Favorite African American Movie CLASSIC

TripleNeg

Well my all time favorite (because it's funny and I like all the actors) is Blazing Saddles. I think I begin to love it more when I learned that Richard Pryor and David Lettermen (before he made it big) worked together as writers for the script. It's hollarius. My favorite part is when the Sheriff (Cleavon Little) Bart rides into town on his gucci saddle. (lol). I can remember watching this show with my Dad and brother and all of us laughing and rolling over, wiping our eyes... the whole nine yards. What's your favorate classic african american movie and why?

Bee54

To Sir with Love

lexislove

I love any movie with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. I know the have done at least 2 together.

Can't remember the name...dang...

Those two are brilliant together!!!

Roya

I really appreciate 'Imitation of Life' even though it is not necessarily a 'Black ' movie, Blacks did have leading & important roles which made a bold statement back in the day. This film was unusual and ahead of its time (1959) for the depth and subject matter portrayed.  I captures the social mores and customs of the times very accurately.   2 women, one black and one white, both nearly homeless and down on their luck meet.  Each has a small 6 year old daughter to raise, each is widowed.   In this film we observe these women live through years of the challenges and triumphs of life.

The 2 women begin the movie with near equality but through the movie we see how being blond, etc affords the white woman, Lorna,  (Lana Turner) a much better chance of having her 'dreams come true' and she becomes a rich & famous actress.  She also finds love. Her daughter has everything and can go to any college of her choice.  Whereas the black woman (Annie) becomes her maid and works her entire life as a maid. She never meets the man of her dreams. She never has a home of her own. She spends her whole life serving her mistress and serving the Lord.  Her light skinned daughter wants more in life and runs away to pass for white so that she can have a chance.  She disowns her mother, becomes an exotic dancer, and never gets to college at all. Her life just never seems to progress or work out no matter how hard she tries.  In fact, one of her white boyfriends beats her up because he thought she was white and found out that she was not.

This movie is well known for Annie's funeral scene at the end. Mahalia Jackson even sings in it.  Rather than plan for her dreams in this life, Annie can only save and plan for the most expensive, beautiful funeral at the end of her life.  When she dies of a broken heart,  she gets just what she wanted.  Society would not let her 'live' in life no matter how hard she worked or tried. But in death she gets the glory and respect that she so deserved............but she had to die to get it.  Also, true to the nature of many minority women of her time, she never really questions her station in life but accepts it like a good 'Christian' woman should and looks forward to much deserved glory in the next life. 

 This film portrays  the unfairness of life in many subtle ways and on many levels such as age, gender, social rank and especially racial rank.  The synopsis portrays the triumph of this white woman who overcomes all this impossible adversity to rise to the top but the underlying subject matter is very pronounced.  This movie will leave you wondering if we have 'really progressed' that much?  What was really upsetting to me was the fact that Annie, the black woman,  spent her entire life doing all  'the right' things and she still ended up with nothing but a broken heart. Throughout the movie one is made painfully aware that Annie, would never, ever have had the same chances that Lorna had.  On the other hand,  Lorna, the white woman mainly looked 'cute' and ended up with the world at her feet. 

Despite all this, the movie is actually not really depressing, but educational and entertaining.  Juanita More came in second for Best Supporting Actress that year which, at that time, was amazing for a Black woman.

  This movie has been filmed more than once but I highly recommend the version with Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, and Juanita Moore which was filmed in 1959 and directed by Douglas Sirk.  Even though this is an older film, it remains very popular, and is considered a classic.  You will find it still runs on television a lot, even here in France.  You can still purchase it, rent it etc.

TripleNeg

lexislove-

It's silver streak, stir crazy and another one I can't remember. they worked well together. I think silver streak is my favorite. Funny team! Pryor is the funniest man that ever lived. His live performance on sunset strip in 1979 is my all time favorite. (ROFL).

AnnNYC

OMG, I love that Richard Pryor live in concert movie! 

NoH8

I don't know if this is considered an African American classic movie, but it's a classic. To Kill a Mockingbird changed my life. I was rather young when when I saw it and had lots of questions. I learned more about African American history from that movie than I did in elementary, middle and high school. I never knew my country could be so unfair, at 9 years of age.

Roya

Yes, NoH8, if you are writing from the point of view of an American Black, our country was more unfair than you could ever imagine......not just to African Americans but to many other minorities as well.  That is another reason why I wrote regarding the movie, ' Imitation of life.'

I know that most of us go to the movies for entertainment.  I am glad that we can also go and be reminded.  The Jews have a motto ' We will never forget."  In some ways, I hope that we, as African Americans, will adopt the same thought.  History can always repeat itself.......some say it does! 

I am so glad that you brought up the idea that some movies can be 'life changing.' as well as entertaining.

Triple Neg, I remember 'Silver Streak.'  Made me laugh sooooooo hard.  That movie crossed  colour lines with humor.  Anyway, you introduce some of the best subject matter and 'food' for thought.  Much appreciated!

pomegranate

I really enjoyed the movie with Sidney Poitier, early in his career. I think it was "A Raisin in the Sun." The movie was about nuns and Poitier's character working for them. That was a movie that really pointed out the idea of power, and whoever holds it has the power. I like anything Poitier is in. What about "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" I thought that was very funny, and really made a statement about race relations during a particular time in the 60s. Don't know if that's considered an African American Classic.

I also thought the recent movie with Julianna Moore was poignant and really pointed out the stereotypes of interracial relationships. Pointed out to me that we don't handle them very well even today! I was thoroughly enchanted with the Black male protagonist--help--can anyone tell me his name? He was phenomenal in that movie!

Det. Pomegranate

PS: I also liked the video called: Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes (videograph of 4th Grade Teacher's experiment with teaching her class how discrimination works and why we shouldn't do it). Wonderful and educational! They even talked to the students after 20+ years and asked them how this experiment changed their lives (if indeed it did).  

Traci-----TripNeg

I cried like a baby watching The Color Purple. I've watched that movie 50+ times. It's right up there with my all time favorites. There is nothing like the love of a sister. Sad, but classic.

TripleNeg

Roya -

I think another good classic is Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and Harry Belfonte in Carmen. I was hoping that with Black History Month they (the networks) would show more classics but wasn't to be. If you all hear of any classic coming on any of the networks let me know! Popcorn and Lemonade are within arms reach! God is able, stephanie

Roya

TrileNeg,I remember both of those movies.  I think that we might get as many Black movie classics on TV here as you do there.  Yes, I will be keeping the popcorn and lemonade within arms reach!  I especially like lots of hot melted butter slathered on my popcorn!

Yes,God is able!  I count you as one of my most inspirational people on these forums and some of that is due to your unwavering faith.

Anonymous

For the first eighteen years of its existence, MBS was owned and operated as a cooperative,jewelry boxes setting the network apart from its competitors: Mutual's members shared their own original programming, transmission and promotion expenses, and advertising revenues. From December 30, 1936, when it debuted in the West, the Mutual Broadcasting System had affiliates from coast to coast. Its business structure would change after General Tire assumed majority ownership in 1952 through a series of regional and individual station acquisitions.Once General Tire sold the network in 1957, Mutual's ownership was largely disconnected from the stations it served, pearls leading to a more conventional, top-down model of program production and distribution. Not long after the sale, one of the network's new executive teams was charged with accepting money to use Mutual as a vehicle for foreign propaganda. The network was severely damaged, but soon rebounded. Mutual changed hands frequently in succeeding years-even leaving aside larger-scale acquisitions and mergers, its final direct cuff linkscorporate parent, Westwood One, which purchased it in 1985, was the seventh in a string of new owners that followed General Tire.

crazy4carrots

I reported the above post.  I believe it was spam, and was especially offensive, appearing in a post started by dear Stephanie, who just passed away.

Linda

AnnNYC

thanks, Linda...

I'm thinking of another African American movie classic today -- Crooklyn -- beautiful movie, but very sad -- mom dies of cancer -- very much the story of the childhood of Spike Lee, his brother and sister. 

Thatgirl

Imitation of life and Cooley High

voraciousreader

Just watched on DVD Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls. My friend and I thought it was terrific. BTW, I went to high school with Spike Lee. H was a very lovely person. I am happy for his success. My favorite African American movie is To Kill A Mockingbird.