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Intimate Portrait: Josephine Baker [VHS]

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Move over Tina Turner, Beth Midler, Patti LaBelle and Madonna! Before either one of you were born, there was Josephine. She set the standard and paved the way for performances that blew her audiences' aesthetic minds. She was the rage of Paris and Europe. Audiences bowed at her feet and gave praise to her name. Josephine was it!

Josephine Baker. Just who was this woman? Born of a Black washer woman and white man in St. Louis, MO, Josephine led a hard life. The St. Louis racial riots of 1917 left an indelible impression on this young girl who would grow to resent the racism of her country throughout her life. Josephine was wild, independent and would do what was necessary to move out of her condition.

Her tenacity, creativeness and sense of adventure in performing eventually landed her in Paris which she took by a storm. She brought with her a style, grace and energy which is shown in vintage footage of her early years. You will enjoy the performance of this woman whose feats can't be duplicated today.

Baker was more than just an entertainer. She was always outspoken against racism and believed in living life on her own terms. France honored her as a war hero and she adopted children of different races to prove that all humanity can live in harmony. This was before the civil rights movement came into being at full force.

Enjoy this woman's triumph on stage. Allow yourself to get angry at the United States for its rejection of this great Black woman. Be forgiving of her varied foibles and mistakes. Yet remember this, THERE IS ONLY ONE JOSEPHINE!

I was a fan of Josephine Baker's and I had the liberty of seeing her walk down the Champs Elysees at the age of seven in 1956 or '57. And I must tell you that she was a sight. She had a certain magic about her that cannot be duplicated. Everything about her was just perfect. And ever since I saw that beautiful sight it has been sketched and burned in my head ever since.So when I heard that Lifetime was doing a biography of Josephine Baker I was drawn to it imediately. And when I saw this documentary I literally broke down and cried. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Madame just watching her walk down the street and enjoying the view was quite enough. She was just unforgettable. And there is no one today or tommorrow who can touch her ,or ever will.

With its commercials edited for home viewing, this video is the perfect length for a high school class screening. I wanted to present a unit on Josephine Baker in conjunction with Black History Month, and this was a good investment for my classroom.

The documentary footage of the video is fantastic, with images of St Louis during the riots of the 1920s, stills of Baker in New York City, and performances by Baker in Paris (with a strategically placed black bar, making the video suitable for younger audiences). Particuarly interesting are clips a 1951 interview with Baker upon her return to the United States. Also included are clips from the 1991 HBO film, "The Josephine Baker Story".

The video's commentary, however, was somewhat disappointing. Both Lynn Whitfield, who portrayed Baker for HBO's biopic, and choreographer-producer Debbie Allen are interviewed along with several of Baker's adopted children, and assorted biographers. But Arsenio Hall, the video's narrator, is a mysterious choice for an interview, as he has no discernable connection to the performer. His trite descriptions of Baker as having "a Jerry Lewis, Jim Carrey-like quality, though she was not a standup. She was a dancer," are especially irritating, as they bring no real information to the biography. They are merely filler. And Debbie Allen damages her credibility as a source by peppering her commentary with "Honey!" and "Child!" These glitches, however, are tolerable in the context of the documentary footage.

The life of Josephine Baker is a fascinating story which deserves a serious documentary, with a narrator who can correctly pronounce "Les Folies Bergères". But until we have that, this will have to do.

This documentary was simply stunning. I saw wonderful and beautiful films , photographs , and rare footage of this beautiful women . This documentary opened my eyes to a women who didn't fight for just black civil rights, but for all human rights.

Josephine Baker is one in a million, and all I can say is that it's about time she finally gets the recognition that she so deserves. Although she is no longer with us, we can always look back and apreciate the rich lavish history that this woman has left behind.

Although this bigraphy has not been released out on video , nor has it been seen by the public eye. So long as it's about the outrageuos and phenomenol ''La Bakaire '', then you know that it's going to be one hell of a biography. I must say that it is about time that we start recognizeing these outstanding minorities such as Paul Robeson, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Marion Anderson, Josephine Baker and many, many more. And since Ms. Baker has not just been an entertainer, but also a humanatariun, a mother, a civil rights leader , and etc. Someone who did more things in a day than a regular person did in a lifetime, I just wanted to applaude whoevers idea it was on making this biography of the late Baker, because it seems as if finally after so many years after her death she is finally recieving the recognition that she so desired in her native land.