Customer Reviews

Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Step back in time to 1946, to a place called Glen Allen, Mississippi. Racial discrimination is at an all time high, and hate groups like the KKK parade in the streets. African Americans are forced to use different bathrooms, and different water fountains, and Clifton Taulbert is born in a cotton field right in the middle of it all. This horrible time to be African American is where Once Upon A Time...When We Were Colored takes place.

The movie spans a total of 16 years, beginning when Cliff was born, and ending when he is seventeen. The character of Clifton Taulbert was played by three different actors (age 5, age 10 through 11, and age 17). Charles Earl Taylor Jr. (who played Cliff at age 5) did a superb job, as well as Damon Hines (Cliff at age 17). Ray J (who played Cliff at ages 10 through 11), I believe, could have played his part in the movie better by adding a little more expression in his voice. On the whole, all of the other actors in the movie performed wonderfully.

The theme of racial discrimination is evident from the beginning birth scene in the cotton fields where the white owner of the fields refused to give the mother of Clifton a full days pay because of his inconvenient birth in the middle of the cotton crop. The movie then moves on to a scene where Cliff (age 5) needed to use a restroom at a gas station. It was marked "white only" and the gas attendant stopped him before Cliff had a chance to use it. His Uncle Cleave (played by Richard Roundtree) then showed young Cliff a "W" and a "C" and explained to him that he could only use things marked with a "C" (for colored). Cliff's Uncle Cleave, who delivered ice for the people who owned iceboxes in Glen Allen, was a major roll model in Cliff's life. Cliff's Uncle always told him to get a good education so he could move away from Glen Allen when he was older. Perhaps the scene with the most evidence of racism is when Cleave takes Cliff into town and they see the KKK in white hooded robes marching down the street.

This movie receives four stars out of five from me because of the disappointing acting from Ray J (Cliff Age 10 through 11) that in my opinion could have been played much better.

Also throughout the movie there are scenes that clearly show the local color of the town of Glen Allen. A church scene, where the people of Glen Allen gathered together to worship god and have a picnic, showed the great sense of family in the town. Other scenes (like one of a dace club) help us get a feel for what life was like living in Glen Allen. I think that these scenes were a very good addition to the movie.

All in all, with its wonderful directing, fantastic cast, and a good moral, Once Upon A Time...When We Were Colored was superbly made. The fact that it was a true story is stunning in itself because of the abundance of racial discrimination that happened in these times. Once Upon A Time...When We Were Colored is a must see movie for anyone who wants to learn more about racial discrimination.

Al Freeman does great justice to Clifton Talbert's powerful novel. Clifton inspired me as an author. He used the first person narrative in such a humble manner. I have heard it said that only arrogant, self-glorifying people employ a literary style center with the word, "I." Yet, Clifton does so with such a sense of humility. His "I" illustrates the power being there, but in his work, virtually every person he describes is made to seem more bold, virtuous and sincere than the author himself. In Al Freeman's adaptation of this excellent literary work, the humble and sincere sense that imbued Clifton's novel comes to life. Genuine, sublime, personal and powerful, this is a movie guaranteed to touch your heart.

Tim Reid has not been `that guy from WKRP' for some time now. And no, he wasn't Isaac on The Love Boat either. He still finds himself in too many schlocky TV movies, and weak situation comedies. One must pay the rent, and no one can argue with that.

More and more a champion of black film, he has been careful, deliberate in his choice of projects to produce. Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, elevates him, appropriately, as a serious filmmaker, black, white, or otherwise.

This is not a `new' film, but it is a different approach. An insightful look into Afro-American existence during turbulent times, the focus is on the community, rather than the oppression, the individuals rather than the cause. The result is every bit as effective in getting the message across. `You get more flies with honey...'

Al Freeman Jr. gets a well-deserved opportunity to show that he's not just some kind of TV Morgan Freeman. His portrayal of Poppa, the family patriarch is wonderful and slighted unfortunately by the Academy. Even the Image awards overlooked him, preferring to bestow honor on the over-cooked and under-talented Phylicia Rashad, one of the only weak links in this strong cast. Bernie Casey and Richard Roundtree both play well against their macho-type.

Don't expect to be hit over the head with the ideas of this film. Just let it ease you on down the road, and, take a look around, every so often as you do.

IF THERE WAS A TEN STAR RATING, THIS MOVIE WOULD DESREVE IT, IN MY OPINION IT WAS JUST AS GOOD AS THE COLOR PURPLE. THIS IS A MOVIE FULL OF THE TRUTH, AND THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSSES DELIVER AN PERFORMANCE THAT WILL BE HARD TO MATCH. THIS IS HOW THINGS TRULY WERE IN THE SOUTH. I'M GLAD SOMEONE IS FINALLY REVEALING THE WHOLE STORY.

While parts of this film are a bit saccharine, on the whole I would say that this is one of the best portrayals of African American family life that I have ever seen. The characters' concerns and fears ring true, as do their support mechanisms in difficult situations. The movie made me lament things that African Americans have lost as we have moved to cities and away from our traditional communities.

I saw this movie when it first came out and really enjoyed it. So, I was really excited to see it was available on DVD and ordered it immediately. It is a great film, and I am proud to have it as a part of my personal movie collection.

ONCE UPON A TIME...WHEN WE WERE COLORED - (1995)

RATING - PG for thematic elements including mild violence, language and sensuality.

STARRING - Al Freeman, Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Leon

THEME - Racial discrimination, family, community, growing up in the South.

REVIEWS - Siskel & Ebert (4/4) 'TWO THUMBS UP'

STORY - The film begins in 1946 in a cotton field outside of Glen Allan, Mississippi. A young woman suddenly goes into labor and quickly delivers Cliff, the main character. The rest of the movie is about Cliff growing up in the Deep South from 1946-62. It's the story of Cliff's grandparents and aunt taking responsibility for raising Cliff when the family of his father refuse to have anything to do with him and his young, unmarried mother is unable to do so. It's about a community of African-Americans forced to live separately but (un)equally in a white dominated society where we see Grandad teaching little Cliff how to recognize 'W' and 'C' so he drinks from the correct fountain and uses the right bathroom. It's about a proud community that is willing to work hard and long for meager wages and still not accept charity. It's about a kind, white woman that keeps Cliff in supply of good reading when she realizes 'coloreds' aren't allowed in the library. It's about a community that worships together in a style and form that helps them overcome the daily oppression. And, finally, it's about hope that doing the right thing will eventually be rewarded. There is a feeling that this is probably very much what it was like to grow up in 1950's Mississippi. The only objectionable family scenes might be a brief fight in a bar setting where some sensual dancing between couples takes place and when Cliff and a friend sneak into the burlesque show tent at the circus. None of it is graphic or overemphasized. As one of the characters responded when asked why he returned to Glen Allan to visit, 'to remind me of why I left', so this movie should remind us of why we left discrimination 'officially' behind and why we must work to keep it behind. WWW.LUSREVIEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

ONCE UPON A TIME ..WHEN WE WERE COLORED is a grand and relatively sweeping look at black life in Southern rural Mississippi through the eyes of author Clifton Taulbert from the years 1946-1962.In nearly two hours, we are reintroduced to the one of if not the most degrading pieces of our history as Americans, the times when "colored" and "white" existed in a segregated community.Though there is essentially nothing new for we oldsters to learn that we unfortunately lived through, Tim Reid's treatment of Cliff Taulbert's memoirs is a great reminder of where we were as a country, how far we have come, and how far we still need to go! That which impresses the most in this film is the continued stressing of education.Without knowledge ignorance abounds.This film is suggested viewing for anyone who is a member of an oppressed minority whose civil rights are denied.It is also a strong reminder to remember to help all oppressed people who still struggle.Many of us "once upon a time" were ALL "colored" whether we were or not!

A film for great contrast would be THE NEON BIBLE which chronicles a white boy's life in the same time frame in the rural South.

Excellent companion films would be SELMA,LORD,SELMA,BOYCOTT,GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI,and MISSISSIPPI BURNING.

I am so glad that this is available on DVD now because
I think it gives a great insight into a story that we all
know too well in this country now...Of when african-americans
endured harsh and brutal treatment during the Jim Crow years
leading to the civil rights struggle of the 50's & 60's!
The insight & perspective that I'm referring to is from a child's
point of view, which often is very accurate and unflinching in
its truths! Kudos to Tim Reid in the direction department
and the ensemble cast carried it off well.
A definite must-have for anyone of enjoys good
american (of any race!) story-telling!
Also recommended is "Lackawanna Blues" and "The Old Settler"
both along this vein but different viewpoints and fantastic
story-telling!

I think this is a movie that everybody who has not had 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.