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The Josephine Baker Story (1991) -- US Home Video Trailer from HBO

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   397 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Ron Hutchinson (story) and
Michael Zagor (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Josephine Baker Story on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 March 1991 (USA) more
Tagline:
Before Madonna. Before Marilyn. There was Josephine.
Plot:
Biography of the African-American who became a major performer in the Paris cabarets of the 1920's and 1930's... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 10 nominations more
User Comments:
A revealing look at an admirable woman more (8 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Lynn Whitfield ... Josephine Baker

Rubén Blades ... Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
David Dukes ... Jo Boullion

Louis Gossett Jr. ... Sidney Williams

Craig T. Nelson ... Walter Winchell
Kene Holliday ... Sidney Bechet
Vivian Bonnell ... Josephine's Mother
Mayah McCoy ... Josephine -Age 8
Ainslie Currie ... Josephine - Age 13
Pierre Magny ... Poul Colin
Franco Britt ... Victor (as Franco Iiriti)
George Faison ... Emcee in Harlem Club
Robert Lesser ... Copa City Manager
Luis Reyes ... Josephine's Father
Vivienne Eytle ... Josephine's Sister
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Additional Details

Runtime:
130 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In 1975, Diahann Carroll was announced for a TV version of this story. more
Quotes:
Josephine Baker: [after being told she must use the hotel's back entrance] Now I know I'm home. more
Soundtrack:
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) more

FAQ

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13 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
A revealing look at an admirable woman, 6 August 2003
Author: Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio

Josephine Baker (Lynn Whitfield) grew up in poverty and, at a very young age, displayed her talents on Vaudeville. Unhappy with the treatment of African Americans in the 1920's in her homeland, she travels to France and makes it big as an exotic dancer and singer. Loved by the Europeans, Josephine's manager/boyfriend (Rubin Blades) decides to have her return to Broadway. She fails miserably. Yet, Josephine remains a strong, outspoken person who soon takes her show on the road and turns heads. She also finds time to try to elevate the treatment of African Americans and to do acts of charitable worth. But, will Josephine ever be truly happy?

This is a brief look at a complex woman. Her indomitable spirit is brought to life in Whitfield's strong performance. Josephine is remembered for her scandalous costumes and risque dancing yet, as this movie proves, she had much more to contribute to humanity. The performance by Blades is also top-notch. As for the costumes, they are revealing yet always stunning. In summary, this movie deserves an audience and one wider than the African-American community. On the next trip to the video store or library, give it a try. Viewers will be entertained as well as enlightened by Baker's admirable life story.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Unidentifiable songs akatora00
Who was that little girl? Mimichild
They Didnt Even Use Josephine's Voice!!!! What a shameful film mrlopez2681
Best Movie tili_11
Where or whatever happened to her adopted children jposton
last song viviendoparajesus
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