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Illusions

  • 1982
  • 34m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
550
YOUR RATING
Rosanne Katon in Illusions (1982)
DramaShort

An African American woman rises to prominence in a fictional movie studio in the 1940s by passing as a white woman, affording others some dignity in the business that frequently portrayed mo... Read allAn African American woman rises to prominence in a fictional movie studio in the 1940s by passing as a white woman, affording others some dignity in the business that frequently portrayed movies as an illusion of a purely "white world."An African American woman rises to prominence in a fictional movie studio in the 1940s by passing as a white woman, affording others some dignity in the business that frequently portrayed movies as an illusion of a purely "white world."

  • Director
    • Julie Dash
  • Writer
    • Julie Dash
  • Stars
    • Lonette McKee
    • Rosanne Katon
    • Ned Bellamy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    550
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Julie Dash
    • Writer
      • Julie Dash
    • Stars
      • Lonette McKee
      • Rosanne Katon
      • Ned Bellamy
    • 3User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast16

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    Lonette McKee
    Lonette McKee
    • Mignon Dupree
    Rosanne Katon
    Rosanne Katon
    • Esther Jeter
    Ned Bellamy
    Ned Bellamy
    • Lieutenant Bedford
    Jack Rader
    Jack Rader
    • C.J. Forrester
    Jack Lundi Faust
    • Janitor
    • (as Fernando Lundi Faust)
    Lisa Henke
    • Telephone Operator
    • (as Lisa Phelps)
    Laddy Ashley
    • Lieutenant Bedford's Secretary
    Rita Crafts
    • Louise
    Sandy Brooke
    Sandy Brooke
    • Blonde Bombshell
    Johnny Crear
    Johnny Crear
    • Leo Gaines
    John Childers
    • Sound Assistant
    John MacBride
    • Sound Engineer
    • (as John McBride)
    Gaye Kruger
    • Musical Singer
    Oliver Woodall
    • Musical Dancer
    Joseph T. McKenna
    • Musical Dancer
    John Lefebvre
    • Director
      • Julie Dash
    • Writer
      • Julie Dash
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    6.9550
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    Featured reviews

    6SnoopyStyle

    race in Hollywood

    It's 1942 Hollywood. Mignon Dupree (Lonette McKee) is a pale-skinned negro trying to make her way in the studio system and passing in most situations.

    This is a low budget black and white indie short. This is the 80's trying to do the 40's. I start off with some hope. It seems like an interesting behind-the-scenes takedown of the studio system. Then it ends with an undeserved overwrought performance waving the race card. It's too big. For most of this, it seems to get the tone right. Any subtlety goes out the window at a certain point. I don't mind the others making it about race. She should take the high road and make it about the work.
    10monteros

    Rarely seen view of race and Hollywood

    I was lucky to view this film in class with decent sound. From what I understand, most the sound is barely audible on most prints. Sad, because Illusions is an example of race that is not often seen in the media. One of the few other examples I can think of is Alex Haley's Queen, but that took place over a hundred years ago, whereas Illusions is slightly more modern (and therefore hits closer to home), having taken place during WW2. But the issue of "passing" for the majority is not something the majority often thinks about, and I feel that many of my classmates were quite surprised by this film. That's a good thing though.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was the thesis submission from future director Dash, when she was still a student at the University of California in Los Angeles.
    • Goofs
      In the credit for Partial Funding the word Foundation is misspelled as "Fondation".
    • Connections
      Featured in The Cinematic Jazz of Julie Dash (1992)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 30, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Women Make Movies (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ilusiones
    • Production company
      • American Film Institute Independent Filmmakers Program
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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