Claudine (1974)

Claudine (1974)

Director: John Berry

On our first day of class we were asked the question of "what's your favorite movie?". My answer at the time was Love Jones. Although that is still my favorite movie, I have added the 1974 classic Claudine to the list also. While viewing the movie I became intrigued by the acting abilities of Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones as well as the direction that had taken place within the movie. Carroll plays Claudine, a single mother of six who secretly works as a maid so she can still collect welfare. Jones' plays Roop, a garbageman who is very attracted to Claudine yet has baggage he has to deal with as well.

The early '70s are remembered for the so-called blaxploitation films, the action pictures that gave African American audiences a new set of screen heroes to cheer for. But thankfully director John Berry showed us a beautiful Black love story to cheer for as well. Jones' character Roop is no knight in shining armor, however he is supporting wives and children from two previous marriages, and his motives for romancing Claudine don't run to commitment and further responsibilities. Claudine hides her employment as a maid as well as the presence of Roop's and gifts from her welfare worker, knowing that discovery of any of them will reduce her payments. Therefore, both characters had issues to deal with upon entering the relationship.

The film also tries to deal with oldest son Charles' growing political militancy and oldest daughter Charlene's budding adolescence. Although it's unclear what Charles and his friends are fighting for, Charlene's personal crisis leads to one of the film's strongest scenes, a violent confrontation with her mother. John Berry did a remarkable job directing the movie as well as telling the story of a struggling single Mom. Although the characters did a remarkable job acting, the script, in my opinion, is repetitious. While viewing Black films from the 70s, characters were usually portrayed as struggling families who were looking for work or broken familes who were trying to hold on to some sort of dignity although they lived in poverty.Although I was happy the two characters became married in the end, I wasn't pleased with how the director chose to end the film where in turn caused it to have a hasty wrap up. It looked as if the filmmakers either ran out of money or time which therefore caused it to have the abrupt ending it did. Although these are small critiques, both lead actors were strong and very believable.