Diana Ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist Billie Holliday, who while writhing in a strait jacket in a prison cell, awaiting sentencing on drug charges, reflects on her turbulent life. Raped in her youth by a drunk (Adolph Caesar), then compelled to work as a domestic in a Harlem whorehouse, Holliday is encouraged to try for a singing career by bordello pianist Richard Pryor. She rises as high as it is possible to go in the white-dominated show business world of the 1930s, but cant handle the pressure and turns to narcotics. The film takes several liberties with the 44-year existence of Lady Day, but Diana Ross makes even the most illogical of plot contrivances credible. And, besides, listen to that voice! Among the Billie Holliday standards performed by Ms. Ross are My Man, I Cried for You, Lover Man, Them There Eyes and the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide