60th Anniversary of iconic film "Carmen Jones"

The film debuted and hit theaters worldwide on October 28, 1954

60 years ago this film came to the theaters across the world, Carmen Jones based on a saucy, spicy, laundress/seamstress worker who falls in love with an aspiring flight pilot, Joe. I love this film, it took place in the 1950s but it has been redone again in the new millennium but only a small television version of it ever made it to the screen.  MTV produced and

Does she look familiar lol!??!!! That's Queen B (Beyonce)  as "Carmen Jones"

 debuted Carmen the Hip Hopera back in 2001 starring Beyonce as "Carmen" and Mekhi Phifer as "Joe". I always would love to see a modern day adaptation of the film, because there’s something you can do with rich, wonderful, unique characters. The film made its way on October 28, 1954 and debuted all around the world starring an all-African- American cast.



 The movie evolved, many up and coming stars were in the film and it opened as well as blossomed some very large careers. 

An intimate moment between the characters, Carmen Jones and Joe  from the film 

An iconic cover of Life magazine, Dorothy graces the cover for the November issue on November 1, 1954 

A glamour shot of Dorothy Dandridge

Fashion trends inspired by the film worn by "Carmen" (Dorothy Dandridge) from the film "Carmen Jones" 

The movie was actually taken away from the opera titled “Carmen” written by George Bizet.  The opera and the film both follow the same synopsis but the film and the play have different versions of how the characters all join and form together. Carmen Jones is more modern and it also takes you in the world of the characters, where they come from, and introduces you to them right away. I love the music, the dancing, costumes within the film. The songs for example “Dats Love”, “Beat that Rhythm with a drum” sung by the late Pearl Bailey. There’s an all -star cast in the movie of superstars who are still around and are incredibly relevant still.  The movie starred of course the beautiful and incredibly talented, late, great Dorothy Dandridge, the handsome Harry Belafonte, the always evolving, Diahann Carroll, Pearl Bailey, Joe Adams, and Brock Peters.  

Carmen Jones was directed by Dorothy’s then husband, Otto Preminger.  Oscar Hammerstein the second, he wrote the movie and assisted with the song lyrics.   The movie also gave Dorothy the very first opportunity to be nominated by the Academy of Motion Pictures for her Best Actress Oscar in a Musical in a film in 1954. Unfortunately she was unable to receive the award at the time and another woman took the award.  However, this gave and was one of the opportunities that gave many African American actors and actresses many opportunities and opened doors for those at that time and there after today.

            This movie of course opened many doors on different levels when it came to the African American roles for women and men.  Showcasing Dorothy and Harry’s incredible talents along with the cast as well who all went on to star in some incredible films after they made the movie as well.  The film inspired fashion trends, trends that are still shown in many other movies as well.  Many women love the fashion trends, and the sassy, feisty, beautiful “Carmen Jones” as well.

So in honor of the whole cast, the director, and the opera itself I dedicate this to you all and wanted to show my support and love for this film.  I would love one day to dress as Carmen Jones and have my future boyfriend dress as “Joe” for a costume party or Halloween party too. Love the chemistry between the two of them. Love the film. I hope one day a film will be made with a new generation, a new cast, to be made.   I am sure for more information if you ever want to see the film you can always rent the dvd, watch on You Tube as well. Nothing wrong with learning about something that is classic it inspires people all the time. =) All right my readers I know I am taking you guys way back some of you were not born (neither was I) when the film came out but there's more of course for me to share with you all in the future. 

Love this photo you can tell the two of them had great on screen chemistry in the film.