DIANA ROSS: DIVA IN THE DARK
DOUBLE PLATINUM (1999)
Credits Interview Index Back to the Top
Writing credits: Katie Ford and Renee Longstreet
Genre: Musical / Drama
Country: U.S.A.
Cast: Harvey Fierstein, Brandy Norwood, Roger Rees and Diana Ross
After her successful stint on T.V. playing Cinderella, opposite Whitney Houston, Brandy chose another diva to play against her...Diana Ross. The two play singing superstars of their own generation who share a secret away from the limelight...as mother and daughter in this original drama. The mother, Diana, has become a huge superstar but paid the price for fame by abandoning her daughter, played by Brandy. Years later, the child she left for stardom is now an adult making a name for herself in the same business. When they are reunited, they have a great relationship that becomes threatened when their relationship is leaked to the public and the daughter becomes a bigger star than the mother.
The film will be executive produced by Storyline Entertainment partners Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and Ross; the film is produced by Brandy and Sonja Norwood's Norwood Ent. Group.
Television network, ABC, Brandy, and Storyline previously teamed on "Rodgers and Hammersteins's "Cinderella", the musical with Whitney Houston that got five Emmy nominations and the best sweeps movie ratings in years. The feature will have at least six contemporary songs sung by the pair.
The film will be directed by Robert Allan Ackerman, from a screenplay by Nina Shengold and Katie Ford with a rewrite imminent from Renee Longstreet. The film was put together by Columbia/TriStar exec veep of movies and miniseries Helen Verno and Susan Lyne, exec veep of movies and miniseries for ABC, along with ABC veep Quinn Taylor. Brandy, who stars in the UPN series "Moesha", made her feature debut in "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and her new album "Never Say Never" has reached multiple platinum for Atlantic. This will be also be the second foray into television movies for Diana Ross, after her critically acclaimed performance in 'Out Of Darkness.'
LADY SINGS THE
BLUES (1972)
Soundtrack Reviews Credits Index Back to the Top
Also starring: Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Isabel Sanford, Virginia Capers; Paul Hampton; Sid Melton; Scatman Crothers; Yvonne Fair; Robert L. Gordy; Pauline Myers; Tracee Lyles.
Diana Ross portrays the legendary jazz singer, Billy Holiday, and gives a performance that stunned music critics and jazz affectionarios everywhere. Although the movie got mixed reviews, mostly over the "sugary" coating that Berry Gordy sprinkled over the script, Diana proved herself Oscar worthy and a box office attraction.
MAHOGANY (1975) Reviews Soundtrack Credits Index Back to the Top
Also starring: Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Perkins, Beah Richards; Nina Foch and Jean-Pierre Aumont
Director: Berry Gordy. Screenwriter: John Byrum. Producer: Rob Cohen. Costumes: Diana Ross. Paramaount Pictures (R)
1976 Academy Award Nominee:
Best Song : "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)
Michael Masser (music)
Goffin, Gerry (lyrics)
Diana Ross plays a young woman named Tracy who finds the world of fashion a place where ''success means nothing without someone you love it with.'
OUT OF DARKNESS (1995)
Credits
Index
Back to the Top
Diana Ross was the executive producer of this made-for-T.V. drama that examined the effects of schizoidphenia on family and friends. Based on a true story, Diana, as Paula Cooper, went without make-up and elaborate clothing, forsaking her 'diva' persona to give one of her best peformances on film...reminding the public and her critics of why she earned her legendary status.
Directed by Larry Elikann Writing credits: Barbara Turner Genre: Drama
Country: USA Certification: USA:PG-13
1995 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV: Diana Ross
THE WIZ (1978) Soundtrack Credits Index Back to the Top
Also
starring: Michael Jackson (Scarecrow), Richard Pryor (The Wiz), Nipsey
Russell (Tin Man), Ted Ross (Lion), Mabel King (Evillene). Theresa
Merritt (Auntie Em),
Director: Sidney Lumet. Screenwriter Joel Schumacher (Car Wash/Sparkle). Producer: Rob Cohen. Music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. Costumes: Geoffrey Holder. Choreographer: George Faison. Sets: Tony Walton. Universal Pictures
1979 Academy Awards Nominations:
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Best Cinematography
Best Original Song Score (Adapted)
As Dorothy, Diana Ross starred in this "all-black" musical from the late 70's that many film critics blamed for the abrupt end to "black cinema". At the time, it was the most expensive movie musical ever filmed. It's box office failure probably scared Diana Ross from accepting any new movie roles, emerging in 1994 in a made-for-T.V. movie project, 'Out of Darkness'.
"...the film version proved a significant setback for blacks in American movies....the movie was a soggy wet blanket that no large audience wanted to be bothered with. What really killed the movie was simply the fact that no longer were black hands in control. Instead the movie's most important creators--director Sidney Lumet and writer Joel Schumacher--were white artists, totally out of tune with the material...and the style of the performers......When the Wiz was released, there were complaints that leading lady Diana Ross (then 34 years old) was too old, also the wrong type for the naive, innocent Dorothy. What with the change in locale though, Ross might have been able to inject an urban sexiness into her character...but she's made far too wholesome and timid. In her first films Lady Sings The Blues and Mahogany, the great thing about Diana Ross was her portrait of the independed, aggressive, assertive, modern urban young black woman, a creature determined to get what she wanted, not always using her head, perhaps, but using her guts anyway. Audiences loved her maddening drive. Her movie persona was similar to the one she had as the lead singer with The Supremes. Here stood a black girl/woman who could do anything....Stripped of glitter makeup and her glitzy style, Ross herself strives hard for a sweetness, a softening of the previous bold, aggressive image, but she's pallid and how....Here she does seem far too old to be so sweetly naive. And curiously, partly because the script denies her a love interest, she's asexual as well."
"The one performer who is able to ride right over the messy carelessness is Nipsey Russell ...(he) understands that the roles are vaudeville-comedian turns. And though his tap dancing is unexciting, he shows here that all his years of playing the inoffensive black entertainer in front of white audiences haven't softened him as a performer; he has the true pro's integrity of style."
Trivia:
Lena Horne was Sidney Lumet's mother-in-law. Diana Ross insisted in tackling 'The Wiz' after she had a dream about the musical. She supposedly called Berry Gordy in the wee hours of the morning with the news that she "gotta do it." She later admitted that her young daughters wanted her to be Dorothy. Stephanie Mills, who appearred as Dorothy on Broadway, and was ignored when producers found out that Diana Ross wanted to play the role, got her revenge on the Grammy Award show a couple of years later. She won the Grammy Award for best pop performance over Diana Ross.
ON U.S. TELEVISION...The Specials Back to the Top
ALL FOR ONE: LIVE AT CEASER'S PALACE
FOR ONE AND FOR ALL - DIANA ROSS LIVE! IN CENTRAL PARK
WORKING OVERTIME - HBO SPECIAL
ALL FOR ONE: LIVE AT CEASER'S PALACE (1979) Soundtrack Index Back to the Top
AN EVENING WITH DIANA ROSS (1977) Soundtrack Reviews Index Back to the Top
A one-woman show that featured Diana's greatest hits and inspirations. This show ran on Broadway at the Palace Theatre, breaking long standing box-office records. NBC took a chance to broadcast, for the first time, a 90-minute television special, a feat unheard of for a woman entertainer and was rewarded with numerous nominations for an Emmy.
diana (1981) Index Back to the Top
This television special was originally broadcasted on CBS on March 2, 1981. It contains live concert footage that was taped February 5, 1981 at the Los Angeles Forum and studio productions. The show was never released commercially. The show begins with a concert segment where Diana sings 1. “I’m Coming Out” and 2. “The Boss”. Next is studio footage where she sings 3. “It’s My Turn” - a beautiful rendition with many close-up shots. Guest star Michael Jackson performs 4. “Rock With You”. Concert footage again with Diana singing 5. “Home” from The Wiz. Back in the studio again where Diana and Michael join voices in 6. “Ease On Down The Road”. Next we return to the concert where Diana performs 7. “Reach Out and Touch” - Segue into the studio with guest Larry Hagman where Diana next performs the duet 8. “You Are Everything”. Back to the concert, Diana finishes “Reach Out and Touch”. Next we return to the studio where Diana sings and dances with the Joffrey Ballet in a modern dance production of 9. a “Supremes Medley” which includes “Baby Love”, “Stop! In The Name Of Love”, and “Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart”. At the concert, Diana sings the hit 10. “Upside Down” which she tells the audience - “You made this Number One!” In the studio, Diana and Michael perform a portion of 11. “Rock With You”. Finally, the shows ends with Diana in concert singing 12. “Do You Know Where You’re Going To/Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.
FOR ONE AND FOR ALL - DIANA ROSS LIVE! IN CENTRAL PARK (1986)
Over two nights, Diana electrified her fans in a performance that almost 'stopped the rain'. Although the first night was rained out, dramatic footage of her calming her fans from a wet stage, where she boldly proclaimed, 'It took me a lifetime to get here...and I'm not going anywhere.' made headlines on T.V. newspapers and magazines everywhere. One critic noted, 'there was four elements, earth, wind, fire and rain...now there's five... Diana.' However, the following day, a make-up concert would also prove to be another disaster. Roaming gangs of youths threatened concert-goers (who police claim to be around 800,000) to the point that outdoor concerts were banned from Central Park for nearly a decade. The concert was a benefit to build a children's playground, but the cost of the two concerts in the park was overwhelming. After bing verbally assulted in public by the mayor of New York and negative publicity in the media, Diana eventually financed the playground with her own money.
DIANA! (1971)
Mar 29, 1971
Diana's first television special as a soloist. Bill Crosby, Danny Thomas and the Jackson 5ive appears and a soundtrack is released.
RED HOT RHYTHM & BLUES (1987) Soundtrack Reviews Index Back to the Top
WORKING OVERTIME - HBO SPECIAL (1991) Soundtrack Reviews Index Back to the Top
MOTOWN 25: YESTERDAY, TODAY, FOREVER
MOTOWN 40: THE MUSIC IS FOREVER
RONA BARRETT REPORT Index Back to the Top
April 2, 1971
MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW Index Back to the Top
Jan 11, 1973
FREE TO BE...YOU AND ME (1972) Soundtrack Index Back to the Top
A Marlo Thomas (That Girl) Children T.V. Special.. Diana Ross is one of several guests who makes an appearance and sings a song. Her sketch has her portraying a little girl singing a song contemplating her future: 'When We Grow Up.' (2:06) Among the guests: Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Mel Brooks, Jack Cassidy, Dick Cavett, Carol Channing, Billy De Wolfe, Rosey Grier, Shirley Jones, Bobby Morse, The New Seekers, Diana Sands and Tom Smothers.
Diana's belief in children's causes has been a lifetime crusade. She has sprinkled her career with various songs for and about children. And has given her time to various children charities and benefits. She even wrote and recorded a book, accompanied by a cd, that was a limited release in Japan entitled, 'When You Dream'.
MERV GRIFFIN SHOW Index Back to the Top
Oct 1, 1970
ARSENIO HALL SHOW (guest) Index Back to the Top
LAUGH-IN Index Back to the Top
Sep 22, 1969
DAVID LETTERMAN (guest) Index Back to the Top
LIKE HEP Index Back to the Top
Apr 4, 1969
Diana Ross first solo outing on televison. Appears with Dinah Shore and Lucille Ball.
MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY Index Back to the Top
Feb 4, 1971
Starring Danny Thomas
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (host) Index Back to the Top
November 26, 1976
DIANA ROSS hosted this Friday night ABC ratings hit! She does a spectacular rendition of "Love Hangover", "One Love In My Lifetime", and a Motown medley that sizzles!! Also included on the bill: THE COMMODORES, JERMAINE JACKSON and more! It's a great trip back to the 70's.
MOTOWN 25: YESTERDAY, TODAY, FOREVER (1983) (special guest)
MOTOWN 40: THE MUSIC IS FOREVER (1998) (host)
Directed by Yvonne Smith Writing credits: Suzanne De Passe Genre: Documentary
Cast: Diana Ross .... Host Also featuring: Nick Ashford, Shelly Bergen, Julian Bond, Mariah Carey, Diahann Carroll, Dick Clark, George Clinton, Sean 'Puffy' Combs, Don Cornelius, Clive Davis, Lamont Dozier, Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, Aretha Franklin,Harvey Fuqua,
Berry Gordy .... Himself
Brian Holland .... Himself
Eddie Holland .... Himself
Jesse Jackson .... Himself
Jimmy Jam .... Himself
Rick James (II) .... Himself
Terry Lewis (III) .... Himself
Little Richard .... Himself
Branford Marsalis .... Himself
Bonnie Raitt .... Herself
Lionel Richie .... Himself
Claudette Robinson .... Herself
Smokey Robinson .... Himself
RuPaul .... Himself
George Schlatter .... Himself
Valerie Simpson .... Herself
Raynoma Singleton .... Herself
Martha Jean Steinberg .... Herself
Rod Stewart (II) .... Himself
Levi Stubbs .... Himself
James Taylor (I) .... Himself
Luther Vandross .... Himself
Cornell West .... Himself
Norman Whitfield .... Himself
Otis Williams .... Himself
Mary Wilson (I) .... Herself
Country: USA
MOTOWN RETURNS TO THE APOLLO (1985)
MUPPET SHOW, THE (1979) ) Index Back to the Top
(T.V. Show, 1976-80, U.S.A.) Created by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Featuring Kermit the Frog, Ms. Piggy, Fonzie, the Cookie Monster, etc.
Dec 8, 1972
TONIGHT SHOW Index Back to the Top
Nov 10, 1972
BARBARA WALTERS SPECIAL Index Back to the Top
OPRAH WINFREY Index Back to the Top
The Best Years of My Life
WHIMSICAL WORLD OF OZ, THE (1985) Credits Index Back to the Top
THE MUSIC VIDEOS Back to the Top
Visions of Diana Ross (Gold/1986 - originally released 1985)
One Woman: The Ulimate Video Collection
Note: Lady Sings the Blues Soundtrack has not been officially certified by the RIAA. Diana has also received Gold Records from the RIAA for products on which she has been a part of, such as the "Thank God Its Friday" soundtrack (in which she sang the tune 'Livin', Lovin' and Givin'), "We are the World," the 1990 Al B. Sure album which contained the duet, "No Matter What You Do" and Julio Inglesia's lp that featured 'All of Me'.
THE VIDEOS
MOVIES OF INTEREST: Back to the Top
PHENOMENON (Starring John Travolta & Kyra Sidgewick) Back to the Top
John Travolta's best friend is a big fan of Diana Ross. Although she doesn't appear in the film her presence is strongly felt in the beginning of the film. After the movie concentrates on the main character, his best friend hardly even mentions Diana's name. And although several songs appear in the movie, Diana Ross' songs doesn't appear in the soundtrack. Instead, it has a #1 hit, thanks to Eric Clapton and 'Change The World' The song goes on to win the Grammy and The Academy Awards in the Best Song Category.
SISTER ACT I (Starring Whoopi Goldberg) Back to the Top
Whoopi is the lead lounge singer with a group made up of two other glamourously dressed singers who opens the movie with a medley of "girl group" songs. Later, when she goes into hiding in a convent, Whoopi makes clear to her students who the greatest girl group is...Diana Ross and the Supremes. Towards the middle of the film, the nuns sneaks away into the kitchen of their Catholic school whereupon Whoopi Goldberg assures them that she would never leave them. "That's what Diana Ross said when she left the Supremes" states one of the nuns and they all laugh quietly.
SISTER ACT II (Starring Whoopi Goldberg & Kathie Ninjeby) Back to the Top
Once again, Whoopi is called in as a nun to help her former troubled catholic school and enters them into the music contest...along the way she teaches her new students a thing or two about Diana Ross & The Supremes.
TREVOR - A Boys Life 2 Back to the Top Review Credits
A 1995 Academy Award winner for Best Short Subject. This film is about a young boy who is discovering his awakening sexuality...and its for the same sex. Feeling confused, awkward and unsure, his savoir is the music of Diana Ross who echoes the young boys thoughts and fears throughout the film. Among the songs heard: It's My Turn, I'm Coming Out,
DIANA ROSS: THE SOUNDTRACKS Back to the Top
54 (Starring Michael Meyers) Boss, The
ENDLESS LOVE (Starring Brooke Shields & Matt Hewitt) Endless Love (w/Lionel Ritchie)
THE FAVOR (Starring Brad Pitt, Bill Pullman & Ken Wahl) Big, Bad Love (w/Ray Charles)
IN AND OUT (Starring Kevin Kline, Tom Selleck & Joan Cusack) I Will Survive
IT'S MY TURN (Starring Michael Douglas & Jill Clayborn) It's My Turn
THE LAND BEFORE TIME (Animated film by Steven Spielberg) If We Hold On Together
LAST DAYS OF DISCO (unknown) I'm Coming Out
LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (Starring Dianne Keaton, Tom Berenger & Richard Gere) Love Hangover
THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (Starring Jeff Goldblum & Debra Winger) Loving, Living and Giving
Proposed Projects Back to the Top
The Josephine Baker Story
Diana Ross desperately wanted to star and produce for the big screen the story about this legendary French caberart singer. Her passion and belief in the story was so strong that she bought the rights to Ms. Baker's autobiography. But her interest wasn't shared by "the powers that be" that the script languished in film production hell for over a decade, going from one movie company to another. Just when it looked like she was getting the go ahead to produce it for the big screen, HBO beat her to punch by producing it for their cable network starring Lynn Whitfield. The film garnered critical acclaim and Emmy nominations. Diana Ross still has hopes of bringing the story for the big screen, this time with her daughter in the title role. The proposed movie has so long been associated with Diana Ross that some press reports, articles, and biographies have included the film as part of filmography.
The Bodyguard
The script was written with Diana Ross in mind but she turned it down . Steve McQueen was to co-star. It was then offered to Barbara Streisand who opted instead to do "A Star Is Born." The script languished for years until Kevin Costner thought it would be the perfect vehicle for him. He chose Whitney Houston as his co-star and the movie went on to become a world-wide smash, making Whitney Houston a bonifide, bankable movie star.
Diva
A re-make of the international French hit "Diva" about a young fan who becomes enamored with an opera singer. The new project was proposed as one of the three-film deal that Diana Ross make for ABC. The script is still in the process of being re-written
Hot Snow
A proposed T.V. movie based on the "true story" about a black holocaust prisoner who survived to tell her story.
The Main Event
Written for Diana Ross. The big-picture project was to co-star Ryan O'Neal who Diana was suppossedly having an affair with. She eventually passed on the movie and it was then offered to Barbra Streisand who liked the script about a boxing promoter and her relationship with a down on his luck boxer. The movie was not only a money-maker, but it gave Barbra Streisand her first appearance on the disco charts with the title theme...and Ryan O'Neal.
The Rhetta Williams Story
Another proposed T.V. project for Diana Ross
This movie was proposed to Diana Ross before the success of 'How StellanGot Her Groove Back' with Angela Bassett became an hot topic among middle-age women everywhere and the date movie to see.
The following are several press release articles on this proposed project:
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ON CELLUOID/TELEVISION/VIDEO
BEACH BALL (1965) Credits
DICK CLARK AND A CAST OF THOUSANDS (T.V. Special)
Sep 6, 1968
BING CROSBY SHOW
Oct 23, 1968
SAMMY DAVIS JR. SHOW
March 4, 1966
TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD SPECIAL
Dec 3, 1967
G.I.T ON BROADWAY
Nov 12, 1969/NBC
DR GOLDFOOT & THE GIRL BOMB (1966) Credits
HIGHLIGHTS OF ICE CAPADES '67
Feb 13, 1967
HISTORY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL, VOL. 3, THE (1995) Credits
Also Known As: Britain Invades, America Fights Back (1995)
Runtime: USA:60 Country: USA Genre: Documentary Video (VHS)
HOLLYWOOD PALACE (host)
Feb 27, 1965
Aug 26, 1965
Oct 29, 1966
Sep 25, 1967
May 4, 1968
Dec 28, 1968 (host)
Mar 8, 1969
May 31, 1969 (host)
Oct 18, 1969 (host)
BOB HOPE SPECIAL
Feb 17, 1969
Jan 26, 1965
Sep 13, 1965
Oct 18, 1965
Dec 13, 1965
DEAN MARTIN SHOW
March 24, 1966
Dec 27, 1964
Oct 10 1965
Feb 20, 1966
May 1, 1966
July 24, 1966
Sep 25, 1966
Dec 4, 1966
May 7, 1967
Nov 19, 1967
Mar 24, 1968
May 5, 1968
Aug 18, 1968
Sep 30, 1967
May 11, 1969
Aug 3, 1969
Sep 7, 1969
Nov 11, 1969
Dec 18, 1969 Diana Ross last television as a Supreme.
MEDLEY: Come See About Me, Stop! In The Name of Love, You Can't Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin' On, I Hear A Symphony.
The Happenning
Throughly Modern Millie, Second Hand Rose, Mame
In and Out of Love
MEDLEY: w/The Temptations. In a twist, the two groups do a battle royal singing the other groups greatest hits:
MEDLEY: Greensleeves, Thou Swell...
Forever Came Today
MEDLEY: Ain't Misbehavin', Keeping Out of Mischief,
FUNNY MEDLEY: I'm The Greatest Star, Don't Rain On My Parade, People
Love Child
Always
MEDLEY: Various Irving Berlin songs: including Say It With Music, Heatwave, How Deep Is The Ocean (Ethel Merman gueststar)
SUPREMES IN BERLIN
Jan 14, 1968
THE RED SKELTON SHOW (1965).
They sang "Mother Dear" and "Rock-a-bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody". In the latter number Diana Ross danced with straw hat and twirling canes.
T.A.M.I. SHOW, THE (1964) Credits
TODAY SHOW
June 30, 1966
July 28, 1965
Aug 18, 1966
May 22, 1967 (Last T.V appearance of Florence Ballard in the Supremes)
April 5, 1968 'Somewhere'
Mar 18, 1969
TARZAN - 'THE CONVERT' (1966) Credits
[TV-Series: 1966-1969, USA] Directed by Harmon Jones.
Jan 12, 1968
Starring:
Ron Ely .... Tarzan
Manuel Padilla Jr. .... Jai
T.C.B. - TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS w/The Temptations
Dec 9, 1968/NBC
ANDY WILLIAMS SHOW
Jan 22
THE SOUNDTRACKS
A SMILE LIKE YOURS (Starring Greg Kinner & Lauren Holly) Where Did Our Love Go (w/The Supremes)
BEVERLY HILLS COP III (Starring Eddie Murphy & Judge Reinhold)Come See About Me (w/The Supremes)
FORREST GUMP (Starring Tom Hanks & Sally Fields) Stoned Love
THE HAPPENNING (Starring Anthony Quinn) The Happenning (w/The Supremes)
MY GIRL 2
PHENOMENON (wStarring John Travolta & Kyra Sydwick)
The Parent Trap (remake starring Dennis Quaid) Back In My Arms Again (w/The Supremes.
SISTER ACT
SISTER ACT II
THE WAR (Starring Kevin Costner) Someday We'll Be Together (w/The Supremes)THE WAR
THE BOOKS
WHEN YOU DREAM Soundtrack Reviews
A limited edition Japanese release of a children's book that Diana Ross wrote and illustrated. A cd accompanied it.
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