The Josephine Baker Story
starring: Lynn Whitfield, Rubén Blades, David Dukes, Louis Gossett Jr., Craig T. Nelson
directed by: Brian Gibson
directed by: Brian Gibson
Price: $5.98
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Product Description:
BEFORE MADONNA, BEFORE MARILYN, THERE WAS JOSEPHINE. SHOCKING AND SENSATIONAL, SHE TRAVELLED THE WORLD TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL STAR.
Amazon.com:
You know how it goes. You hear about what a sensation someone likeJosephine Baker was in her prime (in her case, the 1920s and '30s), how she pushed boundaries in such delicate areas as race and sex, how she boththrilled and scandalized Paris with her exotic dancing and personalbehavior. You have all these loose strands of legend and random fact, yourcuriosity is running high, and then you hear that a feature film is being made about the very subject. You watch, andthen wonder: what was the big deal about Josephine Baker? The problem withthis 1991 TV movie is the same as with a number of HBO films from the 1980s and early '90s: it isn't particularly well written, the production looks rushed, and the entire point is obscured in a whirl of biographicalmaterial that doesn't sufficiently develop into insightful, organic unity. WhatThe Josephine Baker Story does do, however, is provide a referencepoint from which to begin an appreciation of Baker's life. A poor,African American girl from St. Louis, Baker found fame and wealth in Europe as a dancer whose partially nude, unbridled performances invoked wit, sexual liberation, and passion--without, somehow, seeming vulgar orobscene. As Baker, Lynn Whitfield gets into the uninhibited spirit of things,free with her body and enthusiastic about re-creating many of hercharacter's performances (yes, the famed Banana Dance is a highlight). Thefilm superficially suggests that Baker was celebrated as an expressiveartist, a healthy force of nature rather than a lewd exhibitionist, but itdoesn't go far enough down that road to tell us why she matters. Somewhatbetter is the script's contrasting emphasis on Baker's celebrity overseasand her second-class status as a black woman in America. In the end, thefilm's real accomplishment is underscoring how racism truly determines thecourse of an individual's life, and the way Baker understood that both from the vantage point of a refugee and a victim. --Tom Keogh
BEFORE MADONNA, BEFORE MARILYN, THERE WAS JOSEPHINE. SHOCKING AND SENSATIONAL, SHE TRAVELLED THE WORLD TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL STAR.
Amazon.com:
You know how it goes. You hear about what a sensation someone likeJosephine Baker was in her prime (in her case, the 1920s and '30s), how she pushed boundaries in such delicate areas as race and sex, how she boththrilled and scandalized Paris with her exotic dancing and personalbehavior. You have all these loose strands of legend and random fact, yourcuriosity is running high, and then you hear that a feature film is being made about the very subject. You watch, andthen wonder: what was the big deal about Josephine Baker? The problem withthis 1991 TV movie is the same as with a number of HBO films from the 1980s and early '90s: it isn't particularly well written, the production looks rushed, and the entire point is obscured in a whirl of biographicalmaterial that doesn't sufficiently develop into insightful, organic unity. WhatThe Josephine Baker Story does do, however, is provide a referencepoint from which to begin an appreciation of Baker's life. A poor,African American girl from St. Louis, Baker found fame and wealth in Europe as a dancer whose partially nude, unbridled performances invoked wit, sexual liberation, and passion--without, somehow, seeming vulgar orobscene. As Baker, Lynn Whitfield gets into the uninhibited spirit of things,free with her body and enthusiastic about re-creating many of hercharacter's performances (yes, the famed Banana Dance is a highlight). Thefilm superficially suggests that Baker was celebrated as an expressiveartist, a healthy force of nature rather than a lewd exhibitionist, but itdoesn't go far enough down that road to tell us why she matters. Somewhatbetter is the script's contrasting emphasis on Baker's celebrity overseasand her second-class status as a black woman in America. In the end, thefilm's real accomplishment is underscoring how racism truly determines thecourse of an individual's life, and the way Baker understood that both from the vantage point of a refugee and a victim. --Tom Keogh
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Excellent Movie! Great Life Story!
This movie is absolutely great. Josephine Baker was not only beautiful, she had a huge heart. There is noone like her. She was an activist and a great entertainer.
Rating: 
- The Josephine Baker Story
I love the performance of Lyyn Whitfield in this dvd... I think that the story surrounding all the adopted children could have been better brought out... but on the whole a very good story... a trus story... if you are to believe some... recommeded
Rating: - EXCELLENT!!
I was very pleased with the feedback I received. I knew when it was going to be shipped and what day it was going to arrive. I had absolutely no problems.Everything arrived intact and on time!
Rating: - Goin' Bananas!!
Lynn Whitfield does an incredible portrayal of Josephine Baker.She carries the movie and truely becomes the character.I didn't even know who Josephine Baker was until seeing this, nor did I really care.I like films about interesting characters that face adversity, and a tragic ending, as sad as it is, makes for a good story.This film takes you on a journey through Josephine's life, and what makes it so special is the fantastic acting by Lynn Whitfield, and the singing and dancing numbers ... Read More
Rating: - Great story
An awesome movie even for younger people who didn't know Josefine Baker. I shows very well how she had to deal with the culture clash between Europe and the United States (some of which is still in place today).
- Excellent Movie! Great Life Story!This movie is absolutely great. Josephine Baker was not only beautiful, she had a huge heart. There is noone like her. She was an activist and a great entertainer.
- The Josephine Baker StoryI love the performance of Lyyn Whitfield in this dvd... I think that the story surrounding all the adopted children could have been better brought out... but on the whole a very good story... a trus story... if you are to believe some... recommeded
- EXCELLENT!!I was very pleased with the feedback I received. I knew when it was going to be shipped and what day it was going to arrive. I had absolutely no problems.Everything arrived intact and on time!
- Goin' Bananas!!Lynn Whitfield does an incredible portrayal of Josephine Baker.She carries the movie and truely becomes the character.I didn't even know who Josephine Baker was until seeing this, nor did I really care.I like films about interesting characters that face adversity, and a tragic ending, as sad as it is, makes for a good story.This film takes you on a journey through Josephine's life, and what makes it so special is the fantastic acting by Lynn Whitfield, and the singing and dancing numbers ... Read More
- Great storyAn awesome movie even for younger people who didn't know Josefine Baker. I shows very well how she had to deal with the culture clash between Europe and the United States (some of which is still in place today).
