Directed by
Berry, John, American, 1917 - 1999
Written by
Pine, Tina, American, 1923 - 1998
Pine, Lester, American, 1917 - 2001
Subject of
Carroll, Diahann, American, 1935 - 2019
Jones, James Earl, American, born 1931
Blackwell, Tamu, American, born 1955
Hilton-Jacobs, Lawrence, American, born 1953
Curtis, Yvette, American, born 1960
Composed by
Curtis Mayfield, American, 1942 - 1999
Recorded by
Gladys Knight & The Pips, American, 1953 - 1989
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1974
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration (Reel 1): 18 Minutes
Length (Film): 650 Feet
Duration (Reel 2): 37 Minutes
Length (Film): 1300 Feet
Caption
Claudine was the first film produced by Third World Cinema, a production company founded by Ossie Davis, Diana Sands, James Earl Jones, Rita Moreno, and Hannah Weinstein. One of the primary goals of the company was to train and hire people of color in critical technical positions within film production. Directed by John Berry in 1974, Claudine centers a Black mother of six attempting to raise her children and date all the while navigating the highly contestable American welfare system. Set in Harlem, NY the film offers an intimate look into the ways poverty and the American welfare sytem intersect in ways that inform political identity and interpersonal relationships. Diahann Carroll was nominated for Best Actress for her leading role as Claudine.
This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
Description
A romantic comedy with the title Claudine. It consists of two reels of 16mm color acetate film with optical sound.
In the opening scene, Claudine (Diahann Carroll), a single mother of six who, in addition to working as a maid, relies on Welfare to support her family, can be seen walking down the street, accompanied by her children, before she boards a bus and sits with some other women who are seated at the back. One of the women inquires about Claudine’s recent temperament, to which Claudine responds that she hasn’t been sleeping lately.
The rest of the film chronicles the budding relationship between Claudine and Rupert “Roop” Johnson (James Earl Jones), a garbage collector. The relationship is impacted by their mutual experience of poverty and Claudine’s children’s hostility toward Rupert. The film also features music and lyrics composed and produced by Curtis Mayfield and performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
New York City, Manhattan, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed
New York City, Manhattan, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
color films (visual works)
feature films
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Actors
Comedy
Families
Film
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Singers (Musicians)
Soul (Music)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.56.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59ac6a8f4-3f09-4779-af79-388c7449259f

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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