Kate's Film Club: Mahogany
by Kate Pop Culture
Our resident film buff 💪Kate Corcoran, is starting the valiant effort of highlighting, celebrating, and swooning over some of the most fashionable films out there. Stay tuned for more chic cinema...
Photo: Getty Images
Directors: Tony Richardson & Berry Gordy, 1975
CAMP CAMP CAMP! From Scene one you already know that the hair, makeup, and wardrobe will be on point for the entirety of this movie.
In the first scene we flash forward to Tracy, aka the titular Mahogany, aka Diana Ross, strutting in her first real runway show. I was pumped to watch how Tracy arrived here, however this movie is mainly about Diana Ross’s beautiful face, the aforementioned hair, makeup, and wardrobe, and the 3 selfish men Tracy lets into her life.
Mahogany could have been a really inspiring story. Tracy has big dreams, and a lot of people telling her she’ll never achieve them. She works hard, gets out of Chicago, and becomes a famous model. Instead of a motivational film about a woman defying the odds and achieving her dreams, the plot focuses on how 3 key relationships derail her from her calling. Mahogany doesn’t find the true happiness she seeks until she returns home to her old life.
Brian, Sean, and Christian all see Tracy as a pawn for their own gain. Brian wants her to be his supportive partner in his quest to end gentrification. Sean sees her as a beautiful face and body he can photograph for his artistic advancement. Christian sees her as a sexual object to cure his loneliness. Of course, this is all veiled in a filter made of silk chiffon, ostrich feathers, and wigs.
The ending of Mahogany would never fly today. Any movie made now with this hyper misogynistic tone would be ripped to shreds by the good folks on Letterboxd. But, after all is said and done though, I kinda liked this movie. It’s really fun and at times super progressive. And ya can’t be mad when you get to look at Diana Ross’s face for 109 minutes!
So many visuals and other campiness to make note of:
-The. Rainbow. Pleated. Caftan.
-Every scene in Chicago looks freezing.
-Working in the store display department was my dream job at 19.
-Sean’s first scene is him photographing an unnecessarily horny ad for a…telescope.
-Nobody has ever looked as chic as Tracy did at the unemployment office.
-We love a glamorous modeling montage that is literally 3.5 minutes long!
-I do resent the “crazy artist who will do anything to get good work” trope.
-COSTUMES DESIGNED BY DIANA ROSS!!!!!!!!!
Final Rating
I’m giving Mahogany 62/100 caftans. 
To read all of Kate’s wildly deep and complex reviews, follow @katecorcoran on Letterboxd!
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