Sunday, December 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Roles for this dynamic “all Black” version of Georges Bizet’s opera and Oscar Hammerstein’s musical were sought after by most Black actors in Hollywood. Director Otto Preminger thought Dandridge was right for the role of good girl Cindy Lou. With the help of her sister and mother, Dandridge put on new clothes, earrings, a walk and a demeanor to convince Preminger that she could play the seductive, red-hot Carmen Jones. “My God, it’s Carmen!” Preminger is said to have declared when he saw her transformation.—*guest programmer Miriam Bale* DCP. Director: Otto Preminger. Screenwriter: Harry Kleiner. With: Harry Belafonte, Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey.