Product Details

• Actors: Steven Parenago, Oprah Winfrey
• Directors: Merle Worth
• Writers: Brent Staples, Laura Bauer, Nicholasa Mohr
• Producers: Debra Reynolds, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Fred Berner, Jeffrey D. Jacobs, Lesley Karsten
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Steeplechase Video
• VHS Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305564752
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,609 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hoax Revealed, February 15, 2008

By 

Y. Verdad - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Us: Dignity of Children [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Even ABC and Oprah have distanced themselves from this 'documentary' that was put out by ABC's entertainment division in 1997. On January 12, 2007, ABC's own program, 20/20, revealed evidence that Anthony Godby Johnson (the young boy dying of AIDS in "About Us: The Dignity of Children") was a fictional creation. One of the shows producers, Leslie Karsten, appeared to have contributed to the cover up of the fictional character of Anthony Godby Johnson by making the following reference to Anthony when questioned about the veracity of his existence, "I am Momma, and he is the gift of my life." How ABC could have permitted the cast list to include the voice of Anthony Godby Johnson who a voice analysis expert identified to be that of Vicki Johnson, a woman who claimed to be his adoptive mother, is baffling.
The Wall Street Journal printed a review of "About Us: The Dignity of Children", by Barbara D. Phillips, that noted there were 8 pages of press material for a 19 page dialogue script. The press material includes a producer statement that says "We felt that the emotional journey through childhood, unique to everyone, makes us all experts on the subject." This ABC documentary can best be summed up by Barbara D. Phillips observation about the producers devoting screen time to "adults nursing childhood grievances". The only thing worthwhile thing about this production is the writer, Laura Cunningham's ruminations about her childhood from her book, "Sleeping Arrangements".

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good video, May 12, 2001

By 

kit smith (Corydon, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Us: Dignity of Children [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a great video for children, and adults. It talks a little bit about everything. From being afraid, teassed, abused,and just being themselves. I really liked the beginning when one of my favorite authors Anthony Godby-Johnson who wrote the book A Rock and a Hard Place. Talked about what it's like to be a child, and how they feel. Then in the middle of the movie he comes back and talks a little bit about his story. How he was abused,rescued,and later finding out that he has A.I.D.S.. Oprah also talks about what it was like as a child.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good video, May 12, 2001

By 

kit smith (Corydon, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Us: Dignity of Children [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a great video. It's talks a little about everything that children go through. From being teassed by other children, to being afraid, child abuse, and a little bit about A.I.D.S.. I really liked the beginning when one of my favorite authors Tony Godby-Johnson who wrote A Rock and a Hard Place. Talked about children how they feel, and think. Then about half way through it he starts talking a little bit about his story. It's also very good for children.