MovieChat Forums > The Temptations (1998) Discussion > What Motown Acts Deserve Biopics?

What Motown Acts Deserve Biopics?


Most of the major Motown acts are worthy of a movie. Mary Wilson's autobiography "Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme" was very successful. I thought I heard that was going to be a movie, but that hasn't happened yet. The Four Tops went from 1953 until 1997 without a change in personnel. I heard they were as close as brothers. So there might not be enough drama for a movie. There was a TV miniseries about the Jackson 5. Michael Jackson remains a controversial figure. I think TV movies and miniseries might dilute the prospects of a theatrical movie. Gladys Knight & The Pips had their greatest success after leaving Motown. The late Billy Preston had his share of heartaches. Teena Marie had an interesting life. So did Mary Wells. There was a good VH1 Behind The Music about the late Rick James. I don't know if there is enough drama for a Stevie Wonder movie. The same goes for Lionel Ritchie. The history of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles might make a good movie. The story of MARVIN GAYE needs to be told. The life of Tammi Terrell might make a good movie. But that could be incorporated into a Marvin Gaye biopic because they worked together and were very close.

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I would like to see the source itself. Berry Gordy! I think that would make for a very interesting biopic. He had an affair with Diana Ross, his conflict's with Florence Ballard, his discovery of The Jackson 5..etc.

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Gordy is supposed to be powerful. He might try to interfere with a movie that portrayed him in a negative light.

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Motown: The Musical was basically an autobiography of Berry Gordy's life and career with Motown and their performers. That said, I would love to see a cradle-to-the-grave biopic of Marvin Gaye, and maybe an adaptation of Mary Wilson's book Dreamgirls as a miniseries so they can also film the post-Diana Ross era of the Supremes. Mary Wells would make for a decent biopic, as would Florence Ballard (of the Supremes) based on Peter Benjaminson's biography of her given her tumultuous her post-Motown life was.


What we do in life, echoes in eternity.

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STEVIE WONDER
RAY CHARLES
SAM COOKE

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Ray and Sam not Motown.

RAY was a bio from just a few years ago.

Come on, now. You should remember that!!!

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