Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful !!!!
Review: This is a wonderful film. Historically, I think it is one of the first movies to ever attempt a realistic, three-dimensional portrayal of a complex love affair between an African-American man and woman. Although it does not succeed on every level, it is earnest, entertaining and extremely well acted. Diahann Carroll stars as the title character Claudine, a pretty middle-aged woman whose life is complicated and yet enormously enriched by having to single-handedly raise six children. Claudine is on welfare but also works a job on the side. James Earl Jones is Roop, who turns out to be Claudine's black knight in shining armor. Claudine and Reuben are very human, but find that their love can bring out the best in each other. Carroll and Jones are both so committed and masterful in their performances that it really elevates material that in lesser hands could be trite and somewhat embarrassing. Carroll, in particular, showed great commitment to this piece, she skillfully shed her high glamour image to play a single mother on welfare, and invested the character with humanity and dignity as readily as she exposed the character's human flaws. It is a staggering achievement for a woman who began her career as a cabaret singer. Carroll was most deservingly nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. The young actors are very good as well. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, only 19 at the time, did a great job of conveying the frustration, confusion and rage of a fatherless young man trying not the repeat the mistakes of his parents and yet fearful of going the wrong way. Tamu is also great, and she brings sass and charm to her role as the eldest daughter who loves, and is loved by, her beleaguered mother but is still uncertain of how she can avoid Claudine's life of hardship. "Claudine's" gorgeous score is courtesy of the grand maestro of Black American cinema, Curtis Mayfield. Mayfield composed the original songs, which are memorably performed by Gladys Knight & Pips. My only complaint is that the DVD has rather shoddy production values. It was not remastered so the image is not typical DVD quality, and the DVD is very low on extras. Although it does feature audio commentary by Jones, Carroll and Hilton-Jacobs, among others. Otherwise, "Claudine" gets my highest recommendation. It is a landmark in African-American Cinema.
Rating:
Summary: Long Overdue
Review: THIS IS AN AWESOME MOVIE ABOUT A WOMAN ON WELFARE HAVING A HARD TIME RAISING SIX KIDS I LOVE THIS MOVIE I CRY EVERYTIME I SEE THIS MOVIE AND I LOVE IT I CAN WATCH IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I LOVE THIS MOVIE.... I USED TO WATCH IT EVERYTIME THAT IT CAME ON TV WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL BUT NOW I AM DEFINITELY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT JAMES EARL JONES AND DIHANN CARROLL HAD ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO PLAY THESE ROLES BUT I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE BOTH OF THESE VETERAN ACTORS THEY HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED THEMSELVES IN A VERY GOOD WAYS AND I HAVE ADMIRED ALL OF THEIR WORK BUT THIS IS A MUST MOVIE TO HAVE AND OWN ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE DIHANN CARROL AND JAMES EARL JONES BUT THIS MOVIE IS VERY EASY TO RELATE TO AND THE SOUNDTRACK IS ALSO CURTIS MAYFIELD ARRANGED, PRODUCED , AND COMPOSED THIS SOUNDTRACK CURTIS IS THE BABYFACE OF THE 70'S HE WAS AN AWESOME PERFORMER AND PRODUCER HE AND GLADY'S HAD DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THE SOUNDTRACK TO BE INVISIBLE, ON AN ON, MAKE YOURS A HAPPY HOME, ANY MANY GREAT OTHERS BUT I RECOMMEND THE VIDEO AND THE SOUNDTRACK YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH BOTH!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A REAL TEAR JERKER!!!
Review: THIS IS AN AWESOME MOVIE ABOUT A WOMAN ON WELFARE HAVING A HARD TIME RAISING SIX KIDS I LOVE THIS MOVIE I CRY EVERYTIME I SEE THIS MOVIE AND I LOVE IT I CAN WATCH IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I LOVE THIS MOVIE.... I USED TO WATCH IT EVERYTIME THAT IT CAME ON TV WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL BUT NOW I AM DEFINITELY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT JAMES EARL JONES AND DIHANN CARROLL HAD ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO PLAY THESE ROLES BUT I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE BOTH OF THESE VETERAN ACTORS THEY HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED THEMSELVES IN A VERY GOOD WAYS AND I HAVE ADMIRED ALL OF THEIR WORK BUT THIS IS A MUST MOVIE TO HAVE AND OWN ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE DIHANN CARROL AND JAMES EARL JONES BUT THIS MOVIE IS VERY EASY TO RELATE TO AND THE SOUNDTRACK IS ALSO CURTIS MAYFIELD ARRANGED, PRODUCED , AND COMPOSED THIS SOUNDTRACK CURTIS IS THE BABYFACE OF THE 70'S HE WAS AN AWESOME PERFORMER AND PRODUCER HE AND GLADY'S HAD DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THE SOUNDTRACK TO BE INVISIBLE, ON AN ON, MAKE YOURS A HAPPY HOME, ANY MANY GREAT OTHERS BUT I RECOMMEND THE VIDEO AND THE SOUNDTRACK YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH BOTH!!!!
Rating:
Summary: MOVIE AND RECORD
Review: This was not only a great movie, but also great album with all of the music in the movie by Gladys Knight and the Pips. I believe I have a collectors album with all of the rocking songs that are clear and have absolutely no cursing at all in them. I don't understand why this movie has not been shown even on television. I heard the story that it was being tied up by someone in Detroit. My grown children still sing "To Be Invisible" and "On and On". I lived with both of my parents growing up. We were not on the welfare, but I remember how hard the times were back then. I can relate to the apartment building and the area where this family lived. I cannot wait to get my copy. I believe I will order a few more to give to my children as presents.
Rating:
Summary: A very special film for all time
Review: Well, I admit I'm biased (because my parents wrote and co-produced CLAUDINE), but after seeing the film again as an adult (I was 19 when it came out), I am amazed by the splendid acting and, yes, my parents' remarkable script. This film definitely improved with age, and I'm extremely happy that my late parents' finest work is finally available for the home video/DVD market. It was a total blast working on the DVD commentary track; to find out that the movie meant so much to Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, and George Tillman Jr. was extremely gratifying. Thanks to all the CLAUDINE fans that clamored for the movie and helped bring it home.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for this for a long time
Review: When this movie originally came out, I went with my family to see it. I was a child then. Now that I am 39 and a grandmother, I have longed to have this movie in my collection. I have searched other web-sites and this is the first one to have this. I am greatly pleased and will inform others of your variety. Claudine is a wholesome movie that reflects reality in our community. I enjoyed how no matter what situations came up, they always worked it out, and in the end they stood by each other, even when getting arrested. Again I must say, that I can't wait to add this to my collection .
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