4/25/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY- REMEMBERING PRINCE: Purple Rain (excerpts)

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Purple Rain (1984) stars Prince in his film debut playing a quasi-biographical person called The Kid. Purple Rain was developed to showcase Prince’s talents and contains several extended concert sequences. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.  Continue reading

3/3/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Arene- A Sci-Fi Short Film

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When a young woman finds herself captured on board a military aircraft. The soldiers don’t think much of her, until their commander confirms her identity and all hell breaks loose. Produced by Stoyan Yankov and directed by  Henrik B. Clausen. Continue reading

3/28/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY- CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Halle Berry- Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (excerpts)

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Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is the 1999 biography of Dorothy Dandridge follows her career through early days on the club circuit with her sister to her turn in movies, including becoming the first black actress to win a Best Actress Nomination in 1954 for Carmen Jones, to her death from prescription drugs, which remains debated whether it was suicide or accidental. In 2000 production won five Emmy Awards including Outstanding Art Direction, Cinematography, Costumes, Hairstyling and Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie—Halle Berry.  Continue reading

3/21/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Judy Garland- Somewhere Over The Rainbow

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In 1939 MGM released the Frank Baum children’s classic The Wizard of Oz. The public wanted child star and box office powerhouse Shirley Temple to play the role of Dorothy. The studio decided to go with 17-year-old newcomer Judy Garland instead. This was one of the first scene filmed it sets the tone for the rest of the film. Continue reading

3/7/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Hollywood Monday: Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?- Bette Davis and Joan Crawford

Hollywood Mondays

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What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1962 American psychological thriller film produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The story revolves around a former child star, Baby Jane Hudson (Davis) who torments her crippled sister, Blanche (Crawford) in a decaying Hollywood mansion. Continue reading

2/29/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Boyz N The Hood (Excerpts)

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Boyz n the Hood (1991) The groundbreaking urban drama and directorial debut film written and directed by John Singleton. The film depicts life in South Central Los Angeles, California and marked the acting debut of Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut  Boyz n the Hood also starred Cuba Gooding, Jr., Larry Fishburne, Nia Long and Angela Bassett.  Continue reading

2/22/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Lady Sings The Blues (1972)- Excerpts

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Lady Sings The Blues– excerpts from the 1972 film starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor. 1) The Man I Love 2) Them There Eyes 3) Good Morning Heartache 4) My Man 5) God Bless the Child. Continue reading

2/15/16 0&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Killer Diller (1948)

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Killer Diller starring The Clark Brothers (tap dancers), Nat King Cole, Moms Mabley, Dusty Fletcher, Butterfly McQueen, the Andy Kirk Orchestra, dancers from the Katherine Dunham School and the Four Congaroos (dancing Lindy Hop) was filmed in 1948 during the height of post war race films explosion. This all-black cast film, geared toward minority audiences, featured a cavalcade of African-American talent.  Continue reading

2/8/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Cabin in the Sky (1943)

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Cabin in the Sky is a 1943 American musical film based on the 1940 musical of the same name. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film stars Ethel Waters and Rex Ingram, who reprised their roles from the Broadway production, as well Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson and Lena Horne. It was Horne’s first and only leading role in an MGM musical. Louis Armstrong was also featured in the film as one of Lucifer Junior’s minions, and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra have a showcase musical number in the film.

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Taking A Chance On Love
Ethel Waters with Eddie “Rochester” Anderson (guitar)
and Bill Bailey (tap)

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Jim Henry’s Club
Ethel Waters, John Bubbles, Eddie’Rochester’ Anderson
and Lena Horne