GOES TO..............
IN 1935, THE GREAT GEORGE GERSHWIN COMPOSED THE CLASSIC MUSICAL PORGY AND BESS, A LANDMARK SHOW FOR NOT ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT FOR AMERICAN THEATER AS A WHOLE.
IN 1959, PORGY AND BESS WAS MADE INTO A MOVIE WITH A STELLAR CAST OF SIDNEY POITIER AND DOROTHY DANDRIDGE IN THE TITLE ROLES, AND SAMMY DAVIS, JR. CO-STARRING IN THE ROLE OF SPORTIN' LIFE.
BEFORE THIS, OVER THE YEARS, NEARLY 90 FILM PRODUCERS HAD SHOWN INTEREST IN FILMING PORGY AND BESS.
BUT THE TOPPER (WHICH - THANK GOD - NEVER GOT MADE!) WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF HARRY COHN, THE HEAD OF COLUMBIA STUDIOS. COHN WANTED TO DO THE MOVIE VERSION OF PORGY AND BESS STARRING AL JOLSON AS PORGY, RITA HAYWORTH AS BESS AND FRED ASTAIRE IN THE SUPPORTING ROLE OF SPORTIN' LIFE - ALL IN BLACKFACE (!!!!!)
ONE SHUDDERS TO THINK OF IT!!!!
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