Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored

Starring:Al Freeman Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Leon, Paula Kelly, Salli Richardson, Anna Maria Horsford, Bernie Casey, Isaac Hayes, Willis Norwood Jr., Karen Malina White, Damon Hines, Iona Morris, Phill Lewis, Taj Mahal, Polly Bergen, Richard Roundtree, Braxton Brown III, Frank Hoyt Taylor, Montrel Johnson, Deionyos Llerena
Director: Tim Reid
Studio: Republic Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Tim Reid's wonderful film about life in the black neighborhood of Glen Allan, Mississippi, from the mid-'40s to the dawn of the civil rights movement, is thick with terrific, inspired actors and possessed of a mature, limpid visual style. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy raised by his stalwart grandfather and his kind aunt. But the collective tale of a community coming to terms with the risks it must take to fight racism and achieve political rights is equally important and compelling. Beautifully written (based on the autobiographical novel by Clifton Taubert), Reid's vision is rich in scenes of ritual and community that have rarely, if ever, been revealed on film. This is more than just a good movie; it's a watershed event in this nation's cultural history. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The way they were.......2007-07-04

This is just an excellent look at growing up in rural Misissippi during the Jim Crow era. It follows a boy from the moment of birth until he has to leave the area to further his education. Mostly it centers on the extended family that supports the young man in his upbringing and the strong role models he has. Al Freeman Jr. and Phylicia Rashad are the two main leads with Richard Roundtree in the best performance of his career as Cleve the iceman and down home philosopher. Isaac hayes and Taj Mahal both make cameo appearances. I teach US History and I show this movie every year along with the Ghosts of Mississippi as counterpoints to each other. As I teach in California, most of my African-American students are totally suprised by the content of this movie. As a last note, Polly Bergen is also wonderful in her role.

A People as Most of Them Really Are.......2007-06-22

I think this is a movie that everybody who has not has regular contact with African Americans should see. There isn't really much of a plot, but I wouldn't say that it lags either. Its main benefit for African Americans, especially senior citizens, would be to be reminded of how it was. For the younger ones, it would help 'flesh out' their culture's history. For those whose main 'knowledge' of African Americans is the news and television or movies, this will be a wonderful way to see that no matter what the color, people are, emotionally, basically the same. We all are just trying to make the best of whatever situation in which we find ourselves.

My father had dozens of apartments when integration became the law. When we let in the first black family in a building, virtually all the 'white trash' moved out. Very quickly, we realized that the black tenants were much cleaner and more desirable as tenants. I am also old enough to remember the 'whites' and 'colored' restrooms and drinking fountains. My cousins marched in the South's integration marches. The point is that if everyone saw African Americans as the great majority of them really are, and not as portrayed in the media, there would be much less tension between races. This is a good movie to see them as most of them really are like.

Only three (and a half) stars is due to a lack of a real plot - this shows more like a documentary biography than a drama.

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored.......2007-02-07

I thought the story was real and had very positive
meanings. Some of my favorite actors and actresses
are in this movie; their acting skills added beauty
to the story. I enjoyed the film, the history and
life lessons. *****

Great Story.......2006-12-04

I have to admit that this movie started off a bit slow for me, but am glad to say that it is one of the best movies I have seen about the pre-civil rights South. Phylicia Rashad led an all-star Black cast in a moving story of an impoverished, but proud community overcoming the obstacles placed in their way by the majority White community.

This is just a wonderful film. I was brought to tears at the very end when the Black sharecroppers threw their hoes down and quit their jobs rather than be forced to abandon one of their own.

As Roeper and Ebert say, "TWO THUMBS WAY UP".

The boring movie!.......2006-10-21

This was just a boring movie...can't understand the other
review's saying it's good. Wouldn't reccomend it!

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