It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to your Acting Career: Mahogany

After Lady Sings the Blues, there was hope that Diana Ross would become a promising star of the big screen. And it only takes one movie to dash those hopes against the rocks until they’ve been curbed. And then as those hopes feel around for where their teeth used to be a big ass boulder done caved in its head. And then seagulls…

Yes, Mahogany is that bad. Oh, it’s that bad. It’s directed by Barry Gordy, who was so scared from the experience that he decided to pass on directing The Last Dragon. Diana Ross stars a Tracy, a would be fashion designer who falls in love with Brian (Billy Dee Williams, her costar from Lady), a young motivated politician. They love each other, but he wants her to be his Jackie Kennedy. Things change with Sean McAvoy (Anthony Perkins) takes her picture and decides to make her a star. To which she uses to become  a famous clothing designer.  And though she leaves Brian behind, she can’t cope with the weird possessiveness of Sean, who wants to believe he’s her Svengali, when she was born sui generis.

This is a Woman’s picture, and they used to be directed the best by people like Vincent Minnelli or George Cukor. To put a less fine point on it, generally made by homosexual men. Berry Gordy doesn’t seem to understand women, or, for that matter, the finer points of directing As such, the film is leaden and miserable.

There is one saving grace and his name is Anthony Perkins. Perhaps so left on his own, he delivers a performance of some kind. It’s hard to tell if it’s good or bad as it comes from a world far removed from the plasticine templates of Ross and Williams. He’s like an unleashed Kinski eating whatever comes in his path, and it’s a stunning thing to watch.

The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and in 2.0 mono. Extras include a still gallery. And that’s it.