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The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

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This is one of those works of fiction that is so realistic that the viewer can only assume that this is the story of a real American heroine, not a composite of the many unsung greats of the past. Cicely Tyson is magnificent as both the young and aged Miss Pittman. Her performance should go down as one of the best ever done for the small or the big screen. Every minute that she is in view is a major glimpse into the talent of a great actress.

The excellent script that traces the 110 years of the title character includes many of the critical points in the life of African-Americans from Reconstruction on to the Civil Rights struggle of the early 1960's. This is history that is informative as well as entertaining.

As an educator by profession, I heartily recommend this film to be a staple in every media center's video library. Timeless and relevant, "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" is an undeniable masterpiece!

It surprises me how many people think that The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is an actual biographical/autobiographical work. It is not -- it is fiction. It is a brilliantly crafted work interweaving historical references and recollections into an overall framework of the life of a woman born into slavery who survived to the point of the beginnings of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

The style of the book made into a film is one of oral history. The editor interviewed and transcribed Miss Jane's stories beginning in 1962 and going on for nearly a year. The editor also talked to other people, particularly when Miss Jane would fall silent or forget things (he couldn't tell if she was doing this deliberately or not), and also talked to people after Miss Jane's funeral. Some of this is lost in the film, but the overall narrative flow does keep this flavour in the story.

In a small space, the author (who is to be distinguished from the editor, a character in the novel) shows his intention -- this is to be an overarching story of black experience from the Civil War to Civil Rights, seen primarily through the experience of one woman, but incorporating and representing the experiences of all others.

The telling of the tale begins in the Civil War, where Miss Jane is child (she can't actually remember when she was born). Her name at that point was Ticey. Her first story deals with negotiating the delicate balance between fleeing Confederate soldiers, arriving Union soldiers, and the dominant presence of the mistress of the plantation. It was a Union soldier who suggested the name of Jane to Ticey ('Ticey is a slave name' the corporal said). Thus she became Jane. Jane Brown, adopting the last name of the corporal. These scenes are portrayed in the movie with strong performances.

Unfortunately for Jane, the mistress didn't like this, and tried to beat the name out of her. Jane refused to recant the name, and got put out in the field for her 'sass'. A year later, when the war ended, she set out for Ohio, the state where the corporal who named her had lived. The decision was a tough one -- the older folk didn't want to risk the journey, perhaps a case of better the devil you know. The young folks, however, were having none of the continuing presence of a master and mistress. They set out right away. Jane bid farewell to her Uncle Isom and set out with a group of people, some misfits, some smart.

Soon they had their first run-in with the forerunners of the Klan. From her hiding place, Jane watched the 'patrollers' kill Big Laura, the mother-figure of the group, and all of the rest of the travellers. Suddenly she was alone save for Ned, Big Laura's little boy. She was a mother figure right away. Being resourceful and pragmatic as a slave is forced to learn to be from earliest days, she grabbed the supplies and left with Ned, still hoping to travel to Ohio.

However, fortune and lack of proper directions led Jane and Ned into many encounters through the south, and when finding someone who has a map, they also come to the realisation that there might be difficulty in finding soldier Brown in Ohio. Which part of Ohio is he in?

Jane and Ned end up on a plantation, doing work like they had done before. Jane remained behind to experience ongoing strife and trouble, encountering carpetbagger politicians, business dealings, and abandonment. The plantation was purchased by an old Confederate office, Colonel Dye, and the people supporting the blacks all left. Cicely Tyson takes over the role as the adult Jane Pittman at this point, and does an absolutely stunning job at the part.

Ned left for the North, having changed his last name to Douglass, after Frederick Douglass. His life was in danger, so he had to go. After Ned left, Jane began her relationship with Joe Pittman; living together outside of marriage at first, which Jane justified in a way by explaining that black folk didn't have church marriages in slavery times, and they just weren't sure what to do now.

Joe and Jane left for east Texas for their own land after a time, after having an altercation with Colonel Dye over $150, plus surprise interest. Joe worked at breaking horses, becoming 'chief' Pittman, something of which both Joe and Jane were proud. Jane worked in a house as a servant. They did this for about ten years. Joe was killed by a horse no one could break, including Joe -- Jane had premonitions of the death, but Joe had to go 'a man's way'.

The story of Miss Jane continues apace through experience on another plantation and finally ending up in the Quarters. This is where she helped give birth to and raise Jimmy.

Anytime a child is born, the old people look in his face and ask him if he's the One. No, they don't say it out loud like I'm saying it to you now. Maybe they don't say it at all; maybe they just feel it -- but feel it they do. "You the One?" I'm sure Lena asked Jimmy that when she first held him in her arms. "You the One, Jimmy? You the One?"

Jimmy was the one who would get Miss Jane involved in the Civil Rights struggle late in her life, a struggle which she had in fact been participating in all her life. Jimmy, like so many in Miss Jane's life, like so many in black experience, would end up being killed, this time over protests for drinking fountains and bathroom privileges. But as Miss Jane said, just part of him was dead.

The greater part of Jimmy was still alive, and with the courage and example of Miss Jane, they went to Bayonne to stand up for their rights. Miss Jane was affected by many events; Miss Jane finally stopped reacting and acted up.

The author of the story, Ernest Gaines, was born on a Louisiana plantation. His descriptions and situations are authentic and mesmerising, and these are captured well in the film. Cicely Tyson's portrayal of Miss Jane in the film is an endearing performance, but one misses much if one relies solely on the film (plus some of the details are changed, sometimes inexplicably). One thing I would recommend is watching the film and reading the book as companions to each other -- some of the dialogue in the film supplements the book (like Miss Jane's final speech to the reporter), and the book fills in (as all books do) many of the details glossed over in the film.

I first saw this movie years ago on TV, but didn't quite have any knowledge about it until some years later when my mother and I recorded it on TV. I really love this movie and am glad that I got to see it. Cicely Tyson was so remarkable as Miss Jane Pittman. The title of this movie would almost make you believe that it is based on a true story--it is not, though. In this movie, you get to hear Jane's life story from her early years as a slave on a plantation (born into slavery), her adoption of a little boy, her marriage to Joe Pittman, and living to see the civil rights movement of the early 1960s. Jane lived quite a life; up to 110 years of age. She was a kind of person who had seen and been through quite a lot of things during her lifetime, which is obvious for anyone who lives that long. Cicely won an Emmy for her role in this movie, and she deserved it. The makeup was great as well. Cicely was only in her 30s or 40s at the time this movie was made, but with the makeup, you would almost think that it was an elderly lady playing Jane in the later years. I love this movie. There are some scenes in this movie that are disturbing, though, such as the scene where Jane and Ned (the little boy she adopted after his mother and other free former slaves were killed early one morning by the "patty rollers") went to a lady's house for a drink of water and got a very negative and cruel reception from her (trivia: cameo appearance by Katharine Helmond in this scene), some very disturbing scenes of the KKK, and her husband Joe Pittman's tragic death because of a white horse on the ranch that was a subject of evil, and several other sad scenes. But, all in all, this is a great movie worth seeing. I'm just so pleased that it is out on DVD. The quality of the picture and audio are both sharp and clear, you will never have to watch it again on VHS. The extras on the DVD are excellent. You get to see the Emmy award presentation, the making of the movie, as well as how Cicely was dressed to look the part of Miss Jane. Great buy, you can do no wrong getting this film!!

Note: The DVD I have is the original and does not have the extras.

Miss Jane Pitman is the oldest living ex-slave at 110 years old. A reporter is comes to do a story on her. She recounts her life from being a slave to the present day. This is wonderful story of the human spirit that ends with a beauty statement about the civil rights movement.

This was Cicley Tyson's first film after her Oscar nominated role in Sounder. This solidified her status as the greatest black actress of the time. She receive two Emmy Awards for this role (it was the year of the "Super Emmy").

This is the greatest TV movie of the 70's (probably ever) and should be required viewing for everyone. Bravo to director John Korty and writer Tracy Keenan Wynn who both won Emmys along with the movie itself.

"The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" was produced for television? Wow! It's much better than most theatrical films of its kind. As a perfect example of less-is-more film-making, this gem should be required viewing in all screenwriting courses. The word "masterpiece," abused in every other film review of today, truly applies to this film. Its lean-yet-shining production values make the seamless acting, tight writing, and important conflict all the more captivating. The climax? Do you enjoy a healthy, euphoric cry? A long LONG cry? One of the best cries you'll ever experience? SEE THIS FILM!!! Once you've stopped crying after a couple of days, be wicked and invite a toughie over to your home to see this film. Watch the toughie turn into jelly during the Water Fountain climax.

Much has been said about the role that network television news played in shining a spotlight on Bull Connor and the rest of the racists in the Old South of the Fifties and Sixties, and those observations are correct. By the late Sixties, with the passage of landmark Civil Rights legislation and grudging acceptance by some that change was here to stay, real barriers began to be broken and doors opened. But, like all seismic shifts in culture, change would have to be reinforced to make it complete.

"The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" proved again what the small screen can do to change hearts. The measure of a truly great work of art is that it can be viewed in any number of settings and never have its impact diminished. "2001: A Space Odyssey" is nearly as mesmerizing on television as it was on the theatre screen, so groundbreaking was its approach to the question of human potentiality. In equal measure, "Autobiography" is worthy of the big screen, so artful and compelling is its treatment of the issue of human dignity.

Thanks to extraordinarily skillful makeup artists, but largely to her own meteoric talents, Cicely Tyson turns in a flawless performance that will never grow old. Her facial expressions, voice timber, eye movements - her complete persona - embody the convictions of a woman growing more mature, more realistic, but still never losing her hope and dreams. It is an astonishing performance that demands exposure to the widest possible audience.

This film is a truly transformative experience - for a beloved actress, those in the film surrounding her, and most of all, for the viewer. One of my Top 5 picks of all time.

It is not often that a movie is better than the book based upon. But this is one case where even a great book is surpassed. I needn't add to other reviews. It is an absorbing movie, very moving to those sensative to human rights. Even though the movie concerns Black Americans, it speaks universally to the injustice usually found in the heart of the human race.

But I will mention one thing about the movie that I believe definitively places the movie above the book. I will not describe this thing so that those who have read the book, but haven't seen the movie, will have it spoiled for them. The book ends at a particular point, I believe an unfortunate point, resulting in a dead ending. But the movie continues where the book leaves off, and the sequence of scenes is wonderful, truly pulling together the movie in a truly powerful ending.

Finally, I believe the movie is better than Roots (the series). And if you are interested in Roots, the book is better than the series.

I first saw this movie in the gymnasium of my elementary school years ago when it was probably just released! Wow! History revealed through the eyes of a 110 year-old woman who was born into slavery and lived to see the turbulent civil rights movement era. Standout performances by all. When I was younger, I used to think Miss Jane Pitman was not just a fictitious person! The only thing that keeps me from giving this dvd five stars is the picture and sound quality could have been improved. I still wouldn't let that deter anyone from purchasing this dvd. Watchable over and over again. I dare you not to get a little misty eyed in the final scene of this film!

A quick warning, while this is a good movie, it doesn't represent the entire book. It completely skips book three. This omission robs the story of its depth of insight into the human character. It's not a bad movie, but it completely softpedals the message Gaines wrote in the book.

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman remains a classic historical perspective for African Americans. It is wonderfully made and will bring tears to the eyes of those old enough to remember the Civil Rights Movement and will educate those that have no knowledge of African American struggles.