mark.waltz Just like Rita Hayworth said about her seductress, Gilda, Dorothy Dandridge was a gentle flower who played poison ivy on screen but was as far from the man-eating factory worker off screen. Halle Berry had one of the great challenges in her career as the beautiful Dorothy Dandridge, the singer and dancer who became a screen sensation with just one role, the first black actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, and like so many actors who shot to stardom overnight, found a descent that lead into tragedy.With a magnetic smile and a charm that knocked the socks off of men of every race, Dorothy Dandridge had a miserable upbringing, mistreated by female "friends" of her mother Ruby (the wonderful Loretta Devine). Obviously jealous of her beauty, they went to extremes to test her virginity, leaving the sensitive girl scarred for life. Relationships with Harold Nicholas (of the famed "Nicolas Brothers") and director Otto Preminger showed her desperate for love, and with the autocratic Preminger, almost found it, even though he refused to leave his wife for her. She also found changes in him towards her after their first film onto their next five years later (the rarely seen film version of "Porgy and Bess").Like Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis as Judy Garland, and Lynn Whitfield (Berry's mother in "A Wedding") as Josephine Baker, Berry is not an actress playing a part. She is the character, and deserved every praise and award which came her way. Klaus Marie Brandauer also stands out as Preminger, gentle with her during the making of "Carmen Jones" and her guiding light at the start of her career, but suddenly cold when they are later reunited. Re-creations of Dandridge's signature roles are right on the button, with great detail towards the period as well as her sudden rise then decline. Historically important as a view as how blacks were treated during this time (a pool in a glamorous hotel is emptied and cleaned after she has the audacity to dive in), it strives for truth yet is never preachy or judgmental.

tomreynolds2004 Haile Berry is radiant in the title role. An excellent job is done of separating the woman from the myth. Klaus Maria Brandauer is quite memorable in a key supporting role. Brent Spiner is also good. But, Berry's tour-de-force performance is the reason to watch this made-for-HBO biographical feature.It is not often that one has the opportunity to take in such a movie. After her night club career took off, Dandridge eventually found her way to Hollywood where she appeared in the movie version of George Gershwin's famous opera, Porgy and Bess. Next she co-starred with up-and-coming singer Harry Belafonte in the fascinating Carmen Jones. Such talent is rare indeed. Indeed, it is rare to find such a talent.

HerbertRousch There's a really interesting story here of a woman not allowed to soar to the stratosphere of stardom due to racism. Unfortunately, the film is rather standard-issue TV bio drama. Halle Berry is a very beautiful woman and tries very hard and succeeds at times to make Dorothy Dandridge a complex figure but many of the other characters are stereotypes.

buckletails This was a great movie. Mind you I don't know much about Dorothy so I don't know how Hallie Berry faired. But I did'nt see the movie for her. I saw it for Brent Spiner. He is one of the most talented actors I have seen on the big screen. I wish he was in bigger roles like this. Besides him the movie itself was great. Good acting, good story, wonderful Brent. lol, sorry.