Lena Horne was a real talent, which she was able to prove through her singing career over five decades. But early on, when she signed up to be a movie actress, 1940s Hollywood didn't have a clue what to do with her.
In terms of movies, Horne's is a story of wasted opportunities by studio bosses who wanted to exploit her talent but were afraid of racist repercussions.
Horne was a stunning beauty in her mid-20s when she signed a contract with MGM, and years later, when she was 77 and hosting a sequence for "That's Entertainment III," she was still a knockout.
She was also a gracious host during the 10-minute segment of that film, pulling no punches while discussing in that distinctive Southern drawl her time at the studio.
It was 1994 when "That's Entertainment III" was released, and in my review of the film I wrote that she seemed "ageless," referring to her as "the still magnificent Lena Horne."
"Horne, whose segment is arguably the film's most compelling, talks candidly about racism during her star days and shows us a song cut from 'Cabin in the Sky' — because the powers-that-be felt audiences would be offended by a black woman in a bubble bath!"
Watching "That's Entertainment III" again this week, it was interesting to hear her say, "I have many memories here (the MGM recording studios), good and bad — I never felt like I really belonged in Hollywood."
That's undoubtedly true. But Horne's death last weekend at age 92 brought to mind her few movie acting roles — "The Duke Is Tops," "Cabin in the Sky," "Stormy Weather," the later Western "Death of a Gunfighter" and the even later "The Wiz."
"Cabin in the Sky" and "Stormy Weather" in particular should have led to a successful movie career. But it was not to be, thanks to the prejudices of the times.
Still, it's worth renting these movies to see the remarkable presence and incredible singing voice she displayed.
"The Duke Is Tops" (1940) marked Horne's film debut, a few years before her MGM contract. She was 20 and her performance is a bit stiff — but with that killer smile, the camera clearly loves her. And when she sings, her lack of acting skill melts away. But this low-budget film is surprisingly lethargic and weak.
"Cabin in the Sky" (1943), however, her first acting role for MGM, is a terrific musical-comedy based on a Broadway play, starring two members of the original cast — Ethel Waters as a faithful woman pleading for God's intervention as her husband tries to overcome his sinning habits, and Rex Ingram as Satan Jr., who is determined to keep his hold on him. The gambling, carousing husband is played by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (best known as Jack Benny's valet for more than 25 years), and Horne shows up about an hour into the film.
She plays temptress Georgia Brown, and she dominates the screen whenever she's on. For her entrance she walks into her bedroom and primps in front of a mirror as Ingram goads her on, leading to a hilarious duet with Horne and Anderson singing about how "Life's Full of Consequences." (Others in the film include Louis Armstrong, Butterfly McQueen, John Bubbles, Montan Moreland and Duke Ellington.)
"Stormy Weather" (1943) is a fabulous 20th Century Fox film (with Horne on loan from MGM) that is very loosely based on the life of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, focusing on his (fictional) lifelong romance with a singer played by Horne — who gets top billing and sings six tunes, including the title number (her signature song). This one is a real showcase for black talent, with one rousing routine after another by Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, the Nicholas Brothers — in addition to Horne and Robinson.
"Death of a Gunfighter" (1969) is a routine Western starring Richard Widmark, with Horne more or less on the sidelines as a town madame, though she does get to sing "Sweet Apple Wine" (albeit as a voice-over). This was her only straight dramatic film role. (It's not on DVD but it was released on VHS.)
"The Wiz" (1978) is, of course, based on the Broadway redo of "The Wizard of Oz," with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Ted Ross and Nipsey Russell as Dorothy and her companions, Richard Pryor as the title character and Horne as Glinda the Good, which is essentially a cameo.
During her MGM years, Horne also had beautiful, show-stopping walk-ons in a number of films — "Panama Hattie," "Thousands Cheer," "Ziegfeld Follies" and many more (scenes that could be easily edited out when the films played in the South.)
And from the 1950s through the early 1990s, Horne guested on dozens of TV sitcoms, game shows and variety programs — ranging from "Sanford and Son" to "The Cosby Show," "What's My Line?" to "Password," "The Steve Allen Show" to "The Flip Wilson Show" — and "Sesame Street."
But Horne's best acting job was really her one-woman show on Broadway, "The Lady and Her Music," in which she more or less relates the story of her life between songs, and it's quite moving. If you haven't experienced this show, it's worth tracking down the audio CD.
There are many wonderful CDs available of Horne's music, but "The Lady and Her Music" is unparalleled as a distinctive collection of songs and stories that offer insight into a performer's experience, and Horne's life in particular.
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com