Preview Clip: Porgy & Bess (1959, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Baily)

[@husseinm.4723]

It's a crime this film hasn't been available for public viewing.

[@bribriblacks103]

I was given the opportunity to watch it back in 2012. I loved it.

[@eamonndeane587]

RIP Sidney Poitier. A Deeply Intelligent and Riveting actor who rightly deserves his status as an Icon of American Cinema.

[@alaza61]

This film deserves a re-release with a remaster. MGM let's do it already! What's the hold up?

[@robbbie85]

Unfortunately the hold up is that either the Goldwyn estate or more likely The Gershwin estate refuse to release this movie as they were unhappy with the musical treatment in the film.

[@sjeunson1]

From IMDB The Gershwin family was dissatisfied with the film, largely because it was not staged as a true opera with all the recitative performed musically, and also because the two leads had their singing voices dubbed. The film's original director, Rouben Mamoulian, wanted to film on-location, but producer Samuel Goldwyn refused and insisted on using soundstages. When a mysterious fire broke out and destroyed the sets, Mamoulian again requested that the film be made on-location. Enraged, Goldwyn felt that Mamoulian was taking advantage of a misfortune, promptly fired him, and hired Otto Preminger, who made the film on soundstages in Hollywood. The film is currently (Nov. 2002) withheld from release because of actions by both the Gershwin and Goldwyn estates, as neither Samuel Goldwyn nor the Gershwin family were satisfied with the film.

[@luvmycorso]

It's hard to find this movie

[@andrewtodaro2874]

Agreed, I’m currently watching a dvd of this film and the quality is poor.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@sjeunson1 It is an absurd, dog-in-the-manger faux fastidiousness of the Gershwin and Heywood Estates to refuse to release this film to audiences now and posterity, on the basis of the alleged suboptimality of its soundtrack; as that the lead actors did not themselves sing their songs. As with the prior Preminger film operatic masterpiece Carmen Jones, the excellent lead actors' vocals were dubbed excellently operatically by professional opera singers. The dead ought not deaden the cultural life of the living by selfishly hoarding such treasures that since 1959 could have been educating the young as to their achievement potential, and the whole world of the deep talents of all the actors, musicians and other artists and artisans who created this film derivative of Gershwin's original theatrical masterpiece. Parallel to an Oscar Hammerstein lyric about love in The Sound of Music, art isn't art "until you give it away"--objectify and disseminate it to humanity. This film should not be encrypted, mausoleumed with its now deceased auteurs.

[@AZIZ18691]

I been saying this for YEARS. RELEASE THE MOVIE!! Many of us remember it use to come on tv.

[@kandykane3324]

Oh my! I remember Porgy and Bess as a child. I love this version and wish I could view the entire movie. 👍👏

[@yuuablewon]

You can buy it from Amazon :)

[@sicks6six]

ITS FREE ON KZbin NOW

[@samtrak1204]

I saw this movie in LA when I was 14 in 1959. I would watch anything Dorothy Dandridge was in so I pray to God this film will be fully restored before I die.

[@harpereion8702]

I would and did watch anything Dorothy Dandridge was in. I have all of her starring role movies on D.V.D. including this one, but now they can all be seen online.

[@donstarfinkel6456]

For MGM not to release this movie is a shame, this was a pivotal role for Dorothy, as there weren't many, they should atleast allow her work to live on.. THEY FAILED HER IN LIFE

[@bobdorianamc1984]

I'm ashamed that Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment did not release Porgy and Bess on Home Video from Embassy Home Entertainment, CBS/Fox Video and Hallmark Home Entertainment. I'm waiting for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment plan to restore and remastering this movie with a new 4K digital restoration from the original camera negative on Blu-ray release including Overture, Intermission, Entr'Acte and Exit Music.

[@Admstnmaak]

omg my grandfather is actually in this movie!

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Which one in the film is he? What role did he play?

[@shevandy55]

ADAM 103 You just said that. It ain’t true. Just stop.

[@hildasjoblom8658]

Shevandy 55 u never know

[@steveharmon6949]

Enough is enough...time to remaster and release this movie for the world to see.

[@martinmoore2468]

The rare soulful movie. Based on the opera.

[@markpayne1789]

I Remember when I was a teenager I saw a photo of Dorothy Dandridge in a Ebony Magazine it scared the living daylight out of me I never saw someone that Beautiful.

[@LeeLee19901]

An superb cast!

[@torilllundborn7899]

I was about 12 or 13 yrs when I saw this movie with my class.girl.friend in Oslo I was BLOWN AWAY...I felt that I WAS THERE AMONG THEM. My mouth was quite dry..I had sit with open mouth of these...for me...tough...dramatic adventure.. What a movie..BLOWN AWAY WHY do we not see such georgeos MOVIE.REALITIES in nowadays movies These times was the TOP.TIME in Hollywood Me..living in cold Norway..and be witness to this....I was as in trance several days after Oh oh oh...

[@NJbakintheday]

I came here only to have my heart broken. I remember seeing this on tv as a kid, but I was so young, I really couldn't fully appreciate it. My search to find out how I could watch it now brought me here. Then I started reading the comments... damn.

[@oldhatcinema]

This is cool. Shame this movie is so hard to find; I'd love to see it in its entirety and in high quality!

[@NosajPrimo]

Nichelle Nichols appeared in a production of Porgy and Bess, an American opera from the 1930s featuring a cast of characters who are mainly black. It would take too long to deal with the play’s impact or controversies, but what’s worth noting in Nichols’ case was that she also went on to appear in the 1959 film adaptation starring Sidney Poitier and Sammy Davis Jr., albeit in an uncredited role.

[@TahariBlue]

How is a woman with disheveled hair, raggedy clothes, no makeup, and in her late thirties this BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[@samtrak1204]

I've loved Dorothy Dandridge since I first saw her in "Bright Road" in 1953. I was 9 and she was 31.

[@TahariBlue]

@@samtrak1204 She is just flawless, everything on her face is simply perfection!, and unlike most of the celebrated Hollywood beauties, she is beautiful without makeup, there are very few of them that can say that

[@quietstorm7684]

@@samtrak1204 I remember seeing that movie years ago; I was 14-15

[@empresserica]

Wow. I never saw this movie but heard about it. I am a fan of all of these actors! Thank you for loading this! KZbin is so cool!

[@keithsetzer9580]

I saw this film for the first time 30-35 years ago at the state office building here in Harlem. It was presented by film history group. On an old school projector. Damon Evans gave a pre film introduction. He was playing Sportin Life in British production of Porgy and Bess. I think people should write Michael Feinstein like I did. He is on the board of the Gershwin estate. Maybe if there is enough support for a remaster we'll be able to see this film again. Also it's one of the few opportunities to hear Robert McFerrin in his vocal prime. Bobby's musical abilities didn't come from nowhere.

[@razorbackfilms]

I saw it in 1989 on a double bill with all movies do the right thing at Ucla. Later I would find out since there was no intermission it wasn't the road show version,

[@nuffzed2001]

they spoke about this in the recent episode of You Must Remember This in the series about Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin

[@mochawitch]

Can't find this anywhere 😔❤

[@islandgirl5382]

No where but KZbin!!!! A CLASSIC!!!!!

[@venenosamami705]

Island Girl google porgy and Bess ok.ru and you can watch it there. I found it today there after searching for hours

[@Inkaa1tarot]

Tiffany La Negrra Thank you❤️😩

[@frideborgphillips6284]

What is the problem with releasing this movie? It’s one of my favorite movies.

[@emerybayblues]

The Gershwin estate won’t release. I believe they were dissatisfied with the end result and the reception of the movie.

[@divaslm1]

All those great black actors and actresses in one movie 🎬

[@yuuablewon]

Fear not guys, you can buy it from Amazon

[@ambidextra_ambidextra]

Not on the uk site at all, but on .com there is one single seller, and its £170, so hmmm , no, I think for most of us..sadly we CAn't buy it

[@venenosamami705]

ambidextra ambidextra google porgy and Bess ok.ru.. I definitely found the movie there and watching it now.

[@yuuablewon]

@@ambidextra_ambidextra oh man I live in the US but I ended up buying it off eBay for about $20

[@ambidextra_ambidextra]

@@yuuablewon you got a bargain! & Tiffany thanks for the tip🙏

[@samtrak1204]

I've looked all over the internet but can''t find a decent copy of this classic film.

[@azzurebleutarot5031]

RIP Sir Sidney

[@Fantomas4616]

It neets to be on bluray.

[@frenchiemoni1665]

I have never seen this movie. I understand she was nominated for a golden globe.

[@anthonywest4173]

GREAT MOVIE.

[@ennisel]

Hold on! #HoldON! Did #SidneyPoitier do that in his knees? Talk about method acting!

[@JudgeJulieLit]

What do you imply? He was heterosexual, and in most of his films (as Lilies of the Field and To Sir, with Love stood tall.

[@carlahuckaby3912]

Remaster this film bought the dvd and its in poor quality! Great cast of Sidney, Dorothy Dandridge, Brock Peters, Sammy Davis Jr absolutely the greats!!

[@ambidextra_ambidextra]

Awh c'mon Estates, let's have it🙏🙏🙏

[@jackiron4785]

This clip haunted me when I saw this film probably 40 odd years ago on TV. Still sad to watch, when Crown chases him then kills him. It was a dark film but deserves to be seen nonetheless.

[@helloworldd8252]

Had all these actors to do all this work just for it not to be available years later

[@sjeunson1]

Goldwyn's lease of the rights was only 15 years, and after they expired, the film could not be shown without the permission of the Gershwin and Heyward estates, and even then only after substantial compensation was paid. Despite repeated requests, the Gershwin estate repeatedly refused to grant permission for the film to be seen.[25] As a consequence, the film has never been officially released on video or DVD in the U.S., however bootleg DVD-Rs, made from a 35mm anamorphic "E-K" release print, circulate among collectors, preserving 115 minutes of the original 138-minute whole.

[@bobdorianamc1984]

We wish Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will planned to restore and remastering *"PORGY AND BESS"* with Sidney Poiter and Dorothy Dandrige on Blu-ray and DVD with a brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative for celebrating 60th Anniversary including Overture, Intermission, Entr'Acte and Exit Music.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@bobdorianamc1984 Hear, hear!

[@JudgeJulieLit]

It is an absurd, dog-in-the-manger faux fastidiousness of the Gershwin and Heywood Estates to refuse to release this film to audiences now and posterity, on the basis of the alleged suboptimality of its soundtrack; as that the lead actors did not themselves sing their songs. As with the prior Preminger film operatic masterpiece Carmen Jones, the excellent lead actors' vocals were dubbed excellently operatically by professional opera singers. The dead ought not deaden the cultural life of the living by selfishly hoarding such treasures that since 1959 could have been educating the young as to their achievement potential, and the whole world of the deep talents of all the actors, musicians and other artists and artisans who created this film derivative of Gershwin's original theatrical masterpiece. Parallel to an Oscar Hammerstein lyric about love in The Sound of Music, art isn't art "until you give it away"--objectify and disseminate it to humanity. This film should not be encrypted, mausoleumed with its now deceased auteurs.

[@jamiepash2489]

Maybe we could start a pettition to get this film fully restored on DVD

[@Mozart1220]

And a small part for Nichelle (Lt Uhura) Nichols.

[@alij5920]

I’m still tryna figure out why was he walking on his knees like huh 🤔

[@lafilledefleur]

Where can one even watch this?

[@ChosenLove7]

❤❤❤

[@wingsofspirit6392]

Though this man was killed in this scene. It's no way We would fist-fight anymore now we will kill each point blank.

[@TrangPakbaby]

I have a widescreen copy on vhs. It’s a pretty good copy but the film should not be in widescreen. It looks too far away