Dorothy Dandridge and Rita Moreno, LIFE Magazine Covers 1954. Rita's came out in March and Dorothy's came out in November. Am so glad Dorothy did not meet Otto until the film 'Carmen Jones' was in the making. Could have seen the role going to Rita even though Joyce Bryant and others were looking to be cast as Carmen.
Rita Moreno as Tuptim in the 1956 film 'The King and I'. A role Otto convinced Dorothy to turn down.
If Dorothy did not listen to Otto, this would have been her win.
Above left is Dorothy as Melmendi, Queen of the Ashuba in Tarzan's Perils (1951). To the right is Rita as Tuptim.
Rita looks like 'Carmen Jones' in this photo.
Anita with the fire of 'Carmen'
Link to more of Rita
Rita's dark complexion attracted Brando, who had never got over his first object of desire — a Danish-Indonesian nanny — and craved exotic, darker-skinned women for the rest of his life. Brando lusted after Dorothy Dandridge as well.
Dorothy (l), Rita (r)
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ReplyDeleteDorothy was supposed to be in West Side Story????
ReplyDeleteYes, Otto of course told her to turn it down...that she should have the leading role, and she listened to him
DeleteIt wasn't "West Side Story" Dandridge was told to turn down, but "The King and I".
ReplyDeleteYes she turned down the West Side Story too..
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ReplyDeleteYes it was the King and I, not West Side Story, that Otto Preminger told Dorothy to turn down. She wasn't considered for West Side Story. Otto convinced her the role in King and I was too small for an actress who had just been nominated for an Academy Award. Plus the role was of a slave/servant so that wouldn'appeal to her anyway. Though the role of Tuptim was a little glamorous and helped Rita some, Dorothy for turning the role down was ostracized and received few roles after. Taking the role would have probably changed the trajectory of her career.
ReplyDeleteIt was both. She was suppose to play Maria.
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