Search - Claudine (1974) on DVD

Wonderful !!!!

Marc200 | Los Angeles, CA | 01/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful film. Historically, I think it is one of the first movies to ever attempt a realistic, three-dimensional portrayal of a complex love affair between an African-American man and woman. Although it does not succeed on every level, it is earnest, entertaining and extremely well acted. Diahann Carroll stars as the title character Claudine, a pretty middle-aged woman whose life is complicated and yet enormously enriched by having to single-handedly raise six children. Claudine is on welfare but also works a job on the side. James Earl Jones is Roop, who turns out to be Claudine's black knight in shining armor. Claudine and Reuben are very human, but find that their love can bring out the best in each other. Carroll and Jones are both so committed and masterful in their performances that it really elevates material that in lesser hands could be trite and somewhat embarrassing. Carroll, in particular, showed great commitment to this piece, she skillfully shed her high glamour image to play a single mother on welfare, and invested the character with humanity and dignity as readily as she exposed the character's human flaws. It is a staggering achievement for a woman who began her career as a cabaret singer. Carroll was most deservingly nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. The young actors are very good as well. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, only 19 at the time, did a great job of conveying the frustration, confusion and rage of a fatherless young man trying not the repeat the mistakes of his parents and yet fearful of going the wrong way. Tamu is also great, and she brings sass and charm to her role as the eldest daughter who loves, and is loved by, her beleaguered mother but is still uncertain of how she can avoid Claudine's life of hardship."Claudine's" gorgeous score is courtesy of the grand maestro of Black American cinema, Curtis Mayfield. Mayfield composed the original songs, which are memorably performed by Gladys Knight & Pips. My only complaint is that the DVD has rather shoddy production values. It was not remastered so the image is not typical DVD quality, and the DVD is very low on extras. Although it does feature audio commentary by Jones, Carroll and Hilton-Jacobs, among others. Otherwise, "Claudine" gets my highest recommendation. It is a landmark in African-American Cinema."