Mahogany (1975)

Director:

Berry Gordy
(more)

Writers:

Toni Amber (story)
John Byrum (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 March 1976 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with

Plot:

Tracy, an aspiring designer from the slums of Chicago puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the world's top designers...

Plot Keywords:

Fashion | Love | Success | Ghetto | Star

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Diana Ross	...	Tracy
Billy Dee Williams	...	Brian
Anthony Perkins	...	Sean
Jean-Pierre Aumont	...	Christian Rosetti
Beah Richards	...	Florence
Nina Foch	...	Miss Evans
Marisa Mell	...	Carlotta Gavina
Lenard Norris	...	Wil
Jerome Arnold	...	Campaign Worker
Pemon Rami	...	Campaign Worker
Obelo	...	Campaign Worker
Ira Rogers	...	Stalker
Kristine Cameron	...	Instructress
Ted Liss	...	Sweatshop Foreman
Bruce Vilanch	...	Dress Manufacturer
Don Howard	...	Dress Manufacturer
Albert Rosenberg	...	Dress Manufacturer
Marvin Corman	...	Cab Driver
E. Rodney Jones	...	Radio Announcer (voice)
Dan Daniel	...	Giuseppe (as Daniel Daniele)
Princess Galitzine	...	Princess Galitzine
Jacques Stany	...	Auctioneer - Fashion Show
Achille Brugnini	...	Salesman (as Achille Brunini)
Edward Van Sickle	...	Ad Agency Executive (as Edward Van Sycle)
Giovanni Di Benedetto	...	Ad Agency Executive (as Gianni Di Benedetto)
Roger Browne	...	Ad Agency Executive (as Roger Bill Brown)
C. Mitchell	...	Ad Agency Executive
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Denise Gordy	...	(uncredited)
Jesse Kitten	...	Unemployed Lathe Operator (uncredited)
Robert Townsend	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Berry Gordy
Tony Richardson		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Toni Amber		story
John Byrum		screenplay

Produced by
Jack Ballard	....	producer
Rob Cohen	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Masser

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Peter Zinner

Casting by
Joe Scully

Art Direction by
Kevin Biles		(art director: act 2 musical)
Aurelio Crugnola
Leon Ericksen		(as Leon Erickson)

Costume Design by
Diana Ross

Makeup Department
Franco Corridoni	....	makeup artist
Maria Teresa Corridoni	....	key hair stylist
Wally Schwartz	....	makeup artist
Jerry Turnage	....	makeup supervisor (as Jerry Tournage)

Production Management
David McCann	....	post-production supervisor
Mario Olivieri	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Piero Amati	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Don H. Matthews	....	sound recordist (as Don Matthews)
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kay Rose	....	sound editor

Casting Department
Pemon Rami	....	casting

Music Department
Lee Holdridge	....	musical director

Other crew
Sioux Richards	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Motown Productions
• Nikor Productions
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema Internazional Corporation (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

41st Street & Ellis Avenue, Oakland, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Motown Productions

Trivia:

Producer Berry Gordy fired original director Tony Richardson and then took over direction of the picture himself.

Goofs:

Continuity: The final shot of the film (an overview of the crowd gathered to hear Brian's speech) shows Tracy rushing up to Brian and madly embracing him, but moments earlier they had already walked up to each other in the middle of that crowd and kissed.

Quotes:

Tracy:The men love me, the women love me, the children love me... You're just jealous Brian 'cause no one loves you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in God Bless America (2011)

Trash-classic is more entertaining than most high-brow films

Ghetto girl from Chicago wants to be a fashion designer, but her politician boyfriend wants her instead to help him take care of the unfortunates at home (which is more important, after all, than working with coat-hangers, but can't he see that a big salary from the Mrs. might be used to strengthen his campaign?). As good as Diana Ross was in "Lady Sings the Blues", I was restless with that film for a number of reasons (it followed the standard bio-flick pattern, it was heavy-handed and drab). However, "Mahogany" exists purely on adrenaline, and Ross is hyped-up, high on life, and her kicky fashion scenes are both entertaining and gaudy. The love story with Billy Dee Williams is relaxed, Anthony Perkins is loose and campy as a gay shutterbug who puts the moves on La Ross, and the decadent, glamorous surroundings are fun escapism. As for the finale, it is truly gauche...but at least it has the courage to follow through with its happily-ever-after convictions, even if the poverty-stricken crowds cheering at the end have no idea they're being condescended to. *** from ****