Dorothy Dandridge plays the title character in this film adaptation of the modernized Broadway musical of the Bizet opera Carmen, which 1943 production had book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. The film continues Broadway’s all-Black cast, and Ms. Dandridge found herself with an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her efforts here, marking the first time a Black actor had appeared in a category as lead and only the third time a Black actor had received such a mention in any category. Co-starring civil rights icon Harry Belafonte, who had appeared as the principal to Dandridge’s elementary school teacher in Bright Road one year prior.
Carmen Jones is available to rent digitally on most platforms for $3-4.
With a free post-film discussion on July 1 at 7:00 p.m. from Renee Thomas-Woods, Associate Professor of Communication and Mass Communication at St. Louis Community College, where she enjoys teaching Film Appreciation and Black Cinema.