The Josephine Baker Story

The Josephine Baker Story is an American television film that first aired on HBO on March 16, 1991. It stars Lynn Whitfield as Josephine Baker, who was an international African-American star, who was especially successful in Europe. The film was generally well received by critics and has become a success on home video and DVD. The original music score was composed by Georges Delerue. Plot Born into a poor family in St. Louis, Josephine Baker struggles to make a name for herself on the vaudeville circuit. As her career progresses, so does her resentment of racial prejudice, motivating her to move to Paris—where in a short time, her exotic dance routines make her the toast of the town. Swayed by the influence of her manager, she takes the act back to America. It fails, but Josephine perseveres, proving herself as much humanitarian as entertainer. Cast Lynn Whitfield as Josephine Baker Mayah McCoy as Josephine Baker (age 8) Ainsley Curry as Josephine Baker (age 13) Rubén Blades as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino David Dukes as Jo Bouillon Louis Gossett Jr. as Sidney Williams Craig T. Nelson as Walter Winchell Kene Holliday as Sidney Bechet Vivian Bonnell as Josephine's mother Vivienne Eytle as Josephine's sister Production Lynn Whitfield was glad to be chosen to play Josephine Baker in this movie, but she was concerned about the scene requiring her to bare her breasts to perform Baker's famous "Banana Dance." "I was nervous about what my grandmother would think," she said, but then she warmed to the idea: "It's what you think Eve would look like."