Although Liza's performance was wonderful, I felt Diana's show extraordinary range as an actress. Liza in Cabaret was masterful at doing what she had done in film and Broadway for years. Although, Diana had experience is was no where near what Liza had accomplished as an actress. Liza even thought Diana would win ! I completely believed Diana's performance and the drug scenes where unforgettable. I love it when actors loose themselves in the performance, when you can't believe it is really them in the role. I knew it was Liza with a Z, the moment a saw Cabaret...But those opening credits of Lady Sings the Blues...I could not believe it was Diana..That's acting !

Liza was brilliant in her role. She deserved to win.

@michaelnelson1128

9 күн бұрын

The movie was horrible

@edglebennett6312

5 күн бұрын

@@michaelnelson1128 I agree with you. It was extremely horrible.

Great story and insight and appreciation of a legend we all adore and look up too. I take Ms. Ross for sharing my video clip I made for her.

Great video. I still feel that Diana deserved to win the Oscar for LSTB - her performance was incredible on every level. Also - in terms of Diana and the Oscars - I think she has made other appearances. In one of them, she sang Over the Rainbow :) - Lawrence

Sooooo back in the day, movies would sometimes be shown in theaters for 6 mos. to a year. “Cabaret” came out in the early part of the year (January or February), but I thought I believe. I love it immediately and immensely. To this day, I know the score and songs by heart. As a young gay teen, the way the story unfolded was simply enthralling. “I slept with Maximilian” says Sally Bowles and Michael responds, “So do I”. Life affirming and thrilling. Hands down, “Cabaret” was my favorite film of 1972. That was until October, “Lady Sings the Blues” opened up at arguably one of the finest theaters in San Francisco, The Coronet. I had gotten the soundtrack soon as was released a couple of weeks before. Blaxploitation movies were extremely popular. However, those films more often than not opened in dismal, down market theaters. I dreaded that this was “Lady’s” destiny. I was thankfully WRONG. The Coronet Theater sold out every performance that weekend. NOW, Phillipe, I have to disagree because I believed the Oscar was Diana’s to lose. As good as Liza was, her performance was nearly identical to her previous Oscar nominated film, “The Sterile Cuckoo”. So on a strongest acting performance….it was close but Diana won by more than a photo finish. Considering how Black Actors/ACTRESSES are/were treated in Hollywood to this day, that was yet another reason the whole process was suspect. And from a Marketing perspective, the lamé excuse that Berry Gordy bought too much advertising in The Hollywood Reporter/Variety hurt its chances, asked yourself when did Hollywood think there was too much advertising. TIME is the true test, in the states, “Lady” airs on cable constantly. Unfortunately, it’s not the same for “Cabaret”. Why that is…..I’ll never understand. BUT the night of the Oscars, my heart was broken, I sorta suspected that she not win (also including the Judy Garland factor). I m not biased, am I….but even “Mahogany” holds up well……and her performance was worthy of Oscar consideration again. Her three theatrical films have endured including “The Wiz”. So though I think Liza was very good……Diana was great (but I am not biased, am I?😘)

I just love reliving these moments with you Philippe. "Thank You"

@benhamouphilippe

14 күн бұрын

Thank you my sweet

Diana in black in awesome..FOREVER ❤😂..

Nice 💯. Love Ms. Ross!

@benhamouphilippe

14 күн бұрын

Thank you

Another terrific love letter to Diana. There was no way a black woman was ever winning an Oscar in 1972! I remember the one and only time Lady Sings the Blues was shown on UK TV back in the early 80s- every gay bar and club was empty that night! Surprisingly the movie has never been released on video, dvd or blu ray in the UK! That iconic performance with Lionel- I remember watching it when it was broadcast in the UK the following evening (due to the time difference). She really does epitomise class and glamour. Diana Ross always manages to play with perspective and appear to be so much taller than she is. Your mother looks incredible.

@benhamouphilippe

5 күн бұрын

Thank you for your kind words, It is amazing how tall Miss Ross looks on stage. When I went to London for the first time in the 90's, I was stunned by the love people have for Diana Ross. She truly is a household name in England . I felt right at home.

@knockshinnoch1950

5 күн бұрын

@@benhamouphilippe Hi Philippe, Diana Ross has been one of the most successful female artists on the UK charts. She continued to enjoy regular chart success in the UK for decades after her chart career had stalled in the US. It frustrates me that Diana's career success never gets the recognition it deserves in so many music documentaries and publications. Keep up the great work in sharing these very personal video essays about Miss Ross and your deep affection for her. They really are unique and give a very fascinating perspective on her career through your field of expertise in the fashion world.

The SCREAMS when Ross appears for the 1982 ceremony?? Oh u could not touch her she was that hot!!!

Love you miss diana ross

Love Diana and her performance was great, but the movie in general was just okay. Cabaret is a masterpiece on film with a brilliant performance by Liza and Joel Grey. Bob Fosse at his best!!

Wonderful clips!! Great video as always.

Diane Ross can act. No doubt about it. She was great in Lady sings the blues, although the script had nothing to do with Billie Holiday's marriage to Louis McKay. But Liza was magnificent in Cabaret.

That year the Oscar's were on the same day as Diana birthday and the night before she had a party. At the party Berry Gordy gifted her a Maltese puppy and Diana kneeled before him and jokingly said "Oh intelligent one, name my dog" Berry grinned and said " I dubbed the Oscar!" The room erupted with cheers.

Cicely Tyson is the best actress of the group, but her part in Sounder was too small. Diana Ross was lucky to have an iconic artist to portray in her first movie and the movie was a hit, but as was mentioned, Liza had already been nominated for Sterile Cuckoo. Add her singing and dancing and the Garland factor, and the Oscar was hers to lose.

This OSCAR win would have significantly changed her film career, regardless a timeless performance. I strongly suggest the book “BEHIND THE OSCAR, The Secret History of the Academy Awards” (copyright 1993 - first edition) written by Anthony Holden (Simon & Schuster). Please turn to page 288, left side of the book, second paragraph, last sentence. It’s a joyful statement.

I really wanted Diana to win. I think a lot of us did but I think we all know they were not gonna give either of the black women the win it was all about Liza Minnelli. She was really was good in the movie but also her mother was Judy Garland, who never received an Oscar her father Vincente Minnelli was there as for her changing her gown. Miss Ross is so famous for changing a lot of clothes in her concerts, and I think she must’ve felt if I win best lead actor the first female black actor to win. I really should dress in a gown that’s my opinion

I love all this information about past fashion trends it’s so interesting. You are certainly dressed the part 🤩🤩🥂

@benhamouphilippe

Күн бұрын

Thank you that is very kind

Wonderful commentary loved all the insider info you are fabulous

Liza's father Vincent Minelli, was a legendary director in Hollywood, so he must have drummed up support by getting academy members to vote for her.

@rockyhrndz

11 күн бұрын

Cabaret was a great movie and Liza did a great job and I’m torn between both performances between Diana and Liza. However, I do think that Hollywood decided to give it to Liza because of her mother and how her mother didn’t get the Oscar that she deserved for “A Star Is Born” (Grace Kelly won) and sympathy for her Mom’s tragic death.

@professionalspinner9292

9 күн бұрын

​@@benhamouphilippeMinelli won Director in 1958 for "Gigi".

Wonderful video! Do you have any photos of Diana in the 2nd look at the '72 Oscars?

Diana Ross was absolutely brilliant as Billie Holiday in Lady sings the Blues and it would had been absolutely fantastic if she would had won but Liza Minnelli in Cabaret was extraordinary. It sounds like Berry Gordy went overboard with the campaigning. The outfits that she wore the year she was nominated were absolutely fabulous. How I wish that she would had made more films after The Wiz and maybe would had the chance to get nominated again and perhaps win.

@curtismichael4703

13 күн бұрын

The Black talent of that era would have aborted careers due to the times. Hollywood screenwriters/producers were not going to create movies starring a leading Black actress; not even Diana Ross! Who would she co star with? Robert Redford…Paul Newman…Ryan O’Neal? American was not ready for any sort of interracial couplings on the big screen. It was rumored that originally Diana Ross was to star in The Bodyguard with Steve McQueen. The screenplay had been around that long but didn’t finally get produced/filmed until the 90’s. Kevin Costner had to push for Whitney’s casting(and the kiss). No Best Actress Oscar until Halle Berry 2002. Diana Ross didn’t stand a chance back in 72. Unfortunately, a nomination was ALL that Hollywood was going to give her.

@mamadouaziza2536

10 күн бұрын

@@curtismichael4703 Where do you get your facts from??? Diana Ross appearing in 'Lady Sings The Blues' was the catalyst that got studios to believe that a Black female movie star could fill movies seats. Movie scripts were coming her way but she did not want to sing in another movie after 'The Wiz'. It was actually Ryan O'Neal who got the studios onboard for 'The Bodyguard' and Diana Ross was to co-star, however, she again did not want to sing. Also, the studio waited for Whitney Houston to become available because at the time she was the only young Black actress who could actually 'sing'. Kevin Costner had to convince Whitney that she was the right choice for the role. The studio was already convinced. During the 1970s lots of Black talent had long careers that lasted well into the 1980s/1990s.. Where are you getting that they had aborted careers during the 1970s?? Actress and singer Diahann Carroll received an Oscar nomination a couple of years after Diana Ross. Diahann, also broke ground on the night time soap Dynasty. Pam Grier and actress Tamara Dobson were huge in the mid 1970s. Actress Teresa Graves broke ground on TV in 1974. Brenda Sykes, Tracey Reed, Denise Nicholas were all well known actresses throughout the 1970s. Debbie Allen was given a co-starring lead in a Charlie's Angels rip off series in 1979 (Ebony, Ivory & Jade) starring Bert Convy. Winning this role was the result of Debbie's amazing performance on a two part 'Good Times' episode. Black actresses are given the opportunities by Hollywood and its up to the communities to support these actresses...

You are such a good designer.

They awarded Liza because the academy never awarded her parents

Nick crescendos channel on KZread has an interview with Susan tyrrell who was also up for best actress that year for the movie fat city, she talks of seeing Miss Ross bearing up Barry in the lobby after losing the Oscar to Liza… I think Susan lost to the mother in the ‘bad seed’ :)

Liza had the recent death of Judy Garland and how poorly Hollywood treated Judy on her side. Also at that time a movie about the start of Nazi Germany swayed voters.sad that Ross stopped making movies after The Wiz.

Yes Diana Ross was robbed !