Amadeus in 4K

This fictionalization of the career of Motown group The Supremes received eight Oscar nominations across six categories and was the first live-action film with three tunes nominated for Original Song. Dreamgirls was also the first film to boast Black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy) and Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson). Hudson’s Oscar win for her role as Effie White—her debut film performance—made her, at age 25, the youngest African American to win an Academy Award for acting. A form-fitting fishtail gown worn by Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones—designed by Sharen Davis—is currently on view at the museum, alongside vintage magazines from the 1960s and 1970s used as reference by makeup designer Tym Shutchai Buacharern. Davis took inspiration from real-life 1960s musical groups for various looks throughout the film.

This fictionalization of the career of Motown group The Supremes received eight Oscar nominations across six categories and was the first live-action film with three tunes nominated for Original Song. Dreamgirls was also the first film to boast Black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy) and Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson). Hudson’s Oscar win for her role as Effie White—her debut film performance—made her, at age 25, the youngest African American to win an Academy Award for acting. A form-fitting fishtail gown worn by Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones—designed by Sharen Davis—is currently on view at the museum, alongside vintage magazines from the 1960s and 1970s used as reference by makeup designer Tym Shutchai Buacharern. Davis took inspiration from real-life 1960s musical groups for various looks throughout the film.

This fictionalization of the career of Motown group The Supremes received eight Oscar nominations across six categories and was the first live-action film with three tunes nominated for Original Song. Dreamgirls was also the first film to boast Black nominees for both Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy) and Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson). Hudson’s Oscar win for her role as Effie White—her debut film performance—made her, at age 25, the youngest African American to win an Academy Award for acting. A form-fitting fishtail gown worn by Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones—designed by Sharen Davis—is currently on view at the museum, alongside vintage magazines from the 1960s and 1970s used as reference by makeup designer Tym Shutchai Buacharern. Davis took inspiration from real-life 1960s musical groups for various looks throughout the film.

Filled with passionate real-time musical performances, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was nominated in five Oscar categories, including Best Actress for Viola Davis as the titular blues singer. The film also won Oscars for Makeup and Hairstyling and Costume Design, two evocative aspects of this film that are currently on display in the Identity gallery at the museum. Hair designer Mia Neal created two very different wigs for Davis as blues singer Ma Rainey, including a handmade horsehair wig that recreated one originally worn by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey. Sergio López-Rivera devised makeup looks to reveal Rainey’s aspirations and insecurities, drawing on the doll-like beauty aesthetic of the 1920s with big eyes and thin brows.

Filled with passionate real-time musical performances, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was nominated in five Oscar categories, including Best Actress for Viola Davis as the titular blues singer. The film also won Oscars for Makeup and Hairstyling and Costume Design, two evocative aspects of this film that are currently on display in the Identity gallery at the museum. Hair designer Mia Neal created two very different wigs for Davis as blues singer Ma Rainey, including a handmade horsehair wig that recreated one originally worn by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey. Sergio López-Rivera devised makeup looks to reveal Rainey’s aspirations and insecurities, drawing on the doll-like beauty aesthetic of the 1920s with big eyes and thin brows.

Filled with passionate real-time musical performances, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was nominated in five Oscar categories, including Best Actress for Viola Davis as the titular blues singer. The film also won Oscars for Makeup and Hairstyling and Costume Design, two evocative aspects of this film that are currently on display in the Identity gallery at the museum. Hair designer Mia Neal created two very different wigs for Davis as blues singer Ma Rainey, including a handmade horsehair wig that recreated one originally worn by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey. Sergio López-Rivera devised makeup looks to reveal Rainey’s aspirations and insecurities, drawing on the doll-like beauty aesthetic of the 1920s with big eyes and thin brows.