Dream Girls

Dreamgirls is a 2006 American musical film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. The film debuted in three special road show engagements beginning December 15, 2006 before its nationwide release on December 25, 2006.[3] Adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name by composer Henry Krieger (music) and lyricist/librettist Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls is a roman à clef of the histories of the Motown record label and one of its acts, The Supremes.[4] The story follows the history and evolution of American R&B music during the 1960s and 1970s through the eyes of a Detroit, Michigan girl group known as “The Dreams” and their manipulative record executive.

The film adaptation of Dreamgirls stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Jennifer Hudson, who won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Effie White. The film also features Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson, Sharon Leal, and Hinton Battle. Produced by Laurence Mark, the film’s screenplay was adapted by director Bill Condon from the original Broadway book by Tom Eyen. In addition to the original Kreiger/Eyen compositions, four new songs, composed by Krieger with various lyricists, were added for this film.[5]

With a production cost of $75 million, Dreamgirls is the most expensive film to feature an all African American starring cast in American cinema history.[1] Upon its release, the film garnered mostly positive reviews, and earned $154 million at the international box office.[2] Dreamgirls also received a number of accolades,[6] including three awards at the 64th Golden Globe Awards ceremony, including Best Picture — Musical or Comedy,[7] and two Oscars at the 79th Academy Awards.

Dream Girls

Dreamgirls Plot

As in the original stage musical, the plot of Dreamgirls is broken up into two sections or acts: the first taking place from 1962 to 1966, and the second taking place from 1973 to 1975.

Backstage at an amateur talent show at the Detroit Theater in 1962, Cadillac salesman Curtis Taylor, Jr. meets a girl group known as “The Dreamettes”: lead singer Effie White, and back-up singers Deena Jones, and Lorell Robinson. Curtis presents himself as the Dreamettes’ new manager and arranges for the Dreamettes to become backup singers for local R&B star James “Thunder” Early.

With ambitions of making black singers mainstream successes among white audiences, Curtis starts his own record label, Rainbow Records, out of his Detroit car dealership, and appoints Effie’s brother C.C. as his head songwriter. However, when their first single fails after a white pop group releases a cover version, Curtis, C.C., and their producer Wayne turn to payola to make Jimmy and the Dreamettes pop stars. Offstage, Effie becomes infatuated with the slick-talking Curtis, while the married Jimmy begins an affair with Lorrell.

Jimmy’s manager Marty grows weary of Curtis’ plans to make his client more pop-friendly and walks out. However, when Jimmy bombs in front of a mostly white Miami Beach audience, Curtis sends Jimmy out on the road alone, keeping the Dreamettes behind to headline in his place. Feeling that Effie’s large figure and voice will not attract white audiences, Curtis appoints the slimmer Deena lead singer and renames the group “The Dreams”.

With the aid of new songs and a new more glamorous image, Curtis and C.C. transform The Dreams into a top selling mainstream pop act by 1965. However, Effie begins acting out, particularly when Curtis’ affections also turn towards Deena. Curtis eventually drops Effie from the group, hiring his secretary to take her place.

Cast

* Jamie Foxx as Curtis Taylor, Jr. Based upon Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr.,[8] Curtis is a slick Cadillac dealer-turned-record executive who founds the Rainbow Records label and shows ruthless ambition in his quest to make his black artists household names with white audiences. At first romantically involved with Effie, Curtis takes a professional and personal interest in Deena after appointing her lead singer of the Dreams in Effie’s place.
* Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones. Based upon Motown star Diana Ross,[9] Deena is a very shy young woman who becomes a star after Curtis makes her lead singer of the Dreams. This, as well as her romantic involvement and later marriage to Curtis, draw Effie’s ire, though Deena realizes over time she is a puppet for her controlling husband. Knowles was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
* Eddie Murphy as James “Thunder” Early. “Jimmy” Early, inspired by R&B/soul singers such as James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Marvin Gaye [8] is a raucous performer on the Rainbow label whom Curtis attempts to repackage as a pop-friendly balladeer. Jimmy’s star fades as the Dreams’ star rises, and he falls into drugs and an adulterous affair with Dreams member Lorrell. Murphy won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film.
* Jennifer Hudson as Effie White. Inspired by Supremes member Florence Ballard[9] and soul singers Etta James and Aretha Franklin,[8] the plus-sized Effie is a talented yet temperamental singer who suffers when Curtis, the man she loves, replaces her as lead singer of the Dreams and his love interest, and later drops her altogether. With the help of Jimmy’s old manager Marty, Effie attempts to resurrect her career a decade later, while raising her daughter Magic, the product of her union with Curtis. Hudson won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, among other honors, for her portrayal of Effie.
* Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson. Lorrell, inspired by Supremes member Mary Wilson,[10] is a good-natured background singer with the Dreams who falls deeply in love with the married Jimmy Early and becomes his mistress.
* Danny Glover as Marty Madison. Jimmy’s original manager before Curtis steps into the picture, Marty serves as both counsel and confidant to Jimmy, and later to Effie as well.
* Keith Robinson as C.C. White. Inspired by Motown vice president, artist, and songwriter Smokey Robinson,[11] Effie’s soft-spoken younger brother C.C. (Clarence Conrad) serves as the main songwriter for first the Dreamettes and later the entire Rainbow roster.
* Sharon Leal as Michelle Morris. Michelle, based upon Supremes member Cindy Birdsong,[12] replaces Effie in the Dreams and becomes C.C.’s love interest. She is at first Curtis’ secretary until she becomes one of the Dreams’ background singers.
* Hinton Battle as Wayne. Wayne is a salesman at Curtis’ Cadillac dealership who becomes Rainbow’s first record producer and Curtis’ henchman.

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