Poster of Porgy and Bess

Porgy and Bess

Plot: Set in the early 1900s in the fictional Catfish Row section of Charleston, South Carolina, which serves as home to a black fishing community, the story focuses on the titular characters, crippled beggar Porgy, who travels about in a goat-drawn cart, and the drug-addicted Bess, who lives with stevedore Crown, the local bully.
Release Date: Wednesday, June 24 1959
64 years ago
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Cast

Portrait of Sidney PoitierSidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier was
32 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Porgy'.
Sun, Feb 20 1927 –
Fri, Jan 07 2022
Portrait of Dorothy DandridgeDorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge was
36 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Bess'.
Thu, Nov 09 1922 –
Wed, Sep 08 1965
Portrait of Sammy Davis Jr.Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr. was
33 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Sportin' Life'.
Tue, Dec 08 1925 –
Wed, May 16 1990
Portrait of Pearl BaileyPearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey was
41 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Maria'.
Fri, Mar 29 1918 –
Fri, Aug 17 1990
Portrait of Brock PetersBrock Peters
Brock Peters was
31 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Crowne'.
Sat, Jul 02 1927 –
Tue, Aug 23 2005
Portrait of Diahann CarrollDiahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll was
23 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Clara'.
Wed, Jul 17 1935 –
Fri, Oct 04 2019
Portrait of Leslie ScottLeslie Scott
Leslie Scott was
38 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Jake'.
Sat, Jan 01 1921 –
Wed, Aug 20 1969
Portrait of Ruth AttawayRuth Attaway
Ruth Attaway was
48 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Serena Robbins'.
Tue, Jun 28 1910 –
Mon, Sep 21 1987
Portrait of Claude AkinsClaude Akins
Claude Akins was
33 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Detective'.
Tue, May 25 1926 –
Thu, Jan 27 1994
Portrait of Clarence MuseClarence Muse
Clarence Muse was
69 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Peter'.
Sun, Oct 13 1889 –
Sat, Oct 13 1979
Portrait of Everdinne WilsonEverdinne Wilson
Everdinne Wilson was
>> in Porgy and Bess
as 'Annie'.
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Ivan DixonIvan Dixon
Ivan Dixon was
28 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Jim'.
Mon, Apr 06 1931 –
Sun, Mar 16 2008
Portrait of Scatman CrothersScatman Crothers
Scatman Crothers was
49 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Crabman'.
Sun, May 22 1910 –
Fri, Nov 21 1986
Portrait of Maya AngelouMaya Angelou
Maya Angelou was
31 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Dancer'.
Wed, Apr 04 1928 –
Wed, May 28 2014
Portrait of Nichelle NicholsNichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols was
26 in Porgy and Bess
as 'Dancer'.
Wed, Dec 28 1932 –
Sat, Jul 30 2022

Crew

Portrait of Otto PremingerOtto Preminger
Director
Otto Preminger was
52 in Porgy and Bess
Wed, Dec 05 1906 –
Wed, Apr 23 1986
Portrait of Leon ShamroyLeon Shamroy
Director of Photography
Leon Shamroy was
57 in Porgy and Bess
Tue, Jul 16 1901 –
Sun, Jul 07 1974
Portrait of Paul HelmickPaul Helmick
Assistant Director
Paul Helmick was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of N. Richard NashN. Richard Nash
Screenplay
N. Richard Nash was
46 in Porgy and Bess
Sun, Jun 08 1913 –
Mon, Dec 11 2000
Portrait of Samuel GoldwynSamuel Goldwyn
Producer
Samuel Goldwyn was
79 in Porgy and Bess
Sun, Aug 17 1879 –
Thu, Jan 31 1974
Portrait of Daniel MandellDaniel Mandell
Editor
Daniel Mandell was
63 in Porgy and Bess
Sat, Jul 13 1895 –
Mon, Jun 08 1987
Portrait of Ken DarbyKen Darby
Original Music Composer
Ken Darby was
50 in Porgy and Bess
Thu, May 13 1909 –
Fri, Jan 24 1992
Portrait of George GershwinGeorge Gershwin
Original Music Composer, Songs
George Gershwin would have been no older than
38 in Porgy and Bess
Mon, Sep 26 1898 –
Sun, Jul 11 1937
Portrait of Frank McCoyFrank McCoy
Makeup Artist
Frank McCoy was
43 in Porgy and Bess
Mon, Jun 19 1916 –
Mon, Sep 01 1980
Portrait of Hermes PanHermes Pan
Choreographer
Hermes Pan was
49 in Porgy and Bess
Sat, Dec 11 1909 –
Wed, Sep 19 1990
Portrait of Fred LauFred Lau
Sound Designer, Sound Recordist
Fred Lau was
61 in Porgy and Bess
Wed, Jul 28 1897 –
Mon, Jan 18 1971
Portrait of Dorothy HeywardDorothy Heyward
Theatre Play
Dorothy Heyward was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Howard BristolHoward Bristol
Set Decoration
Howard Bristol was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Irene SharaffIrene Sharaff
Costume Design
Irene Sharaff was
49 in Porgy and Bess
Sun, Jan 23 1910 –
Tue, Aug 10 1993
Portrait of Serge KrizmanSerge Krizman
Art Direction
Serge Krizman was
44 in Porgy and Bess
Tue, Sep 08 1914 –
Tue, Oct 21 2008
Portrait of Ira GershwinIra Gershwin
Lyricist
Ira Gershwin was
62 in Porgy and Bess
Sun, Dec 06 1896 –
Wed, Aug 17 1983
Portrait of DuBose HeywardDuBose Heyward
Theatre Play
DuBose Heyward was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Oliver SmithOliver Smith
Production Design
Oliver Smith was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Layne BrittonLayne Britton
Makeup Artist
Layne Britton was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Joseph C. WrightJoseph C. Wright
Art Direction
Joseph C. Wright was
>> in Porgy and Bess
Unknown Birthday