Special Interest

This 90-minute documentary explores the history of a century of films involving African-American people, and takes a look at the lives and work of many accomplished actors and directors. The program includes rare footage, scenes from classic movies, and commentary from Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, and obert Townsend, among others. ~ Alice Duncan, All Movie Guide

Hosted by Obba Babatunde, this documentary from Passport Productions studies the life and career of African American entertainer Dorothy Dandridge. Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty features interviews with such Dandridge admirers as Brock Peters, Lawrence Fishburne, and Academy Award winner Halle Berry who received an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the ill-fated actress and singer in the film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Six musical film clips and eight film trailers make up this profile of the legendary Dorothy Dandridge. Released by Passport Productions, Dorothy Dandridge: Singing at Her Best features the beloved entertainer performing such songs as "Swing for My Supper" and "Blow Out the Candles." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

This two-hour video consists of two programs. First, Hollywood Musicals of the 40s provides footage and sequences from such musical movies as Moon Over Miami (1941), directed by Walter Lang and starring Don Ameche and Betty Grable; Holiday Inn (1942), directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire; Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), directed by Casablanca director Michael Curtiz and starring James Cagney; Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), directed by David Butler and starring Eddie Cantor; Cabin in the Sky (1943), featuring a mostly black cast directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Lena Horne and Louis Armstrong; and Easter Parade (1948), directed by Charles Waters and starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. The second program is a musical short titled Hollywood Victory Caravan, from World War II, featuring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and other stars singing to promote war bonds. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide

In 1955, Orson Welles prepared a series of six travel documentaries for British television under the title Around the World with Orson Welles. While no prints survive of the series' final episode, "The Third Man Returns to Vienna," the other five installments are collected on this home video release. In "St. Germain Des Pres," Welles visits the Parisian bohemian district and introduces us to Jean Cocteau and Juliette Greco. "The Chelsea Pensioners" examines the life of the elderly residents of London. A trip to Spain and the contrasting glamour and violence of the bullring is preserved in "Madrid Bullfight." And finally, a lengthy trip to the Basque country is captured in "Pays Basque I and II." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide