Jazz In Film

The Film: Carmen Jones

The Year: 1954

The Director: Otto Preminger

The Stars: Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey and Brock Peters.

The Music: Soundtrack work done by Cozy Cole along with great performances by Pearl Bailey, Max Roach, Richie Powell and Curtis Counce.

The Story: This adaptation of the 1944 Broadway success provided a modern Black version of the Merimee story that retained the original Bizet music. At an all-black army camp, civilian parachute maker and “hot bundle” Carmen Jones is desired by many of the men. Naturally, she wants Joe, who’s engaged to sweet Cindy Lou and about to go into pilot training for the Korean War. Going after him, she succeeds only in getting him into the stockade. While she awaits his release, trouble approaches for both of them.

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