Porgy and Bess (1959)
Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 2h 18min
- Drama, Musical
- 14 Oct 1959 (France)
- Movie
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.
Directors:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 10 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Sidney Poitier | ... |
Porgy
|
|
| Dorothy Dandridge | ... |
Bess
|
|
| Sammy Davis Jr. | ... |
Sportin' Life
|
|
| Pearl Bailey | ... |
Maria
|
|
| Brock Peters | ... |
Crown
|
|
 |
Leslie Scott | ... |
Jake
|
| Diahann Carroll | ... |
Clara
|
|
| Ruth Attaway | ... |
Serena Robbins
|
|
| Claude Akins | ... |
Detective
|
|
| Clarence Muse | ... |
Peter
|
|
|
|
Everdinne Wilson | ... |
Annie
|
| Joel Fluellen | ... |
Robbins
|
|
|
|
Earl Jackson | ... |
Mingo
|
|
|
Moses LaMarr | ... |
Nelson
|
|
|
Margaret Hairston | ... |
Lily
|
| Ivan Dixon | ... |
Jim
|
|
|
|
Antoine Durousseau | ... |
Scipio
|
|
|
Helen Thigpen | ... |
Strawberry woman
|
|
|
Vince Townsend Jr. | ... |
Elderly man
(as Vince Townsend)
|
| Bill Walker | ... |
Undertaker
(as William Walker)
|
|
| Roy Glenn | ... |
Frazier
|
|
| Maurice Manson | ... |
Coroner
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Scatman Crothers | ... |
Crabman
|
|
|
|
Adele Addison | ... |
Bess (uncredited) (singingVoice)
|
| Maya Angelou | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
| Geoffrey Holder | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Inez Matthews | ... |
Serena (uncredited) (singingVoice)
|
|
|
Robert McFerrin | ... |
Porgy (uncredited) (singingVoice)
|
| Nichelle Nichols | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Loulie Jean Norman | ... |
Clara (uncredited) (singingVoice)
|
|
|
Ron Townson | ... |
Chorus (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Otto Preminger | ||
| Rouben Mamoulian | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Dorothy Heyward | ... | (play "Porgy") |
| DuBose Heyward | ... | (libretto) |
| DuBose Heyward | ... | (play "Porgy") |
| N. Richard Nash | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Samuel Goldwyn | ... | producer |
Music by
| George Gershwin | ||
Cinematography by
| Leon Shamroy | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Daniel Mandell | ||
Production Design by
| Oliver Smith | ||
Art Direction by
| Serge Krizman | ||
| Joseph C. Wright | ||
Set Decoration by
| Howard Bristol | ||
Costume Design by
| Irene Sharaff | ||
Makeup Department
| Layne Britton | ... | makeup artist |
| Frank McCoy | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Paul Helmick | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Don Hall | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Fred Lau | ... | sound |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Al St. Hilaire | ... | still photographer |
| Phil Stern | ... | still photographer (as Philip Stern) |
| Bert Chaliacombe | ... | electrical assistant (uncredited) |
| Gjon Mili | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joe King | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Pete Candoli | ... | musician: trumpet |
| Frank Capp | ... | musician: percussion |
| Benny Carter | ... | musician: reeds |
| Alexander Courage | ... | orchestrator |
| Ken Darby | ... | music associate |
| Robert Franklyn | ... | orchestrator |
| Russ Freeman | ... | musician: piano |
| Ira Gershwin | ... | lyricist |
| Willis Holman | ... | musician: reeds |
| Shelly Manne | ... | musician: percussion |
| Dave Pell | ... | musician: reeds |
| André Previn | ... | conductor / music supervisor |
| Conrad Salinger | ... | orchestrator |
| Bud Shank | ... | musician: reeds |
| Felix Slatkin | ... | musician: violin |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone |
| Albert Woodbury | ... | orchestrator (as Al Woodbury) |
| André Previn | ... | music adaptor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Joe Hyams | ... | publicist / unit publicist |
| Hermes Pan | ... | choreographer |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1959) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film (1960) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Argentina (1960) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Columbia International Films (1960) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Kamera Film Aktieselskap (1961) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1962) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1967) (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Theatre Guild (producer: original stage production)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by scgary66 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Goldwyn Touch!...more dramatic than ever before! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $7,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Sidney Poitier's singing voice was dubbed by opera singer Robert McFerrin (father of pop singer, classical conductor, and composer Bobby McFerrin). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Dorothy Dandridge: Little Girl Lost (1999). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Summertime See more » |
| 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. See more » |