i never quite understand the backlash this movie have receive over the year . it amaze me when people always seek perfection . this movie be not perfect . but let applaud what it do provide . a dynamic debut performance by diana ross and a memorable support performance by a young richard pryor . great music and score by michel legrand . great wardrobe wear by ross in this movie . any good film be make up of a few really good scene . i can easily count 5 or 6 excellent scene in this movie . # 1 open scene where they put a straight jacket on ross and through her in a padded cell . # 2 when she first lay eye on billy dee and be carry out of the nightclub . # 3 the good morning heartache scene at her birthday party at the club # 4 the scene where she attack billy dee in the bathroom and because he would not give her her dope # 5 when piano man be beat to death # 6 when she get the call that her mother die and while she be in the middle of get a fix . i could go on . people who dismiss this film for be standard hollywood fare be really not do this film justice . there be really nothing standard about it . it depict several stage of the life of lady day . and a we know her life be anything but standard fare .