Porgy and Bess (film)

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Movie
German title Porgy and Bess
Original title Porgy and Bess
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1959
length 138 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Otto Preminger
script N. Richard Nash
production Samuel Goldwyn
music George Gershwin
André Previn
Ken Darby
camera Leon Shamroy
cut Daniel Mandell
occupation

The 1959 film Porgy and Bess is the first film adaptation of the opera of the same name by George Gershwin . The libretto was written by DuBose Heyward , the lyrics by Ira Gershwin . This film was 2011 in the National Film Registry of the Film Institute American added. A second film was released in 1989. The previous sections of this article refer to the first film.

action

In Catfish Row, a residential street for blacks, beggars and criminals, residents dance to piano music on summer evenings. Clara sings the lullaby Summertime for her child, her husband Jake tries a mock song ( A Woman Is a Sometime Thing ). Peter and Porgy appear. Porgy, who is moving on a cart because of a handicap, asks about Bess. This appears with a crown. Crown stabs Robbins to death in a dispute over a game of dice and runs away. Porgy offers the now lonely Bess help and shelter.

The relatives mourn the dead Robbins and collect money for the funeral. During his investigation, the police officer accuses Peter of murder, who then betrays the escaped Crown. Although not enough money was raised for the funeral, the undertaker lets himself be relieved to bury Robbins. Bess accompanies him with the Spiritual Headin 'for the promise' land .

Some time later. Despite the stormy weather, the fishermen are planning a trip and a picnic on Kittiwah Island. Jake is also there because he urgently needs the money. Porgy has no financial worries ( Oh, I got plenty o 'nothin' ), he is happily in a relationship with Bess. Sporting Life tries to persuade Bess to go with him to New York , where supposedly a better life is waiting, but Bess refuses - she wants to stay with Porgy. But now she and Maria set off for the fishermen's picnic on the island of Kittiwah.

In the evening, Bess meets Crown, who is hiding there and is now preventing Bess from reaching the ferry for the return trip. She falls for him again, both disappear into the forest.

Bess does not return from the picnic until two days later and admits to Porgy that she cannot resist Crown. During a storm, Crown shows up to get Bess. In the background you can see Jake's boat capsizing in a storm; Clara runs out, followed by Crown to come to Jake's aid.

The storm has subsided again. Clara and Jake never returned, only Crown survived the storm. During the night he sneaks to Porgy's apartment to kidnap Bess, who is looking after Clara's baby. Porgy stabs him from the back. Serena is accused of murder by the police, but everyone protests her innocence. Porgy refuses to identify the body and is held for a week for violating the law. Meanwhile, Sporting Life can convince Bess that Porgy will not be back. She then falls back on drugs and follows him to New York. On his return Porgy no longer finds her and sets out to look for Bess ( I'm on my way ).

background

As was often the case with music films from this period, the main roles were cast by well-known actors, but the vocals were doubled by singers - usually opera and musical singers. The American baritone Robert McFerrin took over the part of the porgy, while the American soprano Adele Addison can be heard as Bess . You can also hear Inez Matthews as Serena, Loulie Jean Norman as Clara and Nichelle Nichols in a small role. However, the names of the singers were not mentioned in the film credits or on the corresponding record albums.

Reviews

  • film-dienst : The lavish film version by Otto Preminger is brilliantly staged, has excellent actors and brings out the fascinating music very nicely. Sophisticated Hollywood entertainment.
  • Reclam's film guide: The film stylized the opera milieu and pretty much embellished the figure of the title hero. This hides the references to reality that the opera libretto still had ... Since director Preminger ... cleverly used the technical possibilities of the large Todd-AO screen and the stereo sound, one of the few successful opera films was made.

Awards

The film received four Oscar nominations in the categories of Best Music, Best Cinematography, Best Costumes ( Irene Sharaff ), and Best Sound . André Previn and Ken Darby finally received the Oscar for their adaptation of the music by George Gershwin .

Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge were nominated for a Golden Globe Award . The film received the Golden Globe for best musical of 1960.

Previn and Darby also received a Grammy Award for best soundtrack .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Porgy and Bess . ( filmdienst.de [accessed on August 17, 2018]).
  2. ^ Reclams Filmführer, 2.A. 1973, ISBN 3-15-010205-7