Mahogany: The Couture Edition

Motown founder Berry Gordy directed this splashy vehicle for former Supreme Diana Ross (taking over from uncredited screenwriter Tony Richardson). Ross's Tracy Chambers lives on the South Side of Chicago, working as a department store secretary by day, and at night taking classes in hopes of becoming a fashion designer. Her Aunt Florence (Beah Richards), a seamstress, sews samples of her designs. A love interest enters Tracy's life in the form of Brian Walker (Billy Dee Williams), a community advocate concerned about affordable housing. “Everything's politics,” he tells her, but she doesn't believe that should apply to the fashion world. Her career takes off when a photographer, Sean (Anthony Perkins), decides he likes her look. Sean hires her for a fashion shoot, which leads to a trip to Rome, where he dubs her “Mahogany.” In Italy, Tracy becomes a successful model. But their working relationship suffers when Tracy uses her modeling status to promote her designs. Until that point, Gordy controls the material well, but things take a turn for the ridiculous when Sean goes after Brian, especially with nothing to gain. From then on, Mahogany serves up drinking, reckless driving, and wealthy benefactors with ulterior motives, all on the way to a happy, if somewhat retrograde, ending. Ross designed the Halston-inspired outfits, and sang the Oscar-nominated title track, which trumped the film in popularity. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)