Here are Whitney Houston’s movies to watch from her entertainment career.
In Whitney Houston’s dynamic entertainment career, she only starred in a few movies. Whitney Houston’s death was a shocker. But, you can remember Whitney in her movies.
You will see her talent and grace via her filmography. In them, she left a lasting footprint in the Hollywood movie industry. Whitney Houston’s filmography includes romance movies and musical films.
Such as a story about girlfriends as they navigate love and society. It also includes two kinds of Cinderella stories. One a spin on the Disney classic Cinderella story. The other a modern musical story of rags to riches in a Cinderella-like tale.
Whitney Houston Movie Debut: The Bodyguard (1992)
Production: Tig Productions and Kasdan Pictures
Distributed by Warner Bros.
The Bodyguard is a 1992 film. It is the legendary hitmaker Whitney Houston’s debut movie. This romantic thriller showcases an ensemble between Whiney Houston and Kevin Costner. A tough and strict bodyguard who accepts a job protecting a music superstar
Whiney Houston portrays Rachel Marron. A music superstar and an Academy Award-nominee with a diva-like reputation. Rachel is being stalked by an unknown person and receives death threats. Kevin Costner acts as a former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer.
After his failure to save President Ronald Reagan he becomes a private bodyguard. Rachel’s team hires Frank to protect her. But, her diva-like reputation makes Frank Farmer reluctant to accept the job.
After he accepts the job, his tough security measures and strict work ethics angers Rachel. However, she gradually sees the benefits of his protective methods. They fall in love and unearths the stalker and shocking source of her death threats. Gary Kemp, Bill Cobbs, Ralph Waite are also in the movie.
Watch the Bodyguard movie on Amazon Prime Video or buy the blu-ray version.
All-Female Lead Movie: Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Distribution: 20th Century Fox
Forest Whitaker took the director’s chair for the 1995 romance film Waiting to Exhale. Waiting to Exhale is an adaptation of a Terry McMillan novel, with the same name. Starring, Whiney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine. Waiting to Exhale comedy and drama showcases the friendship between four women. It also uncovers their romantic relationships with their male counterparts.
Whitney Houston portrays Savannah “Vannah” Jackson. Angela Bassett was cast as Bernadine “Bernie” Harris. Lela Rochon played Robin Stokes and Loretta Devine played Gloria “Glo” Matthews. Savannah Jackson is a successful television producer. She waits in vain for her lover to leave his wife for her. While Bernadine Harris leaves her career behind to be a housewife and stay-at-home mom. However, her husband leaves her for another woman.
Similar to Savannah Jackson, Robin Stokes has a successful career. But she is the mistress of a married man. Then there is Gloria Matthews a single mother and salon owner. As they go through various stages and trials in life the four friends continue to bond. They provide support for each other by giving each other an ear to listen and shoulders to cry on.
Watch Waiting to Exhale movie on Amazon Prime Video.
American Comedy-Drama Film: The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
Production: Touchstone Pictures and The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Preacher’s Wife is an adaptation of the novel Bishop’s Wife by Robert Nathan. It is also the remake of the 1947 version of the film, The Bishop’s Wife. The comedy-drama film stars Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance. It follows Courtney B. Vance as a pastor Rev. Henry Biggs and his wife Julia Biggs played by Whitney Houston.
Rev. Biggs struggles through the cold holiday season. He has difficulty dealing with marital problems and pastoral duties. This is in addition to receiving pressure to sell the church’s property. Rev. Henry Biggs and his family receive help from an unexpected source. The handsome and charismatic Denzel Washington portrays an angel named Dudley.
Dudley becomes distracted from his mission to help Rev. Biggs to save the church. He instead becomes in an entanglement with the Bishop’s wife. The film also stars Gregory Hines as real estate developer Joe Hamilton. As well as Loretta Devine as the Rev’s laughably antagonistic secretary. Also, Jenifer Lewis, as Julia’s suspicious mother. Penny Marshall directed the Preacher’s Wife.
Watch the Preacher’s Wife movie on Amazon Prime video.
Musical Fantasy Television Film: Cinderella (1997)
Production: Walt Disney Television, BrownHouse Productions, and Storyline Entertainment
This musical fantasy version of Cinderella premiered on ABC in 1997. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella was radiant in cinematography, color, and costume design. With Whitney Houston playing the fairy godmother of Brandy, who portrayed Cinderella.
The movie had a diverse cast with Brandy being the first black person to play Cinderella. It also starred Jason Alexander as Lionel, Whoopi Goldberg as Queen Constantina, and Bernadette Peters as the Stepmother. In its underlying theme, the movie tells the usual story of Cinderella.
Her positivity, industriousness, oppression by her step-family, and love story. Cinderella’s stepmother pursues the prince to marry one of her daughters. Instead, he favors Cinderella. He falls in love with her but his mother is apprehensive of their union. A unique feature about this Cinderella version is that the movie is ethnicity blind. For some, this is an interesting and not a bad concept at all.
Buy the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella movie with Brandy DVD from Amazon.
Musical Film: Sparkle (2012)
Production: Stage 6
Sparkle is the remake of a 1950 movie inspired by the Supremes all-female singing group. Salim Akil directed the 2012 version. Both versions of Sparkle centers on three sisters who form a girl group. The 2012 version is Jordin Sparks’ (2007 American Idol winner) debut movie. She plays the titular character Sparkle Anderson.
Her eldest sister is Tammy “Sister” Anderson (Carmen Ejogo). While Delores “Dee” Anderson (Tika Sumpter) plays her older sister. Whitney Houston plays Emma Anderson the sister’s strict church-going mother. Sparkle follows the sisters as they pursue a music career to the dismay of their mother.
It explores the various highs, lows, hardships, and tragedies the sisters face. As well as conflicts in their careers, friendships, romantic and personal lives. The film also stars Derek Luke (Sparkle’s love interest), Mike Epps, Cee Lo Green, Tamela Mann, and Omari Hardwick
Watch Sparkle with Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston on Amazon Prime Video or buy the DVD version.
In closing, Whitney Houston’s songs bring wonderful melodies to the ear. The documentaries Whitney Can I Be Me (2017) and Whitney (2018) explores Whitney’s life story.
