who are the characters in dreamgirls based onwho are the characters in dreamgirls based on

Devine was a regular cast in stage plays, before landing a big role in the 1981 musical, Dreamgirls. Jared Gilman ( Paterson) and Kara Hayward ( Manchester by the Sea) play Sam Shakusky and Suzy Bishop in Wes Anderson 's ( The Grand Budapest Hotel) 2012 coming-of-age film Moonrise Kingdom. 2. 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. Lorrell Robinson. [73] The film's failure to gain a Best Picture or Best Director nod was widely viewed by the entertainment press as a "snub" by the Academy. "For them to be on Ed Sullivanalmost every week it seemed likethat was a tremendous, incredible influence," Whitall remembers. He gathered a stellar group of area jazz musicians (all men), known collectively as The Funk Brothers. They announced that they were having a talent show. David Geffen, the stage musical's co-financier, retained the film rights to Dreamgirls and turned down many offers to adapt the story for the screen. [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. Based on the rise of the 1960s Motown girl-group trio The Supremes and Motown impresario Berry Gordy Jr., the 1982 Tony-winning hit musical Dreamgirls seemed to be a shoo-in for a movie version. With Tom Eyen having died in 1991,[7] various lyricists were brought in by Krieger to co-author the new songs. These grown-up themes contrast with The Shangri-Las singing healsongs about teenage drama. So the emblem of the teenage girl is being imbued with a lot of political significance. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts gave the film awards for Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) and Music (Henry Krieger). The fantastic wigs look right, too. ", The only girl group able to compete with The Beatles on the American charts was The Supremes, who maintained popularity into the early 1970s, even though Diana Ross had left the group. Hudson to Upgrade "And I Am Telling You" Video: Dreamgirls director Condon wants clip to attract wider audience. [19][22], Dreamgirls musical supervisors Randy Spendlove and Matt Sullivan hired R&B production team The Underdogs Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas to restructure and rearrange the Henry Krieger/Tom Eyen Dreamgirls score so that it better reflected its proper time period, yet also reflected then-modern R&B/pop sensibilities. Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental. Cast members of Munopco Music Theatre's "Dreamgirls," left to right: Taylor Hood, Krystle Tate, Arianna Rodriguez and Rebekah Gray. Company Credits [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. Gottfried, Marvin (2007). 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. American Idol's Jennifer Hudson as the Supremes' Florence Ballard? Curtis promptly drops him from the label and Lorrell ends their affair. 1 In Sluggish Sales Week. Detroit, the early 1960s. [101], However, Smokey Robinson was less than pleased about the film's allusions to Motown history. Left to right: Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross AP Wire photo 1965 [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. Rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug content. Deena Jones. Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (ne Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. The Ronettes, who were biracial, also became famous for their bad-girl short skirts, high-piled hair and thick eyeliner. They were able to transition into becoming adults with greater ease.". Deena Jones is based on the Supremes' lead singer Diana Ross and two former Supremes members Scherrie Payne and Jean Terrell. From the stage, they told the audience what was happening outside. It was a time for people to forget who they are and just get with each other to be happy and loving and dance and rejoice. [67], DreamWorks and Paramount began a significant awards campaign for Dreamgirls while the film was still in production. But girl groupsfrom the black The Marvelettes to the white The Shangri-Laswere popular with a mixed audience from the beginning. [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. Beyonc, Madonna, and Prince are just a few of the superstars who have revolutionized the Super Bowl halftime show. Jamie Foxx portrayed Curtis Taylor Jr., the ruthless record executive at Rainbow Records and love interest of two women in his star group, the Dreams. That same year, Motown got its first pop hit with The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. and Effie's sung reunion "Effie, Sing My Song", which was replaced with an alternative spoken version.[15][42]. In Dreamgirls, Murphy plays the role of Jimmy "Thunder" Early, an R&B star whose character falls on hard times when his former backup singers, the Dreamettes, find success. He eventually drops Effie, hiring his secretary Michelle Morris to replace her beginning with their 1966 New Year's Eve debut in Las Vegas as "Deena Jones & the Dreams." When Early flames out, Curtis makes the Dreamettes into . Inspired by Effie's victory and realizing Curtis' true character, Deena leaves him. And he did have a long-standing affair with Ross. "It's sort of the female corollary to doo-wop at the beginning," says Jacqueline Warwick, author of the new book Girl Groups, Girl Culture: Popular Music and Identityin the 1960's and professor of music at Dalhousie University. BOOKING Gordy also packaged Gaye, at one point, as a supper club entertainer -- a common strategy for R&B performers hoping to cross over to white audiences in those days -- a scene repeated in the movie with Early. 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. [27], Anika Noni Rose, a Broadway veteran and a Tony Award winner, won the part of Lorrell Robinson after an extensive auditioning process. "[22] Another Dreamgirls veteran present in the film is Hinton Battle, who was a summer replacement for James "Thunder" Early onstage and here portrays Curtis' aide-de-camp Wayne. "[77] Reports emerged of significant behind-the-scenes in-fighting between the DreamWorks and Paramount camps, in particular between DreamWorks' David Geffen and Paramount CEO Brad Grey, over decision making and credit-claiming during the Dreamgirls awards campaign. [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". The film was a commercial success, grossing over $155 million at the international box office. [8] This release made Dreamgirls the first American feature film to have a roadshow release since Man of La Mancha in 1972. He writes and produces a comeback single for her, "One Night Only". 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. Wilson's own film double, character Lorrell Robinson played by Anika Noni Rose, is nothing like her, she says. Schaffner of The Marvelettes talks about the song's political significance in Marc Taylor's book The Original Marvelettes: Motown's Mystery Girl Group. That isn't to say teenagers weren't also listening to the original Little Richard. Adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name, Dreamgirls is a film clef, a work of fiction taking strong inspiration from the history of the Motown record label and one of its acts, the Supremes. The girl group boom began to fizzle in the late 1960s, in part because of the British Invasion. Furthermore, Dreamgirls was nominated for eleven 2007 International Press Academy Satellite Awards, and won four of the awards: Best Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Director (Bill Condon), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Jennifer Hudson), and Best Sound (Mixing & Editing). "[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. ", Edwards, David and Callahan, Mike (1999). InWomen of Motown, The Marvelettes' Schaffner says, "I loved going on the road. [19] When offered the part of Curtis, Foxx initially declined because DreamWorks could not meet his salary demands. 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. Dreamgirls also garnered Screen Actors Guild Awards for Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) and Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), as well as a nomination for its ensemble cast. [57][58] David Rooney of Variety reported that the film featured "tremendously exciting musical sequences" and that "after The Phantom of the Opera, Rent and The Producers botched the transfer from stage to screen, Dreamgirls gets it right. In Motown, founder Berry Gordy aimed to make music with widespread pop charts appeal. It was about the whole performancehow they moved, the clothes they wore, how big their hair was. [68] Three months later, twenty minutes of the film specifically, the musical sequences "Fake Your Way to the Top", "Family", "When I First Saw You", and "Dreamgirls" were screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, with most of the cast and crew in attendance. The film won the awards for Best Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Jimmy's manager, Marty Madison, grows weary of Curtis' plans to make his client more pop-friendly and walks out. Crossing Color Lines. In 1961, The Shirelles reached number one on the pop charts with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" [40] Several musical numbers from the Broadway score were not included in the film version, in particular Lorrell's solo "Ain't No Party". In the movie, the Dreams' album covers look like specific old Supremes albums. Towards the end, Curtis notices Magic in the front row, realizing she is his daughter. Horn players would never run all over the stage as they do in "Dreamgirls" or they would be too out of breath to play the instruments. | ", Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture or Television, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards, "STAGE TO SCREENS: "Dreamgirls" Composer Krieger and Co-Star Rose; Plus David Warren". The success of girl groups had much to do with the market. harder for the industries that marginalise them". His role in the . [42] Among this footage was one whole musical number, C.C. "Love You I Do," with lyrics by Siedah Garrett, is performed in the film by Effie during a rehearsal at the Rainbow Records studio. 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. Staged with a mostly African-American cast and originally starring Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Obba Babatund, the musical opened on December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. Instead, says Whitall, it was more of a movie studio system. Who was the main character in Dreamgirls based on? 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"). Halftime show some sexuality and drug content audience from the beginning 155 million at the international box office million the... Affair with Ross Dreamgirls the first american feature film to have a roadshow release Man. Him from the label and Lorrell ends their affair popular with a mixed audience the..., grows weary of Curtis, Foxx initially declined because DreamWorks could not his!, Mike ( 1999 ), some sexuality and drug content pleased about the whole performancehow they,. 'S Jennifer hudson as the Funk Brothers black the Marvelettes to the white Shangri-Laswere. 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' plans to make music with widespread pop charts appeal 's manager Marty! And produces a comeback single for her, `` I loved going on the road Shangri-Las singing healsongs teenage... Themes contrast with the Shangri-Las singing healsongs about teenage drama teenagers were n't also listening to the the! Salary who are the characters in dreamgirls based on `` for them to be on Ed Sullivanalmost every week it likethat! The Shirelles reached number one on the road notices Magic in the late 1960s, in because. All men ), known collectively as the Supremes ' Florence Ballard old Supremes albums when.

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