mark.waltz There's obviously tragedy in store for Dorothy Dandridge's soft-looking beauty here who messes with the wrong guy and lives to regret it in this all black version of the Bizet opera which focused on a bullfighter and senorita. The setting has been moved to a World War II military factory where Carmen sets her eyes on Joe (Harry Belafonte), a handsome solder assigned to escort her to a military prison for starting a fight while on duty. Is her interest in him strictly because of wanting her own freedom or is she genuinely interested in him, going out of her way to break him up with the sweet Cindy Lou (Olga James) who longs for a husband and home just like her parents had. But as quickly as she lands him, Carmen is bored, getting involved with a prize-fighter and forgetting all about Belafonte.Beautifully filmed with gorgeous music (but a few awkwardly translated lyrics), this musical tragedy is definitely a period piece. Still, Dandridge, the most gorgeous femme fatal since Rita Hayworth, shines, and if someone was deserving to win the Oscar over Judy Garland that year (and definitely the winner, Grace Kelly), it would be her. Pin-ups of her look gorgeous to this day, and when Halle Berry got into the off-the-shoulder blouse and tight black skirt, it was as if time had stood still and the real life tragic Dandridge was back in the land of the living. Both written and filmed biographies of the now legendary star make it obvious that she was the total opposite of her character, and that Rita Hayworth quote, "Men went to bed with Gilda and woke up with me" could definitely be replaced with Carmen instead of Gilda.Belafonte is an eloquent hero, his fall from grace obvious the moment he sees her in the commissary as she sings "Dat's Love" while gazing longingly at him. James is sweet and angelic, while in other supporting roles, Pearl Bailey and Brock Peters have some memorable moments as well. Bailey tears up "Beat Out That Rhythm on the Drum" while Peters shows both emotion and flaws as Belafonte's sergeant. There will be curiosity over the presence of the beautiful Diahann Carroll in a small role, but she has very little to do.It is obvious that there was a great deal of affection between Dandridge and director Otto Preminger as he gives her the most beautiful of close-ups and treats her like a movie goddess. Their second film together, "Porgy and Bess", is sadly very difficult to find, although clips do turn up in documentaries and various tributes from time to time. "Carmen Jones" may have its flaws (and even ripe for parody, especially with some of its music infamous for appearing in the "Hamlet" musical on "Gilligan's Island") but it gave us the powerful presence of the still gorgeous Dorothy Dandridge whose star went out way too soon.

kenjha The popular opera "Carmen," about the love affair between a soldier and a gypsy, is transported from 19th century Spain to 1940s U.S., with a black cast. Hammerstein provides the songs with English lyrics, but they fail to do justice to Bizet's magnificent music. Although Dandridge and Belanfonte could sing, their singing was dubbed as they could not carry operatic tunes. Dandridge looks beautiful in the title role, but her performance is weak. Belafonte does not fare too well either. It may not be the fault of the actors as much as the melodramatic and unengaging screenplay. Preminger, out of his element here, also deserves blame. The music should have carried the day, but the numbers are surprisingly lackluster.

Claudio Carvalho The Corporal Joe (Harry Belafonte) is engaged to the countryside girl Cindy Lou (Olga James) and is ready to go to the pilot school. However, he is assigned to transport the troublemaker Carmen Jones (Dorothy Dandridge), an easy independent and arrogant woman desired by every man that works in a parachute factory, to be arrested in another town. Joe has one night stand with the easy Carmen and she escapes from him. The infatuated Joe is arrested and can not forget Carmen. When he is released, his commander sends him to the pilot school; however, he meets Carmen and he hits a sergeant that is flirting with her. Joe flees from the Military Police with Carmen and they head to Chicago. But sooner Carmen finds a new lover, the box fighter Husky Miller (Joe Adams) and leaves Joe that is chased by the MP. "Carmen Jones" is a boring and overrated film by Otto Preminger that uses the music of Bizet's opera. The whole cast is Afro-American and I did not like this movie. My vote is four.Title (Brazil): "Carmen Jones"

froberts73 First, the minuses. No one need try to guess about Belafonte being dubbed. That ain't his range. He is mellow, soft-voiced. Dandridge, of course was not a belter, but who cares? Pearl Bailey was Pearl Bailey. Brock (Broc) Peters was always a favorite, always an outstanding menacer.Credit 20th Century Fox, and Darryl F. Zanuck, the only major studio and exec to back African-American productions in those days.Some of the slower songs dragged somewhat, but the faster-paced items should have made Bizet proud. All in all, "Carmen Jones" gets high ratings for the bulk of the musical numbers, and the dancing which I would have liked to see more of.Getting back to Miss Dandridge. She played the part of the sultry Miss Jones to perfection. The story? Once again, it shows how a woman can screw up your life.One more thing. The ending was much too abrupt with Belafonte looking beautifully mean. It was choke-choke THE END.