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The Josephine Baker Story (TV 1991)

TV Movie  -   -  Biography | Drama | History  -  16 March 1991 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 589 users  
Reviews: 8 user | 5 critic

Biography of the African-American who became a major performer in the Paris cabarets of the 1920's and 1930's. The film follows her life beginning as a struggling performer in 1917 St. ... See full summary »

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Title: The Josephine Baker Story (TV 1991)

The Josephine Baker Story (TV 1991) on IMDb 6.7/10

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Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 10 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
...
Jo Bouillon
...
Sidney Williams
...
...
Sidney Bechet
Vivian Bonnell ...
Josephine's Mother
Mayah McCoy ...
Josephine -Age 8
Ainslie Currie ...
Josephine - Age 13
Pierre Magny ...
Poul Colin
Franco Britt ...
Victor (as Franco Iiriti)
George Faison ...
Emcee in Harlem Club
Robert Lesser ...
Copa City Manager
Luis Reyes ...
Josephine's Father
Vivienne Eytle ...
Josephine's Sister
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Storyline

Biography of the African-American who became a major performer in the Paris cabarets of the 1920's and 1930's. The film follows her life beginning as a struggling performer in 1917 St. Louis, her frustrations leading to her move to France, and follows to her death in 1975. Written by John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>

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Plot Keywords:

performer | 1930s | france | death | cabaret | See more »

Taglines:

Before Madonna. Before Marilyn. There was Josephine.


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »
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Details

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Release Date:

16 March 1991 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Die Josephine-Baker-Story  »

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1.33 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert De Niro was considered for the role of Giuseppe Pepito Abatino. See more »

Quotes

Josephine Baker: [after her show becomes a critical failure in America] You did this to me.
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino: I gave you Broadway. How could I know?
Josephine Baker: You gave me Broadway to keep me busy because you know there's nothing between us anymore!
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino: No, I love you.
Josephine Baker: You don't love me! You worship me. That's not the same thing. You worship me because you think you made me!
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino: [pointing to Josephine's heart] How can you say there's nothing in here? I have nothing but you.
Josephine Baker: And I can't live with that anymore! I was right. I was right! I never should...
[...]
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Soundtracks

"La Petite Tonkinoise"
Music by Vincent Scotto
Lyrics by G. Villard
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User Reviews

 
Well intentioned
27 January 2012 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

This is certainly a well-intentioned movie, and the star, Lynn Whitfield, certainly gives a very moving performance. Much of the movie focuses on Baker's career after the War, where she becomes involved in the civil rights movement. It's very well-meaning, certainly, but not the part of her life and career that interests me, so I found that that part of the movie dragged. Her years in Paris as a performer in the 1920s and 30s get short shrift, and that's a shame, because it's what made a star of her.

The movie takes its particular stance on how Baker saw her early Paris performances. While it's an interesting interpretation - very sincere - I don't know how accurate it is. The one aspect of Baker's performances that doesn't get developed in this movie is her role as a comedian. In certain ways, she was something of a Black Fanny Brice. Something of that comes through her early newsreels, but it's missing from the way Ms. Whitfield was directed to portray Baker.

In the end, for me, this amounted to a very fine performance by Whitfield. But how accurate a depiction of Baker it provided, at least for her early years as a successful performer, I don't know.


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