Diana Ross left the Supremes in 1970 to pursue other projects such as film work, in 1972 she starred in her first motion picture, the Motown-produced Lady Sings the Blues. [76] On the other hand, director Bill Condon stated that "I think academy members just liked the other movies better"[77] and that he believed that "we were never going to win even if we were nominated. Dreamgirls . Dreamgirls is a fictional work, adapted from a 1981 successful Broadway musical inspired by the real-life story and success of The Supremes. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine [35] Meanwhile, the music production crew began work with the actors and studio musicians recording the songs for the film. [19] After sending Geffen the first draft of his screenplay in January 2005, Condon's adaptation of Dreamgirls was greenlit. Unbeknownst to them Effie is pregnant with Curtis's child, but she doesn't say anything. [93][94] A later scene features Curtis and the Dreams recording in the studio, while a riot rages outside. Their songs employed a lead voice with backup harmonies, and the music was a hybrid of soul, rhythm and blues, pop and 1950's doo-wop. [67], DreamWorks and Paramount began a significant awards campaign for Dreamgirls while the film was still in production. [104], The payola scheme used in the film's script, to which Robinson took offense, is identical to the payola scheme allegedly used by Gordy and the other Motown executives, according to sworn court depositions from Motown executive Michael Lushka, offered during the litigation between the label and its chief creative team, HollandDozierHolland. ", "Musically, the girl group soundand popular music at the time in generalwas drawing on a lot different sources," says Warwick. 2012. In what was considered an upset, Murphy lost the Best Supporting Actor award to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine. [22] The filmmakers insisted on casting a relative unknown in the role, paralleling the casting of then-21-year-old Jennifer Holliday in that role for the original Broadway production. Among the more direct references are the uses of adapted Supremes album cover designs for albums recorded in the film by the Dreams. When they announced that, Gladys asked why don't we go ahead and be a part of the talent show. Teenage life became synonymous with pop culture, and with many of these teenagers having money to spend, the record market flourished. In one scene, Effie saunters into Curtis' office and discusses Rainbow Records' latest LP, The Great March to Freedom, a spoken word album featuring speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. ", Even when girl groups didn't set out make political statements or songs, the politically charged times came to them. URL: Nader, Juli (Nov. 21, 2006). [92], The Dreamgirls novelization was written by African-American novelist Denene Millner, and adapts the film's official script in chapter form, along with fourteen pages of photographs from the film. This seemingly passive attitude and general lack of depth in song subject matter makes it easy to dismiss girl groups music as trivial and, in contemporary terms, less than radical. "I was just overcome every week by this, these incredible visions, they were just such beautiful girls in these beautiful gowns, singing the music that I was listening to all week on the radio. As with many artists who lived in the black community at that time, it was an avenue that allowed you to travel to other cities and states and gave you that 'out.'" By 1973, Effie has become an impoverished welfare mother living in Detroit with her daughter Magic. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Postman." In Motown, founder Berry Gordy aimed to make music with widespread pop charts appeal. However, Deena clandestinely hopes the film will never come to be, pursuing other acting gigs. "We get young teenage girls at front and center in mainstream pop culture." A black-owned recording company having such a hit was, at that time, revolutionary. [22] A total of 783 singing actresses auditioned for the role of Effie White, among them American Idol alumnae Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson, former Disney star Raven-Symon, and Broadway stars Capathia Jenkins and Patina Miller. Yet The Supremes aren't necessarily representative of the rest of girl group culture. [49] Both DVD versions featured alternative and extended versions of the musical numbers from the film as extras, including the "Effie, Sing My Song" scene deleted during previews. Other Characters From Dreamgirls. In addition to the original compositions by composer Henry Krieger and lyricist/librettist Tom Eyen, four new songs, composed by Krieger with various lyricists, were added for the film. Answer. [63], Many reviews, regardless of their overall opinion of the film, cited Hudson's and Murphy's performances as standouts, with Travers proclaiming Murphy's performance of "Jimmy's Rap" as "his finest screen moment. The Effie White character from the Broadway play (and film) "Dreamgirls" is loosely based on Ballard. Rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug content. For instance, "Please Mr. Postman" is in some ways a classic girl group song, with a girl waiting for a letter from a boy. As a result, more than fifty high schools, colleges, community theaters, and other non-commercial theater entities staged productions of Dreamgirls in 2006, and DreamWorks spent up to $250,000 subsidizing the licensing. Outside Motown, The Shangri-Las were singing songs about good girls loving bad boys, such as "Leader of the Pack." The single-disc version of the soundtrack peaked at number-one on the Billboard 200 during a slow sales week in early January 2007. But they also sang about love and crushes, mostly from the position of a patiently waiting, yearning girl. Dreamgirls (2006) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Bill Condon Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Tom Eyen Henry Krieger Cinematography by Tobias A. Schliessler . However, after casting was completed, the film was budgeted at $73 million and Warner backed out of the production. 2. [50] As of 2017[update], total domestic video sales to date are at $95.1 million. His role in the . Many of the other original Dreamgirls Broadway cast members, among them Obba Babatund, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Cleavant Derricks, were interviewed for a Jet magazine article in which they discussed their varying opinions of both the Dreamgirls film's script and production. Based loosely on the Supremes, Devine portrayed Lorrell Robinson (a character based on Mary . When Early flames out, Curtis makes the Dreamettes into . [62] University of Sydney academic Timothy Laurie was critical of the film's social message, noting that "the worthy receive just desserts by working even [19] The two had dinner with Geffen and successfully convinced him to allow Condon to write a screenplay for Dreamgirls. He gathered a stellar group of area jazz musicians (all men), known collectively as The Funk Brothers. | Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dreamgirls (Blu-ray, 2006) Jamie Foxx , Beyonce Knowles at the best online prices at eBay! The real story of the 1960s girl groups, however, changed American music forever. Aided by new songs and a new image, Curtis and C.C. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The film won the awards for Best Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. The following year, Jimmy has descended into drug addiction due to Curtis' focus on Deena, along with the rejection of the charity single he recorded. Geffen, taking the role of co-producer, brought Paramount Pictures in to co-finance and release Dreamgirls. In 1960, he founded Motown Records, which went on to become the most successful black-owned company in the country. The girl group phenomenon reached its height between 1960 and 1963, though many scholars recognize The Chantel's 1958 song "Maybe" as the beginning of girl groups' commercial success. The connection between the fictional Dreams and the real-life Supremes is underlined by costume designer Sharen Davis, whose magnificent creations accurately echo the outlandish outfits Ross, Wilson and Ballard used to wriggle into. 1 hits at the height of Beatlemania. | When my brother went into the military, I know how anxious I or my mother or sister would be looking for a letter or something like that from him. Screenwriter and director Bill Condon, who wrote Chicago's screenplay, met producer Laurence Mark at a Hollywood holiday party in late 2002, where the two discussed a long-held "dream project" of Condon's adapting Dreamgirls for the screen. As much as Deena Jones, Beyonc Knowles' character in "Dreamgirls," was modeled on Diana Ross, the film's main character, Effie White, was based on Etta James, according to composer Henry Krieger. "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" was the Dreamgirls soundtrack's second single. "Creative License or 'Sour Grapes'? Though Effie defiantly and desperately appeals to Curtis, he, C.C., and The Dreams abandon her, forging ahead to stardom. They announced that they were having a talent show. Written by composer Henry Krieger and playwright Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls is said to be a fictional story based on girl groups of the 1960s such as The Supremes, The Shirelles and The Marvelettes - but speculation that it was based on The Supremes and their relationship with Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records has been The film was a commercial success, grossing over $155 million at the international box office. Cookie Policy . That same year, Motown got its first pop hit with The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. The slogan for the movie's Rainbow Records ("The Sound of Tomorrow") comes right from the old Motown Records ("The Sound of Young America"). Wake Me Up from this 'Dreamgirls' nightmare! But girl groupsfrom the black The Marvelettes to the white The Shangri-Laswere popular with a mixed audience from the beginning. Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental. [101], However, Smokey Robinson was less than pleased about the film's allusions to Motown history. By comparison, Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studio remained open and active during Detroit's 12th Street Riot in July 1967. With girl groups, that becomes more possible.". Offstage, Effie falls in love with Curtis while the married Jimmy does likewise with Lorrell. Crossing Color Lines. [23], The most crucial casting decision involved the role of Effie White, the emotional center of the story. In a January 25, 2007 interview with NPR, Robinson expressed offense at the film's portrayal of its Berry Gordy analogue, Curtis Taylor Jr., as a "villainous character" who deals in payola and other illegal activities. [36] The award-winning Broadway lighting team of Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer were brought in to create theatrical lighting techniques for the film's musical numbers. And all that very famous footage of Elizabeth Eckfordgoing to school that first day. Dreamgirls characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. harder for the industries that marginalise them". Coker, Cheo Hodari (2007). To restart her music career, she hires Marty as her manager and after a pep talk by him begins performing at a local club. leaves Los Angeles and reconciles with Effie in Detroit. Gordy, like his counterpart in the movie, had aspirations of making movies. So they're sitting at home or gathering at a friend's house or they're sitting on the bench during basketball practice at school, and doing the same kind of thingharmonizing and making up songs. Both the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions were issued in two-disc formats. Andr 3000 of Outkast was also offered the role, but declined. Terms of Use Gaye was not only Motown's chief solo male vocal star, he was married to Gordy's sister. Wilson's own film double, character Lorrell Robinson played by Anika Noni Rose, is nothing like her, she says. . They were able to transition into becoming adults with greater ease.". Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental. [citation needed] In addition, the Tonnor Doll Company released "The Dreamettes" collection, featuring dolls of the characters Deena, Lorrell, and Effie, to coincide with the release of the film. Dreamgirls is a 2006 American musical drama film written and directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Releases in other countries began on various dates between January and early March. Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental. For American girls to see female groups was something new. [45] The film's Los Angeles premiere was held on December 11 at the Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills. [39] During post-production, composer Stephen Trask was contracted to provide additional score material for the film. Left to right: Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross AP Wire photo 1965 But in Motown, Berry Gordy knew he could achieve both the musical and social aspect of crossover with well-groomed, sweet young girls. He cited a need to preserve the integrity of Dreamgirls stage director Michael Bennett's work after his death in 1987. [55] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. Presenting himself as their new manager, he recruits them as backup singers for Chitlin' Circuit R&B star Jimmy "Thunder" Early. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for Effie White from Dreamgirls. Although rehearsals ended just before Christmas 2005, Condon called Hudson back for a week of one-on-one rehearsals, to help her more fully become the "diva" character of Effie. [16], Warner Bros. had retained the film rights to Dreamgirls, and agreed to co-produce with DreamWorks. "[39] All of the new songs feature music composed by original Dreamgirls stage composer Henry Krieger. "[57] Television host Oprah Winfrey saw the film during a November 15 press screening, and telephoned Hudson on the Oprah episode airing the next day, praising her performance as "a religious experience" and "a transcendent performance. Original Broadway Cast of 'Dreamgirls' Feels Left Out of Movie History. Ballard, the group's original lead vocalist, had a rough, grainy and more conventional rhythm and blues voice, as opposed to the light, lithesome sound of Ross' vocals. But The Beatles themselves were obsessed with American girl groups and even sang girl group songs, including "Please Mr. Postman," The Shirelles' "Baby It's You" and The Cookies' "Chains. "There are girl group songs that are based on blues progressions But there's also some that sound more like Tin Pan Alley songsalmost like Broadway numbers.". [20] Condon did not start work on the Dreamgirls script until after making the Alfred Kinsey biographical film Kinsey (2004). What is the Dreamgirls story based on? Dreamgirls plays from 19 November 2016 at the Savoy Theatre. 1 In Sluggish Sales Week. [7] Willie Reale wrote the lyrics for "Patience," a song performed in the film by Jimmy, Lorrell, C.C., and a gospel choir, as the characters attempt to record a message song for Jimmy. The Motown sound was characterized by a straight-forward, grounded beat (bass and drums) and melodic hook. Lorrell Robinson. [36] The film was primarily shot on soundstages at the Los Angeles Center Studios and on location in the Los Angeles area, with some second unit footage shot in Detroit, Miami, and New York City. The limited edition program guide accompanying the Dreamgirls road show release was made available for retail purchase in February. [41], Four new songs were added for the film: "Love You I Do", "Patience", "Perfect World," and "Listen. Instead, says Whitall, it was more of a movie studio system. We lost! [4], Mark and Condon began pre-production with the intentions of casting Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, both actors with record industry experience, as Curtis Taylor, Jr. and James "Thunder" Early, respectively. She died broke, at age 32, in 1976. The two-disc version also included a feature-length production documentary, production featurettes, screen tests, animatics, and other previsualization materials and artwork. [31], Dreamgirls received eight 2007 Academy Award nominations covering six categories, the most of any film for the year, although it was not nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, or either of the lead acting categories. With Tom Eyen having died in 1991,[7] various lyricists were brought in by Krieger to co-author the new songs. Says Warwick, "Even from the very beginning, their songs are a little more adult in the themes," such as in the songs "Where Did Our love Go" and "Stop in the Name of Love." The British Academy of Film and Television Arts gave the film awards for Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) and Music (Henry Krieger). Based on his/her attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces! [104] Gordy issued a statement shortly afterwards expressing his acceptance of the apology. In Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy plays James "Thunder" Early, a character who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all Eddie Murphy. "[54] Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 rating, based on 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". 76 Metascore; 2006; 2 hr 9 mins Drama, Music PG13 Watchlist. Yet before girl groups, it was easier for a song to cross over than for artists themselves to do, says Warwick. Initially, Deena is a shy . Dreamgirls was the first DreamWorks film to be issued in a high definition home entertainment format. When Jimmy bombs in front of an all-white Miami Beach supper club audience, Curtis sends him out on the road alone, keeping The Dreamettes behind to headline in his place. Hudson was required to be rude and come in late both on set and off, and she and Condon went over Effie's lines and scenes throughout the week. "If you think about the Little Rock Nine in Arkansas in 1967," she says, "of nine black teenagers chosen to integrate the schools, six of them were girls. Cast members of Munopco Music Theatre's "Dreamgirls," left to right: Taylor Hood, Krystle Tate, Arianna Rodriguez and Rebekah Gray. Juneika Martinez, Quisha Farrell and Victoria Spruiell are in good voice as the Stepp Sisters and Les Styles. "Whereas these teenage boys, in cities like Detroit, can go out on the streets and kind of roam around the neighborhood and sing harmonies with each other, girls aren't so free to do that. DreamWorks hoped to encourage amateur productions of Dreamgirls, and familiarize a wider audience with the play. [102] He repeated these concerns in a later interview with Access Hollywood, adding that he felt DreamWorks and Paramount owed Gordy an apology. [43] "Listen" was the first official single from the soundtrack, supported by a music video featuring Beyonc. He also brought in professional choreographers. [17], When Geffen co-founded DreamWorks in 1994 and dissolved Geffen Pictures, the rights to Dreamgirls remained with Warner Bros. Warner planned to go ahead with the film with director Joel Schumacher and screenwriter Tina Andrews[7] in the late 1990s, following the success of Touchstone Pictures's Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got to Do with It. They were also among the first black musicians to appear onThe Ed Sullivan Show. | Both men worked in the automotive industry before focusing on music, and integrated aspects of the automotive business into the music making process. And the same non-threatening, pure quality that was letting black girl groups cross over into white culture was giving young women force in the civil rights movement. [16] That same year, Geffen, who ran his Warner Bros.-associated Geffen Pictures film production company at the time, began talks with Broadway lyricist and producer Howard Ashman to adapt it as a star vehicle for Whitney Houston, who was to portray Deena. The Broadway show had been had been partly financed by music mogul turned film producer David Geffen, who retained rights to produce the movie. And he did have a long-standing affair with Ross. In an era of cultural upheaval, girl groups helped articulate the personal experiences of teenagersof all raceswho were living through tremendous political upheaval. He appoints the slimmer, more conventionally attractive Deena as the new lead singer, renaming them "The Dreams". The Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture soundtrack album was released on December 5 by Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records, in both a single-disc version containing highlights and a double-disc "Deluxe Version" containing all of the film's songs. The movie, based on the 1981 Broadway play, tells the story of a small black record label and its star singers whose success crosses over to the pop charts. The Dreams' hometownthe setting for much of the actionwas moved from Chicago to Detroit, the real-life hometown of The Supremes and Motown Records. The film's nominations included Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson), Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, and three nominations for Best Song ("Listen", "Love You I Do", and "Patience"). [56], Rolling Stone's Peter Travers gave the film three and a half stars (out of four) and the number-two position on his "best of 2006" list, stating that "despite transitional bumps, Condon does Dreamgirls proud". Filming & Production [21] Murphy, on the other hand, accepted the role of Jimmy Early after being convinced to do so by DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. In casting Hudson, Condon recalled that he initially was not confident he'd made the right decision, but instinctively cast Hudson after she'd auditioned several times because he "just didn't believe any of the others. This is a hit with the audience until Jimmy goes too far and drops his pants. Curtis soon starts his own record label, Rainbow Records, out of his Detroit car dealership, appointing Effie's brother C.C. As much as Deena Jones, Beyonc Knowles' character in "Dreamgirls," was modeled on Diana Ross, the film's main character, Effie White, was based on Etta James, according to composer Henry Krieger. [84], For the opening performance at the 2007 BET Awards on June 26 of that year, Hudson performed a duet of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" with her predecessor, Jennifer Holliday. [23], R&B star Usher was to have been cast as C.C. InWomen of Motown, she says, "What I related the song to was my experience in Rio at Carnival time, and in New Orleans at Mardi Gras. Outside of the one bunker-buster ballad that closed the play's first act, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" -- and no song has received a more powerful performance anywhere than the one given this song in the film by its new star, Jennifer Hudson, as White -- the songs are mundane, derivative and not capable of standing on their own outside the context of the musical, or other people might have recorded them in the 25 years since director Michael Bennett made "Dreamgirls" a Broadway smash. [8] Dreamgirls earned a total of $851,664 from the roadshow engagements, playing to sold-out houses on the weekends. Dreamgirls eventually grossed $103 million in North America, and almost $155 million worldwide. In any case, neither Franklin nor James ever belonged to the Supremes. Community actress Yvette Nicole Brown was also in the running for the role but was eventually cast as the legal secretary to Foxxs character. Like the rest of the cast, Eddie does all his own singing in the film, but even he admits that the pop albums he put out in the '80s weren't a good example of what he could do. And it wasn't only menRuth Brown's "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean" was number one on the R&B charts in 1953, and number 23 on the pop charts. These grown-up themes contrast with The Shangri-Las singing healsongs about teenage drama. The DVD version was issued in two editions: a one-disc standard version and a two-disc "Showstopper Edition". Teenagers listening to popular music during this time heard songs with voices that sounded like their own. Their first several singles for the label bombed, but once the group changed lead vocalists and hooked up with songwriters Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland, the Supremes exploded with five consecutive No. They watched performers on stage who were their age. Florence Ballard was the alcoholic member of the Supremes who finally became too much of a problem and was unceremoniously replaced in the trio at the height of their career. Dreamgirls - Musical. In the 1980s and 1990s, several attempts were made to produce a film adaptation of Dreamgirls, a Broadway musical loosely based upon the story of The Supremes and Motown Records, which won six Tony Awards in 1982. Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental. But because of our performance, one of our teacherswhen it came time to audition for Motownbecause that was a part of what your winnings would be, to audition for Motownshe recommended that they take the top five. Privacy Statement and Effie's sung reunion "Effie, Sing My Song", which was replaced with an alternative spoken version.[15][42]. [28] Though Barrino emerged as an early frontrunner for the part,[29] Hudson was eventually selected to play Effie, leading Barrino to telephone Hudson and jokingly complain that Hudson "stole [Barrino's] part. Hundreds of girl groups recorded songs during the sixties, but hardly any of them were seasoned musicians. In New York, Phil Spector produced girl group songs using his famous "wall of sound," a production technique that employed a huge amount of instruments and layered track after track on top of each other. In Motown, Gordy hired finishing school teacher Maxine Powell to teach the girls how to walk and talk. For the 2007 Golden Globe Awards, Dreamgirls was nominated in five categories: Best Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical (Beyonc Knowles), Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson), and Best Original Song ("Listen"). 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