of great rom-coms that predate the Reagan era

For many pop-culture websites, which we will not name here, the history of cinema apparently begins somewhere around the release of “Star Wars” (1977), with almost everything that preceded it to the big screen being sloughed off as quaint, forgettable and irrelevant.

It’s the sort of thing that people who love movies and movie history can often ignore with the roll of an eye, but when one site recently trumpeted its list of the 50 Best Rom-Coms of All Time — which featured exactly one movie made before 1980 and zero prior to 1970 — we could sit by no longer.

Here is an alphabetical list of 50 classic romantic comedies that merely scratches the surface of great movies made during ye olden times of 1979 and earlier:

“The Awful Truth” (1937): Cary Grant and Irene Dunne star...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSCarla Simón’s Alcarrás (Courtesy of MK2 Films)This year's Berlinale has now concluded, with Carla Simón’s Alcarrás taking home the Golden Bear, and Hong Sang-soo, Claire Denis and Natalia Lopez Gallardo taking home prizes as well. Check out the full list of awards winners here.Horror filmmaker and production designer Alfred Sole has died at the age of 78. Sole famously directed the cult horror classic Alice, Sweet Alice (1976). However, he first gained notoriety with his X-rated film Deep Sleep (1972), which was pulled from theaters. Sole continued as a prolific production designer for many television films and shows like Veronica Mars and Melrose Place. Netflix has officially signed an updated windowing agreement with France's film industry, which will "see the window between theatrical and SVOD release significantly reduced" from 36 months to 15 months. And as Deadline points out,...

All products and services featured by IndieWire are independently selected by IndieWire editors. However, IndieWire may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Black romance in movies has evolved since the days of “Porgy and Bess,” “Carmen Jones,” or “Claudine,” but it’s safe to say that the ’90s and 2000s marked a particularly sweet spot for the genre. To celebrate romance movies that helped shape the perception of Black love onscreen in the last 25 years, we put together a list of seven essential films that you can stream on Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Hulu.

See our roster of Black romance movies below, and for more recommendations be sure to read our monthly Criterion Collection picks and Spike Lee movies to watch.

“Love Jones”

Where to Stream: Amazon Prime

“Love Jones” is quintessential viewing for lovers of Black romance films.

Now that’s how you get away with making history. After earning her fourth career nomination in Best Actress for Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” on Monday morning, Viola Davis is now the most nominated Black actress in Oscar history.

Up until now, Davis had shared that title with Octavia Spencer, who triumphed for “The Help” (2011) in Best Supporting Actress and received two additional noms in that same category for “Hidden Figures” (2016) and “The Shape of Water” (2017). The only other Black actress to have bagged more than one acting bid is Whoopi Goldberg, who was shortlisted for her lead performance in “The Color Purple” (1985) and won for her supporting role in “Ghost” (1990).

This is the second time Davis has earned a bid with a film adaptation of an August Wilson play, having triumphed for the 2016 adaptation of the playwright’s “Fences” in Best Supporting Actress. She earned her other...

Writer, producer, director Lee Daniels discusses some of his favorite films with Josh & Joe.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Infested (2002)

Shadowboxer (2005)

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

A Star Is Born (1937)

Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Lady Sings The Blues (1972)

Island In The Sun (1957)

Carmen Jones (1954)

Claudine (1974)

Mandingo (1975)

Drum (1976)

Caligula (1979)

Gloria (1980)

The Exorcist (1973)

Abby (1974)

Blacula (1972)

Scream Blacula Scream (1973)

Cabaret (1972)

Lenny (1974)

Sounder (1972)

All That Jazz (1979)

I Am A Camera (1955)

Travels With My Aunt (1972)

The Emigrants (1971)

Star 80 (1983)

Harold And Maude (1971)

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Pickup On South Street (1953)

In The Mood For Love (2000)

Leave Her To Heaven (1945)

Laura (1944)

Dragonwyck (1946)

The Baron of Arizona (1950)

His Kind of Woman (1951)

Explorers (1985)

Innerspace (1987)

Jack Reacher (2012)

Them (1954)

Revenge of the Creature (1955)

Tarantula! (1955)

Coogan’s Bluff (1968)

Going In Style (1979)

Going In Style (2017)

Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)

Stroszek (1977)

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams...

Editor’s note: Yoruba Richen is the director and Mehret Mandefro and Lacey Schwartz Delgado are executive producers of American Masters: How It Feels to Be Free, a documentary that looks at the historical importance and overlooked contributions of Black performers. Focusing on Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier, the docu — also executive produced by Alicia Keys — airs tonight on PBS in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Richen, Mandefro and Schwartz Delgado wrote this guest column for Deadline.

As we honor Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend and the nation prepares to inaugurate our 46th president, let us remember the Black women our Vice President-elect Kamala Harris described as “too often overlooked, but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy.” Specifically, let’s consider the all-too-often overlooked Black female performers, who have long used their art to...

After teaching us “How to Get Away with Murder,” Viola Davis is singing the blues as the titular character in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” a stage-to-screen adaptation of August Wilson‘s 1984 play of the same name, which starts streaming on Netflix on Dec. 18.

Written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson and directed by George C. Wolfe, “Ma Rainey’s” centers on a planned recording session in 1927 Chicago that falls behind schedule when Ma Rainey, the iconic “Mother of the Blues,” arrives late to the studio. As they await her advent, the singer’s band members engage in a lively conversation, with temperatures rising between the young hot-headed trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) and two veteran members, Cutler (Colman Domingo) and Toledo (Glynn Turman). When a fiery, fearless Ma finally enters, she clashes with her enraged white producers and uber-passionate trumpeter, who has an eye for her girlfriend.

An Emmy and a two-time Tony winner,...

Easily the best family-oriented black experience movie of the early 1970s, the Third World Cinema Corporation’s first film features Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones in a funny, endearing saga of life in the welfare system, with human feeling and compassion to spare. But the triumphant socially progressive movie fails the 2020 diversity test — its primary producer, cameraman, writers and director are white. Are we still allowed to enjoy it?

Claudine

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 1052

1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 92 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date October 13, 2020 / 39.95

Starring: Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Tamu Blackwell, David Kruger, Yvette Curtis, Eric Jones, Socorro Stephens.

Cinematography: Gayne Rescher

Film Editor: Louis San Andres

Original Music: Curtis Mayfield

Written by Lester Pine and Tina Pine

Produced by J. Lloyd Grant, Hannah Weinstein

Directed by John Berry

In 1974 Claudine impressed this viewer quite a bit. I hadn’t seen many really good...

Claudine (The Criterion Collection) Blu-ray Contest — FilmBook is running a Claudine (The Criterion Collection) contest for one copy of the Oscar-nominated film. “Claudine” was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 13, 2020. “Claudine” starred Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Tamu Blackwell, and David Kruger. “Claudine”‘s plot synopsis: [...]

Continue reading: Contest: Claudine (1974) The Criterion Collection Blu-ray – The Diahann Carroll & James Earl Jones Drama Film...

Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival – which has long seen thousands of heritage film lovers and distributors flock to the city of Bologna in summer – officially kicked off Tuesday with a freshly restored version of Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Cronaca di un amore” (pictured). It’s an emblematic opener in various ways. The now freshly restored pic stars late great Italian actor Lucia Bosé who died last March, having contracted coronavirus. Antonioni’s 1950 drama is also among titles in the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Classics section, which has migrated to Bologna this year due to the impact of Covid-19 constraints on Lido screening space.

Variety spoke to Il Cinema Ritrovato chief Gian Luca Farinelli, who also heads the Bologna Film Archives and its globally renown film restoration lab, about this year’s collaboration with Venice and Cannes. Excerpts from the conversation.

How did it happen that you and Venice chief...

Wife of a SpyThe programme for the 2020 edition of the Venice Film Festival has been unveiled, and includes new films from Gia Coppola, Lav Diaz, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Alice Rohrwacher, Gianfranco Rosi, Frederick Wiseman, Chloé Zhao, and more.COMPETITIONIn Between Dying (Hilal Baydarov)Le sorelle Macluso (Emma Dante)The World to Come (Mona Fastvold)Nuevo Orden (Michel Franco)Lovers (Nicole Garcia)Laila in Haifa (Amos Gitai)Dear Comrades (Andrei Konchalovsky)Wife of a Spy (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)Sun Children (Majid Majidi)Pieces of a Woman (Kornél Mundruczó)Miss Marx (Susanna Nicchiarelli)Padrenostro (Claudio Noce)Notturno (Gianfranco Rosi)Never Gonna Snow AgainThe Disciple (Chaitanya Tamhane)And Tomorrow The Entire World (Julia Von Heinz)Quo Vadis, Aida? (Jasmila Zbanic)Nomadland (Chloé Zhao)Out Of COMPETITIONFeaturesThe Ties (Daniele Luchetti)Lasciami Andare (Stefano Mordini)Mandibules (Quentin Dupieux)Love After Love (Ann Hui)Assandria (Salvatore Mereu)The Duke (Roger Michell)Night in Paradise (Park Hoon-jung)Mosquito...

With Telluride Film Festival forced to cancel their yearly event, what is now the first of the major fall festivals, Venice, has announced their complete lineup. Along with Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, which was revealed yesterday, the lineup includes more of our most-anticipated films of the year, including Frederick Wiseman’s City Hall, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Wife of a Spy, Gia Coppola’s Mainstream, Abel Ferrara’s Sportin’ Life, Lav Diaz’s Genus Pan, Mona Fastvold’s The World to Come, Kornél Mundruczó’s Pieces of a Woman, Gianfranco Rosi’s Notturno, and more.

There were also a few surprises in the lineup. Luca Guadagnino has directed a new documentary titled Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams, while Alice Rohrwacher and Jr have teamed for the new short film, Omelia Contadina. Quentin Dupieux’s Mandibules will also premiere out of competition.

In perhaps the best surprise of all, a new, recently uncovered film by Orson Welles,...

The Criterion Collection has announced an October release date for its “Parasite” Blu-ray release, a fitting date as the release will mark the one-year anniversary of Bong Joon Ho’s U.S. theatrical release. The Criterion “Parasite” release includes not only a 4K remaster of the original film supervised by Bong Joon Ho himself, but also the movie’s much-touted black-and-white version and new audio commentary track with Bong and film critic Tony Rayns.

“A zeitgeist-defining sensation that distilled a global reckoning over class inequality into a tour de force of pop-cinema subversion, Bong Joon Ho’s genre-scrambling black-comic thriller confirms his status as one of the world’s foremost filmmakers,” Criterion wrote in a statement announcing the film’s October release date. “A bravura showcase for its director’s meticulously constructed set pieces, bolstered by a brilliant ensemble cast and stunning production design, ‘Parasite’ cemented the New Korean Cinema...

Coming to Film Forum in New York City is “Black Women,” a 70-film screening series that spotlights 81 years – 1920 to 2001 – of trailblazing African American actresses in American movies.

Scheduled to run from January 17 to February 13, the series is curated by film historian and professor Donald Bogle, author of six books concerning blacks in film and television, including the groundbreaking “Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films” (1973).

“Last year, Bruce Goldstein, the repertory programmer at Film Forum, asked me if there was something I was interested in doing, and this was a topic that I had been thinking about, because I recently updated my book on the subject, ‘Brown Sugar,’ which dealt with African American women in entertainment from the early years of the late 19th century to the present,” said Bogle. “That’s really the way it came about, and it just developed from there.

With 2019 now ending, Gold Derby celebrates over 40 celebrities who died in the past 12 months. Tour our photo gallery above as we feature tributes to these actors, actresses, musicians, producers and entertainers from this past year.

Just a few of the people honored in our special photo gallery:

Iconic singer and actress Diahann Carroll died at age 84 on October 4. She was the first African-American woman to star on her own TV show. She also starred in “Dynasty” and was inducted into the TV Hall of Fame in 2011. She was an Oscar nominee for “Claudine” in 1974.

Tim Conway died on May 14 at age 85. The comedy legend won six Emmy Awards during his lengthy career, including four for “The Carol Burnett Show,” one for “Coach” and one for “30 Rock.” He was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 2002.

SEEDoris Day movies: 20 greatest films ranked worst to best

Legendary singer and...

Carroll as the glamorous Dominique Deveraux in "Dynasty".

By Lee Pfeiffer

Actress Diahann Carroll has passed away at age 84 from breast cancer. Carroll was the consummate performer, making her mark on stage, in recordings and In television and feature films. The Bronx native had a modest start in life before winning a television talent contest that ultimately led her to being cast in director Otto Preminger's film "Carmen Jones" in 1954. The mercurial Preminger was pleased with her work and cast her again in his 1959 big screen production of "Porgy and Bess", though Carroll's singing voice was dubbed in the film, an ironic decision considering she was known for her ability to impress audiences with her crooning. Carroll caught the attention of legendary composer Richard Rodgers, who wrote the Broadway production "No Strings" for her. The 1962 production saw Carroll winning a Tony award.

Carroll with Marc Copage in the landmark...

Diahann Carroll, the groundbreaking actress who starred in Dynasty and Julia, has died at age 84. She was one of the first black actresses to have a major role on television.

Carroll’s daughter Suzanne Kay confirmed that her mother died at home in Los Angeles following a long battle with cancer, Variety reports.

“Diahann Carroll walked this earth for 84 years and broke ground with every footstep. An icon. One of the all-time greats,” filmmaker Ava DuVernay tweeted. “She blazed trails through dense forests and elegantly left diamonds along the path...

Diahann Carroll, the Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated singer and actress who paved the way for black actors by becoming the first African American woman to star in her own TV series, “Julia,” died on Friday after a battle with cancer. She was 84.

Carroll is also known for her work on “Dynasty,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and her Oscar-nominated performance in the romantic drama “Claudine.” She capitalized on her theater chops with projects such as her Tony-nominated performance in “No Strings,” Broadway show “Agnes of God” and “Same Time, Next Year.”

After the news of her death, celebrities took to social media to share their condolences.

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay paid tribute to the late icon.

“Diahann Carroll walked this earth for 84 years and broke ground with every footstep. An icon. One of the all-time greats. She blazed trails through dense forests and elegantly left diamonds along the path for the rest of us to follow.

Emmy- and Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Diahann Carroll has died at the age of 84.

Susan Kay, Carroll’s daughter, told The Associated Press her mother passed away from cancer on Friday. Originally diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 1997, Carroll frequently spoke out about the importance of early cancer detection, free screening for those who couldn’t afford mammograms, and the need for more money to be invested in research.

Born “Carol Diahann Johnson” in the Bronx, at 10 years old the musically-gifted Carroll received a scholarship from the Metropolitan Opera to study at New York’s High School of Music and Art. She went with the stage name “Diahann Carroll” at a friend’s suggestion to sound more exotic during auditioning for a spot on the “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” TV show. A spot she won—which also allowed her to perform on the daily radio show.

Diahann Carroll, TV’s history-making star of NBC’s 1960s sitcom Julia and Broadway’s first black Tony Award-winner in a leading role for the 1962 musical No Strings, died today of cancer. The Dynasty star was 84.

“My personal world has taken a downward spiral,” said singer and friend Dionne Warwick in a statement. “Losing my dear friend and Mentor comes as a true hurt to my heart!! I know I’ll miss her as I’m certain all that knew her will. Rest In Peace my dear friend.”

Carroll’s death was announced by her daughter, Suzanne Kay.

Already a popular stage and nightclub performer when she signed on to star in Julia, Carroll is credited with being the first African-American actress to lead a primetime series in a non-stereotypical role, and the first overall since Beulah, the 1950s sitcom about a maid.

Julia became an immediate hit when it...

Diahann Carroll, the first African American woman to star in a non-servant role in a network television series, has died after losing a battle to cancer, her daughter Suzanne Kay told the Associated Press.

The Tony-winner and Oscar-nominee was 84.

Carroll is known for her role as Dominique Deveraux on the 1980s soap opera “Dynasty,” as well as for her title role as the middle-class single mother in NBC’s “Julia.” The latter, her first big television role, began airing in 1968 and ran until 1971. “Julia” is regarded as a trailblazer that lead to more visibility for African American characters on television.

Also Read: 'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Star Tony Shalhoub on the Biggest Challenge of Season 2's Key Scene: 'Doing Nothing'

Her more recent credits have included “White Collar,” “Diary of a Single Mom” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” But she started her career on a high note by winning a Tony award...

Singer and Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actress Diahann Carroll, the first African American woman to star in her own TV series, has died at at her home in Los Angeles after a long bout with cancer. She was 84.

Her daughter, Suzanne Kay, confirmed the news.

Carroll is perhaps best remembered by younger audiences for her role as the conniving Dominique Deveraux on the nighttime soap “Dynasty” in the mid-’80s. But her first major television assignment was starring as the middle-class single mother Julia in a 1968 sitcom that was praised for featuring an African American in the title role — as much as it was criticized for ignoring the civil rights struggle. The series, which ran for three years, was a trailblazer in leading to greater visibility for African American characters on series television.

The actress characterized by svelte cosmopolitan sophistication had come to television via the musical theater. In the early 1960s...

Nearly two decades after he helped bring back the movie musical with Best Picture Oscar winner “Chicago,” director Rob Marshall has made Hollywood history again. By casting 19-year-old singer Halle Bailey as Ariel in his upcoming remake of the 1989 animated film “The Little Mermaid,” he’s about to give the big-screen its first black live-action Disney princess.

What took Hollywood’s casting agents so long to appreciate what’s always been right in front of them? We’ve seen one animated black Disney princess before, but Tiana in 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog” came only after other princesses of color — Chinese Mulan, Native American Pocahontas, and “Aladdin” Arabic heroine Jasmine — made their debuts.

Although black women have been a vital part of the American fabric since the first Independence Day, they continue to be far too under-represented and misrepresented on screen. For years, they were relegated to thankless maid and mammy roles,...

“Colette” ($5.1 million domestic) — Our list opens with Keira Knightley’s portrayal of the author of the “Claudine” novels, who strikes out on her own after her manipulative husband takes the novels to Paris and claims that he wrote them. Bleecker Street bought the film for $4 million and saw a minor return on the film.

“Leave No Trace” ($6 million) — “Winter’s Bone” director Debra Granik won praise from indie circles for her gentle direction of a single father and his teenage daughter’s wayward journey from one home to another after being caught living off the grid.

“Tully” ($9.4 million) — The buzz for Charlize Theron’s performance as a weary single mother began with a surprise screening at Sundance, going on to gross just under $10 million domestically.

“Three Identical Strangers” ($12.3 million) — Director Tim Wardle received a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for his competition-screened telling of triplets who were separated at birth...

Sneak Peek footage from "Colette", the new Brit biographical drama, directed by Wash Westmoreland, from a screenplay by Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, based on the life of French novelist 'Colette', starring Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson and Denise Gough, opening January 2019:

"....in 1893, 'Gabrielle Sidonie Colette', a young woman from a country village, marries a charismatic dominating Parisian, fourteen years her senior, known only by the single name, 'Willy'.

"Through his auspices, she is introduced to bohemian Paris where her creative appetite is sparked. Ever quick to capitalize on talent, Willy convinces his wife to write novels—to be published under his name. The phenomenal success of her 'Claudine' series makes Willy well known as a writer and 'Colette and Willy' as the first modern 'celebrity' couple.

"Over time, lack of recognition for her work frustrates Colette, and an affair with the gender-defying 'Mathilde de Morny',...