HBO will air its original movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge on 6 January at 9:30 pm. For the uninitiated, Dandridge created history in the 1950s by becoming the first black woman ever nominated for a 'best actress' Oscar.

The film was clearly a labour of love for Halle Berry who won a Golden Globe, SAG and an Emmy for playing the lead. Berry is effective balancing the showy moments like the singing, with the subtle ones. Watch the flicker of disappointment move across her face after she loses the Oscar to Grace Kelly.

Aptly played by Berry, the confident and vivacious Dandridge character was determined not to allow the racially stereotypical society get in the way of her career. “I have more talent than anyone in this town” Berry confidently brags to director Otto Preminger who casts her in Carmen Jones.

The film effectively unwinds in a series of flashbacks. Dorothy kicked off her career singing in a trio. Unfortunately, she was also subjected to physical abuse at the hands of her mother’s best female friend referred to as ‘auntie’. This, in turn, causes her to have a string of relationships with men that do not work out physically. She also struggles to come to terms with her mentally retarded child.
Brandauer does interesting work playing Otto Preminger torn between his desire and affection for Dandridge and fear of falling foul of society’s norms. Brent Spiner is sensitive in the role of the music manager who sticks by Dandridge till the end, while Loretta Devine livens up proceedings as Berry’s mother while helping Berry keep her head on straight.

Visual style is important for a film like this and one will not be disappointed in this regard. The tap dancing and big band jazz numbers remind one of the glory days of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Director Martha Coolidge succeeds admirably in depicting racism in Las Vegas.

This element would come as a shock to viewers and contrary to one's impression of Casino land as being liberal and offering a myriad of opportunities. Berry has to endure the humiliation of using a Dixie cup instead of a bathroom. Worse still, a well-shot scene actually shows the hotel pool in Vegas being scrubbed and drained even though Dandridge merely dipped her feet in it.

The film however stops short of attaining the heights of greatness achieved by other HBO films like Conspiracy, Dinner With Friends and George Wallace. One would have liked to have seen more of Dandridge’s career after the high of Carmen Jones. Did she do anything significant after that and if not why? is a question that remains unanswered.

A further perspective would have added more gravity to the film. The film sort of tapers away resorting to rather clichéd scenes of Berry fainting and slurring through stage performances. It would have also been fascinating if the film had explored further the jealousy Dandridge's sister experiences.

Nonetheless, the film serves as a strong reminder that Denzel Washington, Chris Rock and Berry herself owe a great deal of their success to the likes of Dandridge and Sidney Poitier. It also makes me feel like renting Carmen Jones even though this critic would rather stick to contemporary cinema.