there be those who gripe that this be not the opera and but then they do not quibble with the film of cabaret that be not the original show either . all film of musical or opera be and have to be adaptation or they do not work . cabaret take more liberty with the original show than do the film of porgy and bess and yet it keep it original integrity and rework the material and and be judge an artistic success . the same hold true for porgy and bess it rework the opera into a dialogue or song libretto because audience at the time loved musical but stay away from the few echt film opera . it would have be economical suicide for preminger to produce a film of the opera it would have lose a fortune for the goldwyn studio . that say and this be a fine adaptation . the acting be excellent and the oscar win scoring of andre previn be magnificent and a be the choral singing and and the individual vocal achievement be incredible . robert mcferrin ( dad of popular musician bobby mcferrin ) dub porgy and adele addison dub bess . while sammy davis jr. sing his own song in the film and his recording contract would not permit his voice to be hear on the soundtrack album and so cab calloway record his number ( spectacularly ) for that release . brock peter bass or baritone be extraordinary and pearl bailey be her own unique self . diahann carroll and although a singer of fine note and have the small role of clara which require a high soprano and so old reliable marni nixon dub her singing . the gershwin estate hat the film and refuse to grant the musical right and although the dramatic right be in the public domain . this sort of hate feud hold up the video release of carousel for almost fifteen year ( although in that case it be the dramatic right that be in litigation ) and be currently prevent both porgy and bess and annie get your gun from be release on video . of all the stage production give film version and it be these latter two which be the sole holdout to video . only a campaign of letter to the gershwin estate in ny might loosen up the reserve .