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Porgy and Bess

  • 19591959
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
  • Drama
  • Musical
  • Romance
A woman whose past is scorned by nearly everyone around her meets a man who'd love her regardlessly- if only everyone else would allow them to.A woman whose past is scorned by nearly everyone around her meets a man who'd love her regardlessly- if only everyone else would allow them to.A woman whose past is scorned by nearly everyone around her meets a man who'd love her regardlessly- if only everyone else would allow them to.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Otto Preminger
    • Rouben Mamoulian(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Dorothy Heyward(play "Porgy")
    • DuBose Heyward(libretto)
    • N. Richard Nash(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Dorothy Dandridge
    • Sammy Davis Jr.
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Otto Preminger
    • Rouben Mamoulian(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Dorothy Heyward(play "Porgy")
    • DuBose Heyward(libretto)
    • N. Richard Nash(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Dorothy Dandridge
    • Sammy Davis Jr.
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 67User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 10 nominations total

    Photos18

    Sidney Poitier in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier, Ruth Attaway, Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier and Samuel Goldwyn in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Louis Armstrong in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis Jr., Dorothy Dandridge, and Otto Preminger in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sammy Davis Jr. and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)
    Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge in Porgy and Bess (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sidney Poitier
    Sidney Poitier
    • Porgyas Porgy
    Dorothy Dandridge
    Dorothy Dandridge
    • Bessas Bess
    Sammy Davis Jr.
    Sammy Davis Jr.
    • Sportin' Lifeas Sportin' Life
    Pearl Bailey
    Pearl Bailey
    • Mariaas Maria
    Brock Peters
    Brock Peters
    • Crownas Crown
    Leslie Scott
    • Jakeas Jake
    Diahann Carroll
    Diahann Carroll
    • Claraas Clara
    Ruth Attaway
    Ruth Attaway
    • Serena Robbinsas Serena Robbins
    Claude Akins
    Claude Akins
    • Detectiveas Detective
    Clarence Muse
    Clarence Muse
    • Peteras Peter
    Everdinne Wilson
    • Annieas Annie
    Joel Fluellen
    • Robbinsas Robbins
    Earl Jackson
    • Mingoas Mingo
    Moses LaMarr
    • Nelsonas Nelson
    Margaret Hairston
    • Lilyas Lily
    Ivan Dixon
    Ivan Dixon
    • Jimas Jim
    Antoine Durousseau
    • Scipioas Scipio
    Helen Thigpen
    • Strawberry womanas Strawberry woman
    • Directors
      • Otto Preminger
      • Rouben Mamoulian(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Dorothy Heyward(play "Porgy")
      • DuBose Heyward(libretto) (play "Porgy")
      • N. Richard Nash(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In this legendary Gershwin opera set among the black residents of a fishing village in 1912 South Carolina, Bess - a woman with a disreputable history - tries to break free from her brutish lover Crown after he becomes wanted for murder. The only person willing to overlook her past and offer her shelter is the crippled Porgy. Their relationship is threatened by the disapproval of the townspeople, the presence of her old drug supplier Sportin' Life - and the threatened return of Crown. —scgary66
    • national film registry
    • f rated
    • character names as title
    • timeframe 1910s
    • murder
    • 39 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The Goldwyn Touch!...more dramatic than ever before!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Musical
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sidney Poitier's singing voice was dubbed by opera singer Robert McFerrin (father of pop singer, classical conductor, and composer Bobby McFerrin).
    • Quotes

      Porgy: Thank god. Thank god.

      Bess: I've been sick, ain't I?

      Porgy: You've been very sick. Now, I've got you back.

    • Alternate versions
      Although this film has never been officially released on any home media format, numerous bootleg copies, running 115 minutes, are available on VHS and DVD-R. The full-length original version runs 138 minutes, not including overture and entr'acte music.
    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Dorothy Dandridge: Little Girl Lost (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Summertime
      Music by George Gershwin
      Lyrics by DuBose Heyward
      Sung by Diahann Carroll (dubbed by Loulie Jean Norman) and Women's Chorus

    User reviews67

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Excellent Musical. It begs to be on DVD.
    "Porgy and Bess" is an outstanding production of George Gershwin's masterpiece. It is tastefully done in muted colors. The voices are outstanding. Although Sidney Portier's voice is dubbed for his singing portion, he gives a very touching performance. There is a remarkable performance by Sammy Davis Jr. as Sportin Life. There is yet no DVD available for viewing, and this piece begs for one. All intelligent movie goers who enjoyed it in 1959 will appreciate the release of this masterpiece on the new medium. The screen is filled with a dynamic presentation that rivals all other musicals including the outstanding ones by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Be sure to ask for it an your video supplier. Like "Songs of the South" by Walt Disney, it may be the assumption of racial overtones that is preventing the marketing of this cinema.
    helpful•41
    3
    • dhaufrect-1
    • Dec 29, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1959 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Porgy und Bess
    • Filming locations
      • Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Samuel Goldwyn Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes

    Related news

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    Mar 6BroadwayWorld.com

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