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Porgy and Bess

Play trailer Poster for Porgy and Bess Released Jun 24, 1959 2h 18m Drama Musical Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
This musical drama focuses on the poverty-stricken residents struggling to survive in the Charleston tenement of Catfish Row. The sultry Bess (Dorothy Dandridge) becomes the object of desire of Porgy (Sidney Poitier), a disabled man who gets around in a cart. But Bess is also involved with thuggish Crown (Brock Peters) and drug dealer Sportin' Life (Sammy Davis Jr.). Crown kills a man and goes into hiding, and Bess seeks shelter with Porgy. But, when Crown returns, Porgy must take a stand.

Critics Reviews

View All (48) Critics Reviews
Marjory Adams Boston Globe As to the players, Dorothy Dandridge as Bess and Sidney Poitier as Porgy couldn't be improved... Sammy Davis Jr. is the evil schemer, Sportin' Life, and he does his own singing -- which is hard, smart and persuasively cynical. Jan 20, 2022 Full Review Wanda Hale New York Daily News The backbone of this opera is the beautiful, inspiring music with which most of us are familiar. Next in importance is Sidney Poitier's portrayal of Porgy... This performance is the shining light of the film. Rated: 4/4 Jan 20, 2022 Full Review Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer With Robert McFerrin singing for Porgy; Adele Addison for Bess, and Loulie Jean Norman for Clara, these roles are handled with memorable vocal beauty. Jan 20, 2022 Full Review Austin Faricy Honolulu Star-Bulletin The production, lavish in the extreme, backs up the music visually, and the performances all first rate back it up dramatically. Mar 16, 2023 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Its central notion of uncompromising forgiveness – Porgy refuses to see Bess’ faults, embracing only her best qualities – is thoroughly inspirational. Rated: 4/10 Sep 22, 2022 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The story is trite, but the music is elegant. Rated: B- Apr 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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steve d It is a strong adaptation but the story is uncomfortable and the music is horrible. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best, GREATEST musical romance movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Summertime! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Otto Preminger's adaptation of the Gershwin classic receives a rather static presentation, which makes it feel much longer than its 138 minute running time; the leads are good, though, with the standout being Sammy Davis Jr. doing "It Ain't Necessarily So." Most of the other singing voices were dubbed, with the exception of Pearl Bailey. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member the last sam Goldwyn picture Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A definitive version. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Saw this many, many years ago as a youngster. A haunting film with a major cast of talented black actors, some of whom were dubbed for the musical numbers. I understand that the film was withdrawn from general release due to its controversial subject matter and is now only shown on rare occasions with the permission of the Gershwin estate. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Porgy and Bess

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Movie Info

Synopsis This musical drama focuses on the poverty-stricken residents struggling to survive in the Charleston tenement of Catfish Row. The sultry Bess (Dorothy Dandridge) becomes the object of desire of Porgy (Sidney Poitier), a disabled man who gets around in a cart. But Bess is also involved with thuggish Crown (Brock Peters) and drug dealer Sportin' Life (Sammy Davis Jr.). Crown kills a man and goes into hiding, and Bess seeks shelter with Porgy. But, when Crown returns, Porgy must take a stand.
Director
Otto Preminger, Rouben Mamoulian
Producer
Samuel Goldwyn
Screenwriter
Dorothy Heyward, DuBose Heyward, DuBose Heyward, N. Richard Nash
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Genre
Drama, Musical, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 1959, Wide
Runtime
2h 18m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)