Diahann Carroll Movies
Over her long career, Diahann Carroll has distinguished herself as a singer and as an actress on screen, television, and the stage. The Bronx-born beauty started out at age ten when she received a scholarship from the Metropolitan Opera to enroll in New York's prestigious High School of Music and Art. While Carroll was a sociology major at New York University, she began modeling and then singing in nightclubs. This led to television performances, which in turn led her to Broadway in 1954, when she debuted in House of Flowers. That year she also made her film debut in Carmen Jones. In 1962, Carroll earned a Tony award for starring in the Broadway production of No Strings. She made her mark on television in 1968 when she was cast in the title role of the pioneering sitcom Julia, the first television series to star an African-American actress. The show was also innovative for portraying the travails of an intelligent, capable single mother (Julia's husband died in Vietnam) who juggles her career, home life, and romance. When it was first broadcast, the show's interracial themes generated some controversy, but largely due to the charming Carroll, the show became popular and ran until 1971. In 1974, Carroll received an Oscar nomination for Claudine. In addition to appearing in films, Carroll has continued to perform on television in movies and miniseries. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1991
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) is outraged that her fiance Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) has been dating an attractive science professor, and never mind that it was Whitley's own bad attitude that drove Dwayne away from her. At the same time, Whitley's mom Marion (iahann Carroll) and Dwayne's mom Adele (Patti LaBelle) meet for the first time--and detest each other on sight. Eventually, Marion and Adele negotiate a temporary detente...which, alas, is more than can be said for Whitley and Dwayne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the first episode of a two-part story, Whitley's overbearing mother Marion (Diahann Carroll) visits Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). It's bad enough that Whitley is unable to admit that she's lost her job; it's even worse when she meets Marion's much-younger boyfriend Malik (Nestor Carbonell). But the fur doesn't really begin to fly until Dwayne's mom Adele (Patti LaBelle) shows up, still unable to forgive her son for marrying Whitley without her O.K., and absolutely unprepared to make nice-nice with Marion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) degenerates into a slapstick food fight, thanks to the couple's respective mothers Adele (Patti LaBelle) and Marion (Diahann Carroll). Later on, the two warring moms land in jail after getting involved in a rally-turned-riot for starving Haitians, organized by the well-meaning Freddie (Cree Summer) and attended by Marion's new "boy toy" Malik (Nestor Carbonell). Fortunately, Adele and Marion finally settle their differences when they discover that Dwayne and Whitley are flat broke; unfortunately, the bungled rally causes a rift between Freddie and her activist boyfriend Shazza (Gary Dourdan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Diahann Carroll earned an Emmy nomination for her first appearance as Marion Gilbert, overbearing mother of Hillman student Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy). Convinced that Whitley is "wasting" herself in college, Marion tries to persuade the girl to forego her studies and start looking for a husband. Meanwhile, Freddie (Cree Summer goes overboard--as usual--when she inaugurates a campus-wide recycling program. Supporting player Dominic Hoffman (Kent Souje) later appeared in the recurring role of Julian Day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Upset that her mother Marion (Diahann Carroll) would rather jet to Paris for Christmas than spend the holidays at home, Whitley takes out anger on her best friends. Thus the stage is set for a Diffreent World spin on "A Christmas Carol", as the Scroogelike Whitley is made to see the foolishness of her wrath during an elaborate Yuletide dream. On this occasion, Mr. Gaines (Lou Myers) is seen as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Walter (Sinbad) shows up as Christmas Present, and Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) impersonates Christmas Future. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of A Different World's two-part Season Five finale, Whitley (Jasmine Guy)is just about to wed Byron Douglas III (Joe Morton) when she realizes that she is still in love with Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). Whitley's social-climbing mom Marion (Diahann Carroll) works overtime to convince her daughter to go through with the ceremony whether she wants to or not. Wackiness ensues (as wackiness often does), and the episode comes to a surprising and slightly surreal conclusion. "Saving the Best for Last" marks the final series appearance of Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) lands a lucrative job with the Kineshawa company--one that will force him and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) to move to Japan. En route to her new home, Whitley delivers her baby, somewhat to the surprise of her friends, who hadn't even been informed that she was pregnant. Back at Hillman, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) prepares to sue Dwayne for copyright infringement, thereby alienating Freddie (Cree Summer); and Kim (Charnele Brown) and Spencer (Michael Ralph) announce their engagement. Though intended as the series finale for A Different World, this episode was ultimately followed by seven "leftover" episodes, two of which did not air until the series left NBC and entered syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Based on the Francoise Sagan novel Aimez vous Brahms?, Goodbye Again stars Ingrid Bergman as Paula Tessier, a successful Parisian interior decorator (with a personal wardrobe by Christian Dior) and Yves Montand as her roving-eye lover, Roger Demarest. Worried that she'll be left in the lurch by the unfaithful Montand, Bergman enters into an affair with the much-younger Philip Van Der Besh (Anthony Perkins). Once he realizes that he's lost Paula to Philip, Roger offers to mend his rakish ways. She takes him back, and they are married; soon afterward, however, Roger goes back to his old skirt-chasing habits. Variety noted that Goodbye Again has "strong appeal for a middle-aged distaff audience"; nowadays, they'd call it a chick flick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ingrid Bergman, Yves Montand, (more)
In 1943, Oscar Hammerstein Jr. took Georges Bizet's opera Carmen, rewrote the lyrics, changed the characters from 19th century Spaniards to World War II-era African-Americans, switched the locale to a Southern military base, and the result was Carmen Jones. Dorothy Dandridge stars as Carmen Jones, tempestuous employee of a parachute factory. Harry Belafonte plays Joe (originally José), a young military officer engaged to marry virginal Cindy Lou (Olga James). When Carmen gets into a fight with another girl, she is placed under arrest and put in Joe's charge. Succumbing to her attractiveness, Joe accompanies Carmen to her old neighborhood, where, after killing a sergeant sent to retrieve him, he deserts the army. Carmen tries to be faithful, but fortune-telling Frankie (Pearl Bailey) warns her that she and her soldier are doomed. Enter Joe Adams in the role of boxer Husky Miller (a play on Carmen's bullfighter Escamillo), who sweeps Carmen off her feet, ultimately with tragic consequences. Alhough both Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte were singers, their opera voices were dubbed in by LeVern Hutcherson and Marilyn Horne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, (more)
Claudine (Diahann Carroll) is an impoverished African-American Harlem resident. Unmarried, Claudine supports herself and her six children by working as a maid--albeit secretly, so she can still qualify for welfare. Garbageman James Earl Jones falls in love with Claudine, and after strenuous effort manages to win the affections of her suspicious kids. Just when it seems as though there's a marriage in the offing, Jones runs off. Claudine's kids hunt him down and shame him into returning to their mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, (more)
The 1975 TV movie Death Scream is based on the shameful Kitty Genovese affair of 1964, in which a N.Y.C. woman was stabbed to death while 38 witnesses locked their windows and doors and pretended not to hear. Raul Julia stars as the detective who investigates the murder and stirs up the guilt feelings of those who refused to help. The film casts celebrity actors in the roles of the witnesses (Diahann Carroll, Cloris Leachman, Lucie Arnaz, Nancy Walker, Art Carney, et al.). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A young girl learns some difficult lessons about truth, love, and fidelity in this critically-acclaimed Southern gothic drama. Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) is a ten-year-old girl whose father Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) is a successful and well-liked doctor in an African-American community in Louisiana. Louis is a good father and an excellent provider, but he also has a way of attracting the ladies, and he's not inclined to turn them away. One night, the Batistes hold a party, and Eve, her older sister Cisely (Meagan Good), and their mother Roz (Lynn Whitfield) all notice that Louis is spending a great deal of time dancing with the same woman. Eve later spies her father and the woman in an embrace in the carriage house, though Louis unconvincingly claims that nothing untoward was happening. The evidence of Louis' infidelity takes a toll on the entire family: Cisely, who at age 14 is walking the middle-ground between being a girl and a woman, becomes sullen and confused about her new emotions, Roz takes out her frustrations on her loved ones, and Eve visits Elzora (Diahann Carroll), a voodoo priestess, looking for advice and possibly revenge. Meanwhile, Eve's Aunt Mozelle (Debbi Morgan), who claims to have psychic powers, arrives to stay with the family after the death of her third husband, though she isn't lonely for long after meeting the eccentric Julien Greyraven (Vondie Curtis-Hall). Eve's Bayou was the first project as writer-director for actress Kasi Lemmons; leading man Samuel L. Jackson also co-produced. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jurnee Smollett, Meagan Good, (more)
- 1968
- Add Frank Sinatra: Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing to QueueAdd Frank Sinatra: Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing to top of Queue
This 1968 television special (whose title proves Frank Sinatra was doing his best to keep up with the times) features Ol' Blue Eyes duetting with Diahann Carroll on several tunes (including "Lonesome Road" and "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child") and turning the stage over to special guests The 5th Dimension for two numbers (they also team up with Frank for the song "Sweet Blindness"). Mr. Sinatra also sings some of his more interesting material from the period, including "Cycles," "Baubles Bangles and Beads" and "Put Your Dreams Away," with arrangements by longtime collaborator Don Costa. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1989
From the Dead of Night has an acceptable two-hour premise; unfortunately, the producers saw fit to drag things out to four hours. Lindsay Wagner stars as an LA fashion designer who, when she nearly drowns, has an out-of-body experience. Haunted by this, Wagner seeks out a spiritualist (Rita Zohar). This weird but worthy seer suggests that Wagner saw what no living person can be permitted to see, and prophesies that six entities from "the other side" will try to drag Wagner back. The conclusion finds the plucky Ms. Wagner doing battle with resurrected corpses. From the Dead of Night was stretched out over two consecutive days, February 27 and 28, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
The results of the first-year exams are posted, and all but one the interns have passed. Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Burke (Isaiah Washington) are ready to march down the aisle and exchange vows--or are they? An important decision reached by George (T.R. Knight) and Callie (Sara Ramirez) is clouded by thoughts of Izzie (Katherine Heigl). Alex (Justin Chambers) has trouble hiding his feelings when the husband of Rebecca Pope--aka Ava, aka Jane Doe--shows up. It's anybody's guess where things stand for Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) And as his wife (Loretta Devine) undergoes surgery, Dr. Webber (James Pickens Jr.) announces the name of his successor. This cliffhanger finale of Grey's Anatomy's third season marks the final series appearance of Kate Walsh (Addison), who will headline the spinoff series Private Practice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Surprisingly, it is Bailey (Chandra Wilson) who is the loudest voice as the staffers try to persuade Izzie (Katherine Heigl) not to give up medicine. Meanwhile, Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) scores again, and Addison (Kate Walsh) is once more the prize; Cristina (Sandra Oh) has an uncomfortable meeting with the parents (Richard Roundtree, Diahann Carroll) of the convalescing Burke (Isaiah Washington); Meredith remains torn between Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Finn (Chris O'Donnell); and Webber (James Pickens Jr.) confronts Callie (Sara Ramirez) over her quirky behavior, just as George (T.R. Knight) walks in. And on the "patient roster" front, a lung cancer victim (Roxanne Hart) decides to throw caution to the winds, with wide-ranging results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
In the first episode of a two-part story, Addison (Kate Walsh) heads to LA for a reunion old medical-school friends, blissfully unprepared for what it is in store for her. Meredith's stepmom Susan (Mare Winningham) is brought in with a truly bad case of hiccups, just as Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) thinks she has come to terms with their relationship. "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser) has been identified as "Ava", and Alex (Justin Chambers) is happy with her by any name. And Cristina (Sandra Oh) prepares for her wedding with the dubious input of her own mother (Tsai Chin) and Burke's mom (Diahann Carroll). This episode serves to introduce the future costars of the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice: Tim Daly (Pete), Amy Brennerman (Violet), Taye Diggs (Sam), Chris Lowell (Dell) and Paul Adelstein (Cooper) (the character of Naomi, here played by Merrin Dungey, would be taken over by Audra McDonald in Private Practice). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Addison (Kate Walsh) undergoes a profound personal crisis as she mulls over the possibility of moving to LA's Oceanside Wellness Center (thereby setting the stage for the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice). Back in Seattle, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) learns that her stepmother Susan (Mare Winningham) is suffering from something far more serious than a bad case of hiccups. Alex (Justin Chambers) shows up for emotional support as Derek (Patrick Dempsey) performs emergency surgery on Ava (Elizabeth Reaser). And Burke (Isaiah Washington) and George (T.R. Knight) get quite an earful when they turn to Bailey (Chandra Wilson) for marital advice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
- NR
Based on the best-selling book by Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth, which was later adapted into a Broadway play, Having Our Say tells the true story of the Delany Sisters, two African-American women who were fathered by a former slave, went on to attend college, and witnessed the slow but steady advance of civil rights in America before a reporter for The New York Times sat down with them to record their story. In the film version, 103-year-old Sadie (Diahann Carroll) is a polite and soft-spoken woman who deals cheerfully with the questions of journalist Amy Hill Hearth (Amy Madigan). Sadie's considerably more feisty 101-year-old sister (and housemate) Bessie (Ruby Dee) grumbles about "white people who ask you to explain the obvious to them," but soon adds her own stories as the Delanys discuss their quietly remarkable lives as career women and racial pioneers who not only survived Jim Crow laws, they outlived Jim Crow, as well. Produced for CBS Television, Having Our Say was first aired April 18, 1999. Incidentally, Bessie Delany died in 1995 at age 104, while Sadie, at 110, passed on in 1999, only a few months before this was first aired. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, (more)
- 1967
Otto Preminger directed this star-studded adaptation of K.B. Gliden's novel about racial prejudice and emotional unrest in the Deep South. Henry Warren (Michael Caine) is a land owner obsessed with buying up all available land in a Georgia farming town. However, two parcels of land have escaped his reach, and he's determined to get them. The Scotts, an African-American family, own one of the lots that Henry is after; the matriarch of the family, Rose (Beah Richards), used to work as a servant for the family of Henry's wife, Julie Ann (Jane Fonda), so Henry sends Julie Ann to talk with her. However, not only doesn't Rose agree to sell, she gets so upset that she dies of a heart attack, and soon her headstrong son Reeve (Robert Hooks) is the owner of the land. Reeve refuses all of Henry's offers to sell out, and he even stands up to a racist lynch mob that tries to ransack his farm; when Henry attempts to prove that Reeve holds no legal deed to the property, Vivian Thurlow (Diahann Carroll), the town's black schoolmarm, is able to provide the documentation that the Scotts do indeed own their land. Meanwhile, Henry is also trying to buy some property farmed by Rod McDowell (John Phillip Law) and his wife Lou (Faye Dunnaway), a poor white couple who are Henry's cousins. The McDowell farm adjoins that owned by the Scotts, so Reeve and Rod agree to join forces against Henry, which leads to violent reprisals against them. While set in Georgia, Hurry Sundown was actually shot on location in Louisiana; it was the first film shot in the South with an integrated cast and crew, leading the producers to demand protection from State Troopers after members of the company received death threats. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, (more)
- 1979
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is based on the writings of African-American poet/playwright Maya Angelou. Though she eventually became America's poet laureate, Angelou was once just another little black girl growing up in Depression-era Arkansas. Her efforts to better herself run up against the stone wall of bigotry; in addition, the girl is traumatized into sullen silence by a brutal rape. Slowly, and with the loving support of her dedicated mother, Angelou overcomes her many deprivations, and by the time she is a high school senior, she has been elected class valedictorian. Constance Good plays young Angelou in this made-for-TV film, which also stars Esther Rolle, Roger E. Mosley, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee and Madge Sinclair. Filmed on location in Vicksburg, Mississippi, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was adapted for television by Ms. Angelou and Leonora Thuna; it was first telecast April 28, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
