Thursday, June 11, 2020

Coronavirus Camp Classic 6 - 'Mahogany'



To the African-American community, particularly gay black men, Mahogany (1974) is a classic. It may not be considered a camp classic by most, but I think it's a hoot.

Fresh off of her 1972 Oscar-nominated portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues, Diana Ross again took center stage in this movie. Mahogany is the story of an aspiring fashion model/designer from the ghetto who reaches the pinnacle of international success only to discover how empty it is without the person she loves (Billy Dee Williams).

Where to start with this one? One place has to be the scene in which Williams scolds Ross for being too egotistical with her success with a line sappier than the one people remembered from Love Story:

 . . . success is nothing without someone you love to share it with.

Another place of note is the wild performance by the late Anthony Perkins as the fashion photographer who discovers Ross's character, gives her the name of 'Mahogany,' guides her career, and then attempts to destroy her spiritually - and physically - when he is unable to "pleasure her" in a highly awkward scene. An in-the-closet gay man who turns homicidal when he can't finish intercourse with a woman? Yeah. That's original.

And last but not least, the behind-the-scenes tension. The original director of Mahogany, the late Oscar-winner Tony Richardson, was fired by the producer of the movie, and head of Motown Records Berry Gordy. Gordy took over direction of the movie himself.  And needless to say, Ms. Ross was not happy. And it came to a head with Ross slapping the hell out of Gordy and walking off the set. According to writer Jesse Hawken in the article  Magnificent Obsession: Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, and the Rise and Fall of Motown Productions:

Ross was stunned by this turn of events, and more than a little apprehensive about the completely inexperienced Gordy stepping in as her new director. While Gordy had controlled nearly every aspect of her career, he had never before so directly supervised her on a project, and when the production travelled to Rome, things quickly unravelled between them on a professional level. Where Richardson had made Ross feel like an Oscar-nominated actress on the set, Gordy proceeded to micromanage her performance in the same way that he had overseen all other aspects of her career. Two days before the completion of principal photography, Ross — fed up with her directionless director demanding yet another take — walloped Gordy in the face in front of the crew, walked off the set, and flew back to the States; Gordy had to finish his star’s scenes with body doubles.

I shouldn't be too rough on Mahogany, though. It wasn't a bad movie and it had a neatly wonderful ending (which made me cry. Sue me already, I was in fourth grade), a hit song with its theme and this fashion montage. How could you not love Diana Ross after seeing this:



No comments: