Biopics That We Need! (Women)

I am a big fan of biographies and autobiographies. I'm also a sucker for good biopics! I love being able to compare every aspect of a biographical film to the real person. Did the actor look like the person? Did the film incorporate real footage/real audio? Was the movie true to who the person was? Stuff like that.

Below is a slideshow of women who (in my opinion) deserve to have their life stories brought to the screen (and in one case, the stage). I've also included the actresses that I think should play them:

*For some reason the last photo isn't coming up. 

Click Here to watch it on the slideshow's host site.

*My choice actress for the role of Eartha Kitt has been changed from Zoe Saldana to Tatyana Ali. Hands down.*


*But scroll down on this post for additional women that I believe should have biopics as well!*

Other Entertainers Who Deserve Biopics:

Evelyn Preer (Actress, Singer)

Theresa Harris (Actress, Singer)

Francine Everett (Actress, Singer)

Mable Lee (Dancer, Singer, Actress)

Barbara Jean Wong (Actress)

Madeline "Sahji" Jackson (Dancer)

Wilimenia "Tondaleyo" Grey (Dancer)

Dinah Washington (Singer)

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Whose life story would YOU pay to see on the screen/stage?

Mr. Sali's Reviews (#23)

This week, Mr. Sali reviewed a new television series (that I can't wait to sit down and watch myself).

Check the sidebar to see what he reviewed!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Celebrating WHM: Edna Mae Harris

(*Celebrating Women's History Month*)

Today, we pay tribute to actress Edna Mae Harris.

Edna Mae Harris was born on September 29, 1910 in Harlem, New York. Ms. Harris would go on to become one of early Black Cinema's most popular actresses. She was also quite a singer. 

According to IMDb, Ms. Harris starred in about 23 films. One of her credits includes her contribution to "Midnight Ramble"--an episode of PBS' The American Experience.

Here she is singing "T'aint No Good"

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Links:

IMDb

Lying Lips (1939) (Full Movie)

Celebrating WHM: Chelo Alonso

(*Celebrating Women's History Month*)

Today, we honor the beautiful Chelo Alonso.

Chelo Alonso was born Isabella Garcia in Central Lugareño, Camagüey, Cuba on April 10, 1933. 

Chelo became a professional dancer in Havana at the age of 17 and soon became popular at Cuba's National Theatre. She took her talents to Folies Bergère in 1957 and became known as "The Cuban H-Bomb". She was also billed the "new Josephine Baker". Ms. Alonso's combination of Afro-Cuban movement and exotic dance made her a hit no matter what part of the world she toured. 

Ms. Alonso would go on to be most popular for her work in Italian Cinema. She began her film career in 1959, playing mostly dancing temptresses or evil queens. She worked in almost 20 films throughout her career, one of her last being an uncredited role in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. 

After her husband's passing in 1986, Chelo Alonso moved to Tuscany, Italy where she retired from film and began operating a cat breeding business and a four-star hotel/restaurant.

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Links:

Son of Samson clip

IMDb

Wikipedia

Celebrating WHM: Sheila Guyse

(*Celebrating Women's History Month*)

Today, we honor the dazzling Sheila Guyse.

Sheila Guyse was born around 1925 in Detroit, Michigan. 

It's hard to find a biography on the internet of Ms. Guyse that doesn't center around the put-down of other black actresses, so allow me to give you my own take on this lovely lady and her work.

I recently watched the "race film" Sepia Cinderella and cannot at all deny that Ms. Guyse was a marvelous actress who definitely deserved more roles and deserves more recognition today. Plus, the woman is STUNNING. Stunning, I say. She has the most radiant smile I've ever seen.

I'd love to know how Sheila Guyse is doing right now. 

I strongly recommend that you watch Sepia Cinderella and other movies starring Ms. Guyse. They're all available on Youtube.

Here is her filmography. 

Celebrating WHM: Meena Kumari

(*Celebrating Women's History Month*)

Today, we honor the late, great Meena Kumari.

Born Mahjabeen Bano on August 1, 1932 in Bombay, India. Today, she often cited as "The Tragedy Queen" for her frequent dramatic roles in film and unfortunately, for her real life story.

Despite her protest, young Mahjabeen started her film career at the age of six and was later renamed Baby Meena. When she entered her adult acting career, she became known as Meena Kumari. 

Meena's breakthrough role came when she was cast as Gauri in Baiju Bawra (1952). She would go on to star in comedies and mythological films, but as mentioned before, she'd become most known for her sorrowful, dramatic portrayals. 

Since the start of her career in 1939 and untimely passing in 1972, Meena Kumari had worked in almost 100 films. 

Here is Meena Kumari in Pakeezah (1972), one of her final film roles:

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Links:

IMDb

Wikipedia

One India Entertainment Article

Celebrating WHM: Nancy Kwan

(*Celebrating Women's History Month*)

Today, we honor the legendary Nancy Kwan.

Nancy "Ka Shen" Kwan was born on May 19, 1939 in Hong Kong. 

 While studying dance in London's Royal Ballet School, she was discovered by producer Ray Stark and was tested for the lead role in The World of Suzie Wong.

Ms. Kwan goes into further detail about her famous debut role in this clip from What's My Line?: 

The following year, Nancy starred in Flower Drum Song. After the release of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song, Ms. Kwan became one of the most sought-after actresses in the West. 

In 1972, Nancy returned to Hong Kong to be with her critically ill father. She'd planned to only stay a year, but ended up staying throughout most of the decade. While there, she founded "Nancy Kwan Films", a production company that produced mainly ads for Southeast Asia. She also did acting work there.

Nancy in a famous photo with her famous bob haircut designed by Vidal Sassoon.

Ms. Kwan returned to the United States in the 1980's and continued acting. Today, she puts more of her focus into being a screenwriter, executive, and an advocate and spokeswoman for Asian voters and Asian actors. 

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Links:

Wikipedia

IMDb

To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey (Trailer) MUST WATCH

Celebrating WHM: "Maylia"

(Celebrating Women's History Month)

Today, we salute actress Gloria Chin, best known as Maylia. 

-CLICK HERE for Image-

Gloria Fong was born Gloria Chin on November 10, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan. 

She was spotted in a restaurant by the wife of writer-producer Sidney Buchman and then auditioned for a role in Buchman's film To the Ends of the Earth. From was promoted as "the first Chinese starlet since Anna May Wong". She changed her name to Maylia ("beautiful" in Cantonese) and was signed to Columbia Pictures. 

Days after signing her contract with Columbia, Maylia met actor Benson Fong and within a few weeks, they were married. Soon, she was pregnant with her first child, thus halting the big plans that Columbia had for "their Anna May Wong". 

Maylia worked in a total of only six films, but she and Benson would later run a successful Chinese restaurant in Beverly Hills. The couple had five children together and were married until Benson's death in 1987. 

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Here is Maylia in To the Ends of the Earth (1948):

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Links:

Soft Film (Source of my information)

IDMb

Celebrating WHM: Juanita Moore

(Celebrating Women's History Month)

Today, we salute the criminally unsung actress, Ms. Juanita Moore.

The actress was born on October 19, 1922 1914 in Los Angeles, California. Her earliest roles were usually uncredited ones. She was a dancer in the musicals Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) and Cabin in the Sky (1943), a nurse in Pinky (1949), and a "Native Woman" in Tarzan's Peril. You can also catch her in the "soundie" for The Mills Brothers' hit song "Paper Doll" (she's the lady on the left). 

Ms. Moore is probably best known for her role as Annie Johnson in the 1959 remake of Imitation of Life, the role that garnered her an Oscar-nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She is currently in semi-retirement.

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Links:

Wikipedia

IMDb

1999 Interview (Part I)

Celebrating WHM: Katy Jurado

(Celebrating Women's History Month)

The first woman of honor this month is the late, great Katy Jurado.

Maria Christina Jurado Garcia--better known as Katy Jurado was born into a wealthy family on January 16, 1924 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She would go on to become one of the most iconic actresses and timeless beauties of Mexican and American Cinema.

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Check out this clip from the Mexican film El bruto (1953) with Andrés Soler and Pedro Armendáriz:

What a commanding screen presence she had!

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Señora Jurado was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Señora Devereaux in Broken Lace. This nomination made her the first Latina actress to be nominated for an Academy Award, also the first Mexican actress. Only two other Mexican women have been nominated since (Selma Hayek for Best Actress in 2002, Adriana Barraza for Best Supporting Actress in 2006). 

Katy Jurado passed on July 5, 2002.

Links:

IMDb

Wikipedia

Marriage to Ernest Borgnine

Obiturary (The Guardian)

El Bruto (Full Movie on Youtube)

Mr. Sali's Reviews (#22)

This week, Amari reviewed an episode of a popular television series.

Check out the sidebar to see what he reviewed.

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Sali's Reviews (#21)

This week, Amari reviewed a Drama from 2011. Check the sidebar to see what he reviewed!

Have a great weekend everyone!