Mahogany ** (1975, Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Perkins, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Nina Foch, Beah Richards, Marisa Mell) – Classic Movie Review 10,044

Director Berry Gordy’s ridiculous but shamefully amusing 1975 romantic melodrama soap opera Mahogany stars Diana Ross as ambitious Chicago slum girl Tracy Chambers, nicknamed Mahogany (Diana Ross). Tracy goes to fashion school and becomes a top fashion frock designer with help from leering picture-maker Sean (Anthony Perkins), but needs even more still the love of that special guy, who turns out to be the Mr Nice from the old days, Brian (Billy Dee Williams).

The clichés come thick and fast, in a story of career versus true love, while Ross looks as though she believes in it all, but it is a far cry from her Oscar-nominated performance in Lady Sings the Blues. Both performance and film are not nearly in the same class, but Mahogany has camp appeal.

Perkins and Williams look nervous. A number of other good actors are wasted. The film’s brightest spark is the Oscar nominated ‘Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)’, written by Michael Masser (music) and Gerry Goffin (lyrics).

Producer Berry Gordy fired Tony Richardson as director and took over the direction.

John Byrum’s screenplay is based on the story by Toni Amber. Byrum’s other film that year (1975) is Inserts starring Richard Dreyfuss.

Also in the cast are Jean-Pierre Aumont, Nina Foch, Beah Richards, Marisa Mell, Lenard Norris, Ira Rogers, Kristine Cameron, Ted Liss and Marvin Corman.

Ironically, Tracy Chambers was written for Liza Minnelli, Ross’s rival for the 1973 Best Actress Oscar. Minnelli won for Cabaret  while Ross was nominated for Lady Sings the Blues.

It is the first movie to use Paramount’s blue mountain logo, in use till December 1986.

Ross designed some of the costumes in the fashion show.

Mahogany do not do well. It grossed $5,000,000 in the US. Mahogany and The Wiz damaged her promising movie career.

Mahogany is directed by Berry Gordy and Tony Richardson, runs 109 minutes, is made by Motown Productions, Nikor Productions and Paramount Pictures, is released by Paramount Pictures (1975) (US) and Cinema International Corporation (1975) (UK), is written by John Byrum, is shot by David Watkin, is produced by Rob Cohen and Jack Ballard, and is scored by Michael Masser, with Art Direction by Aurelio Crugnola and Leon Ericksen.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,044

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