Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
“Right woman. Right place. Wrong time.”
Synopsis
An acclaimed stage performer, Dorothy still struggled with the challenge of her color, in a time that wouldn't let some stars in by the front door. Yet against the odds she beat out many more famous rivals for the role of "Carmen Jones", becoming the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Marriages and affairs would break her heart, but her heart was strong. Seductive and easily seduced, she was born to be a star - with all the glory and all the pain of being loved, abused, cheated, glorified, undermined and undefeated. Here was a woman who wouldn't wait in the wings. Halle Berry stars as Dorothy Dandrige.
Top Cast
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Halle Berry
Dorothy Dandridge
Brent Spiner
Earl Mills
Klaus Maria Brandauer
Otto Preminger
Obba Babatundé
Harold Nicholas
Loretta Devine
Ruby Dandridge
Cynda Williams
Vivian Dandridge
LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Auntie
Tamara Taylor
Geri Nicholas
William Atherton
Darryl Zanuck
D. B. Sweeney
Jack Denison
Billy Mayo
Sergeant
Sharon Brown
Etta Jones
Guy Torry
First Actor
Sarah Scott Davis
Second Actress
Kerri Randles
Marilyn Monroe
Jon Mack
Ava Gardner
Raphael Sbarge
Vegas Hotel Manager
Margaret Easley
Ring-a-ding Girl
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 27, 2001
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Martha Coolidge
- Screenplay & Story
- Scott Abbott, Shonda Rhimes, Earl Mills
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Studios
- HBO
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Martha Coolidge
Scott Abbott, Shonda Rhimes, Earl Mills
Elmer Bernstein
Robbie Greenberg
Alan Heim
Moctesuma Esparza, Vincent Cirrincione, Halle Berry, Robert Katz, Larry Y. Albucher
Department Leadership Roster
Martha Coolidge
Director
Alan Heim
Editor
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
James H. Spencer
Production Design
Larry Y. Albucher
Producer
Shelley Komarov
Costume Design
Robbie Greenberg
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Introducing Dorothy Dandridge about?
An acclaimed stage performer, Dorothy still struggled with the challenge of her color, in a time that wouldn't let some stars in by the front door. Yet against the odds she beat out many more famous rivals for the role of "Carmen Jones", becoming the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Marriages and affairs would break her heart, but her heart was strong. Seductive and easily seduced, she was born to be a star - with all the glory and all the pain of being loved, abused, cheated, glorified, undermined and undefeated. Here was a woman who wouldn't wait in the wings. Halle Berry stars as Dorothy Dandrige.
Who directed Introducing Dorothy Dandridge?
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge was directed by Martha Coolidge.
Who stars in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge?
The principal cast of Introducing Dorothy Dandridge includes Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Obba Babatundé, Loretta Devine.
When was Introducing Dorothy Dandridge released and how long is it?
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
Who composed the musical score for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
Is Introducing Dorothy Dandridge based on a book or true story?
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Earl Mills".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge?
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge holds official age classifications: US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).