Search - Lena Horne :: At Metro Goldwyn Mayer

MGM's most under-used talent

Bluebird | USA | 12/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lena Horne was an unfortunate victim of racism in Hollywood of the '40s and '50s. Her impeccable vocal stylings are well known, but she was also a fine actress and had very few opportunities to demonstate this in her days at MGM. Due to Southern theatre's racist attitudes her film appearances were set up in such a way that she could be cut from the films without affecting the storyline. The result was that she would appear as a novelty act or guest star, sing a song or two, and then disappear. What a shame. She should have been cast as "Julie" in the 1951 version of SHOW BOAT. Luckily she did appear in that role for "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" in 1946's TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY. It's the only evidence we have of the power she could have brought to the role. This CD contains nearly every song she performed at MGM and a few outtakes, too. Her wonderful songs from CABIN IN THE SKY, the film in which she was actually a character in the story (it was an all-black cast) are all here including the fabulous outtake "Ain't It the Truth." Exotic and subltly erotic, Lena was and remians one of a kind."

Lena's Soundtrack

i. t. j. | 05/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a must-have for Lena fans or fans of her film performances. In fact many of these film performances are in films that have not yet been released to digital or dvd, let alone vhs so this is the only place to hear them. This is also a great start for fans who want to get to know the legend that only just recently passed away at 92. Of course Stormy Weather is not here nor any songs from that film, as Lena was borrowed by Twentieth Century Fox for that film. Aside from that this is a great way to hear Lena from age 25 to 39 in excellent voice."