Ossie-Davis Movie Reviews

Actor, singer, athlete, lawyer and activist are just a few of the titles bestowed on one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 20th century. Regaled by many and reviled by some Paul Robeson, the son of a slave, stands out as an artist who intergrated his art as a form of activism against the injustices perpetrated on those who are powereless.

Here I Stand is a cinematic chronicle of Paul Robeson's life as seen through the eyes of himself, his colleagues, children, film critics and historians. The chronicle of his life begins in New Jersey where is is raised by his father a minister in the Presbyterian Church and later the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church. From him, young Paul is taught to be fearless and strive for excellence in whatever he does. Those values laid the foundation of what he was to become. When he leaves New Jersey and goes to New York for law school, Paul finds himself hitting the glass ceiling of a white law firm and eventually is encouraged by his wife to seek an acting career.

It is in singing and acting that Paul finds his true calling. One of the great strengths of this video is its analysis of his acting career on stage and in the movies. Paul failed in the movies not because of lack of talent but because of the refusal of the industry to give him roles that weren't stereotypical of Black people. His singing increases his popularity abroad and soon he becomes politicized to the problems of the disinfranchised. It is from this experience that the activist Paul Robeson emerges.

All through the film we see his growth as an activist and his firm refusal to back down. Even more thrilling is his defiance against government authority determined to keep him in his place but like old man river, he keeps rolling along. He keeps going inspite of his passport taken away, the constant hounding by the FBI, his concert career broken for close to ten years and the deterioration of his health. Through it all, he maintains his dignity and refuses to bow. He is an inspiration as to what Black men and women should be. There are critical assessments of him concerning his marriage and refusal to denounce Stalin but even those merely tell us he was a man of his times flawed like any other. Yet he remains for us a giant of his time.

this dvd shows how robeson was caught up in international politics and paid with his life. he was years ahead of his time, a one man civil rights movement careering into the mccarthyite era, a dangerous place to be, but he did not shirk: " i have made my choice, i have no alternative." his mission?" all men are brothers because of thier music." still misunderstood by the american conciousness, this dvd goes some way to explaining robeson's political manoevers and also demonstrates the huge american support he had during his opposition to the prevailing policies of the day, many of which are now discredited and redundant. what a hero.

This documentary is probably one of the best biopics I've seen in a long time--it's incredibly moving, it told a compelling story I wanted to keep listening to, and it devoted enough time and attention to its subject so that by the end you really felt you knew something about the man.

The reviewer on this page did an excellent job of summarizing the content of the documentary, though I disagree with her about the Robeson films shown. That section of the movie dragged for me. It's true that in role after role, Robeson was forced to play characters unworthy of him, allowed only the narrow, stereotyped range that moviegoers expected to see African-Americans portray, and undermined by directors and editors even when he attempts to give his work a deeper significance and a more challenging political message. But the filmmakers seemed determined to show extended footage of each and every one of these movies, and it's painful to watch such a talented man being objectified in film after film. I finally had to fast-forward.

In the ample footage of Robeson performing on his own, on the other hand, whether singing, speaking to crowds, or describing his life in television appearances, Robeson isn't forced to compromise with someone else's vision. Here, he can say what he really thinks. I was astonished at how unrelentingly outspoken Robeson was at such an early date--at least from the Second World War if not earlier. In fact, when Robeson returns from an extended trip abroad in the early 1960s, he's greeted at the airport by a gaggle of interviewers, one of whom wants to know whether he'll be particating in the Civil Rights Movement. Given everything we've seen thus far, it's an astonishing question and I was torn between outrage and laughter, but Robeson just gives the guy a mildly condescending stare and says, "I consider myself to have been doing so my entire life." Likewise, a segment that shows how, over the years, Robeson transformed the song 'Ol' Man River' from a testament to racism to an ode to struggle and endurance is powerful. I was also entranced by Robeson's television appearances. In these, you can see something that doesn't come through in his singing speaking, or acting: that he was a natural storyteller, with a gift for timing and humor, and an actual physical involvement in each anecdote that seems to reflect his youthful training as an athlete.

All in all, I found this movie one of the most informative I've seen, one that educated without sacrificing its ability to entertain and entrance. Much of the credit must go to Robeson himself, committed both to teaching America about the truth of its behavior toward its most disadvantaged citizens, and to the extraordinary quality of his artistic work, which has a beauty and power that remains to this day.

This movie manages to make you laugh and touch you deeply as many times as you won't think is possible during the two hours. Is truth always best? Can you still be romantic and feel deeply when you are old? How do you choose to see the world? You will be asking yourself all these questions and might be surprised at the answers.

They passed this movie in cable and I just saw it for Mr.Matthau but when I finished watching it I was amazed how great this movie is,I don't even know if it did it to the theaters here in Mexico...I think Alex Lora of a great group called El Tri appears.A touching story and one of the greatest movies ever made.Buy it!

We couldn't stop laughing! Two old codgers sitting on a park bench getting stoned...laughs are sure to follow. Tackles some big issues, too, although true to life, no big solutions are found. Aging, the homeless, drugs, violence. All this and more can be seen through the witty eyes of Walter Matheau and Ossie Davis. I'm buying this video so that I can watch it again and again!

Paul Winfield through this movie reflected the Black Consciousness Movement in America in the early 1970's. A clip of a wall sprayed with "Free Huey: Power to the people" is just a taste of it. Gordon's war against the pushers reflected the Black Panthers and other groups crusade against the Heroin epidemic that was raging in Harlem and other poor Black neighborhoods at the time.

This is one the best movies of the blaxploitation era, which strangely, didn't acquired the cult status that SUPERFLY, SHAFT & COFFY enjoy today. This movie has a great cast: a very young Paul Winfield(Gordon), Carl Lee ( Bee; who also played "Eddie" in SUPERFLY ), Gilbert Lewis ( Spanish Harry ) and a cameo role by a then very young unknown Grace Jones ( Mary ). The plot is catching: Gordon, a green beret vet from the Vietnam war returns home to find that out that his wife died victim of drugs. From that moment on, Gordon starts a war against all the pushers & drug dealers to get the dope out of Harlem. He recruits a few friends to help him stage this bloody battle against, mainly, Spanish Harry, the Big Shot of Harlem! The movie is fast paced with plenty of action and clever(70s) dialogue. Also the soundtrack is wonderful too. Songs like "Child Of Tomorrow", a beautiful sad ballad sung with deep soulness by Barbara Mason & "Come On And Dream Some Paradise",great funky music by New Birth, contributes as much to the plot as the visuals of the movie. This is an action movie with a message and a heart! I almost cried the first time I saw the ending of this movie back in 1973. I wish someone can make the soundtrack of this movie available again! Trust me on this one: GET THIS MOVIE!

This video is a touching story. When you watch the Little House TV shows you can see the love that was put into it. Michael Landon wrote the words from the heart and says what we would have said. This tribute is a grand idea and I think everyone should see the heart of Michael Landon. I think the video would make him proud.

This video gives insight into the life of Michael Landon, the much loved actor,producer,director. It is hosted by family members as well as some of the cast he worked with over the years. It also shows the humor and laughter that made up the "real" Michael Landon with clips from interviews with Johnny Carson as well as intentional and not so intentional bloopers from Little House on the praire. I found it a very entertaining look at someone that I grew up watching on family primetime TV from Bonanza to Little House to Highway to Heaven.

This is the best movie I've ever bought. I definitely recommend you this movie. Muhammad Ali's best movie and a fine performance by Kris Kristofferson

I was talking with my sister who had mentioned this movie and I discovered that I had seen the same movie. This movie will explain to those who do not how it came to be that some lighter skinned blacks and blacks feel that the lighter skinned blacks are better. This type of thinking is perpetuated by the following comments that one may hear: your hair is good if it is straight, wavy or silky curly or you are pretty if your skin is light. These children had privaleges that the black children with black mothers and black fathers did not have. This explains the beginning of the separation of the color coded racism that existed among blacks and is still in existance today.
I think this movie was excellent in this area. It allows one to examine what they really feel inside of themselves. It is hard to see my sister wish that her hair was like mine or I must be mixed. Both my parents are humans-black humans. If any one is troubled with wondering why, this movie explains the how and why of color coded blackness as well as Creole history.
I highly recommend this movie!

This movie was truly amazing! As a black woman, I received an education in history. I was never aware that people of color were not only free during this time in history, but were wealthy and powerful, and that they too owned slaves! The Creole (et al) are not generally focused on when the is black discussed throughout history. The movie flowed well and was well balanced. It included family ties, true love, betrayal, and history. The acting was superb of course, with names such as James Earl Jones, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. I would recommend this movie to anyone and I hope to see more movies of it's kind that give a complete understanding of the lives of all blacks in our history.

PLEASE release this film. It is the BEST film with an EXCELLENT cast. I must add it to my movie collection. I'm Creole and wasn't aware of this part of our history. Another part of our history African American history that was kept from us.

The Hill manages to capture all the stark realism that is needed for a topic like this. Directed by Sidney Lumet the year after he made Fail Safe - the film features an all star cast.

Sean Connery plays a disgraced sergeant, Harry Andrews the RSM with excellent supporting roles by Roy Kinnear and the late Ian Bannen.

Set in a prison camp for Allied soldiers needing displine during the Desert War of 1940-43 it is extremely convincing through it's script and screen-play. Lumet pulls you right into the plot. Not being a believer in giving away the plot in these reviews - Ian Hendry plays a sadistic Staff Sergeant whose deliberate insistance of exercise punishment leads to the death of an in-mate.

Fantastic and a real find.

Each time I watch The Hill I am stunned.

This is a deeply intelligent film.

The acting, script, story, direction and photography have rarely been equalled. I don't think there is a single weak link, line, or player in this gripping story of human nature under stress.

There is no easy way out in this movie, no fail safe cliches or sentimental heroics. "Mutinous" prisoners baying the name of a dead soldier are cowed and brought to heel, by a NCO, who knows full well how to gain control of a crowd.

Each time, you think justice will out, cynical men carefully pull the strings, bark the orders, and carefully manipulate the men to perform their bidding.

Each character grows, each role has depth, each offers insight into the way any of us might react to such circumstances. No one is idealised. Even Roberts laughs at Stevens at one crucial point.

Strange, the director conveys such brutality and corruption but rarely needs any obscenity in the script. I only realised that half way through the film.

I have a great love for Euripides, the Athenian playwright of 484-406 BC, whose ironic tragedies question the accepted brutality in 'civilised' society at war. I think The Hill does the same and to the same superb standard.

I very much liked this insightful film.

After seeing some of the reviews, I decided to go ahead and buy this movie as well. I was very pleased and enjoyed the movie. It's nothing serious like the first two Rocky movies, but light hearted action fun. It pretty quick paced so you don't get bored. I'd compare it more to being similar to Rocky IV in terms of pacing. The story is simple enough about a young, white boxer who, through a turn of bad luck, finds himself in the poorhouse and has to box to settle his dad's gambling debts. The acting is believable unlike the recent Star Wars Attack of the Clones fiasco. Cuba Gooding and James Marshall both put in great performances. The boxing, although a little over the top sometimes,is still great to see although I'd like to have seen longer training sequences. The quality of the dvd picture is great as well. What they don't mention on Amazon's techincal data is that the dvd has both a widescreen and standard full format presentation on either side of the disc so you can watch the movie whatever way you want. I'd definitely recommend this disc for the boxing movie enthusiast.

This is one of my favorite movies, it has stood the test of watching over and over and still holds up. A truley great story with wonderful performances by James Marshall, Cuba Gooding, Brian Dennenhy, Robert Loggia and Ossie Davis. This movie is perfect in every respect-Good acting, direction and story! Its always amazed me that Rowdy Herrington the director has not gone on to greater achievments-this movie which is wonderful may be his crowning glory and should not be missed.

Great great film. Direction, performances, writing, casting all first rate and better than any other modern boxing movie. Don't miss this film, it is great entertainment for everyone- family, adults,and kids. You will not go wrong with this movie.
Should have won for Best Picture of the Year.

I am Bill Cosby's biggest fan, from his comedy albums in the 60s all the way through his TV sitcoms in the 80s and 90s. The "trilogy" he did with Sidney Poitier (Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again, and A Piece of the Action) are absolutely hilarious! I wish they were all on DVD. Let's Do It Again is the funniest of the three and from the plot to the costumes to the dialogue to the singing (Bill's "Ode to the Champ" is my favorite!) you will be in stitches. This movie was thoroughly entertaining, and it leaves you longing for a return to a time when sex, gruesome violence and profanity did NOT rule the film industry. You have GOT to see this movie!

The only movie I've ever known Bill Cosby to have done back in the days was "I Spy". I came across "Let's Do It Again" while working ironically in the Navy onboard USS Enterprise. I watch the movie not knowing what to expect, and didn't find a dull moment anywhere. John Amos and Jimmy Walker only made the movie more funnier than what it was. Even people younger than me that I put on to this movie who love Cosby enjoyed it because it's just good, clean fun. The same elements you hardly see in movies today. If you haven't seen this one, buy it, rent it, do what you have to do!!! You will NOT be dissapointed!!!

I first saw this film in Atlanta in the late 70s - my lord was it funny! 20+ years later I watched it again anticipating the humour might have somewhat waned over the years...how wrong I was! I was doubled over in hysterics! The grand doyens of black cinema and comedy give wonderfully memorable performances. This film is an absolute treat. A great film with an awesome soundtrack to boast too.

There is no doubt that the two greatest presidents of the United States were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Differentiating between them is reduced to a matter of personal taste rather than historical significance. One was present at the birth of the nation and the other was president at the time of greatest internal trial. Despite the vast differences in their origin and societies, both men shared one powerful characteristic, that of humility. Even though he was urged to march at the head of his army and seize power, Washington did something that few in history have ever done. He resigned his commission and gained power via the ballot box. Lincoln clearly exercised more executive power than any other person who has ever held the office, and yet he risked being turned out of office by carrying out the presidential election of 1864. His plans for the gentle reconstruction and reintegration of the Confederate states also demonstrate his firm grasp of reality. It is a rare thing when conquered peoples are to be treated so generously.
This combination of Lincoln's personality traits are the main theme of the tape. His persona shows through and you cannot help but like him, even after the passage of so many years. You also learn that he was a relatively untested national politician when he took the oath of office, yet he proved more than worthy to the challenge. In this respect, he has much in common with Harry Truman, who also was untested when he became president.
While the issues of the war must be dealt with, as they were so much a part of Lincoln's presidency, they are relegated to a necessary backdrop to the explanation of how Lincoln performed as president. His handling of an occasionally disloyal cabinet was a masterful stroke of how you put ambitious men in their place. It also shows how talented a politician he was.
Lincoln's relationship with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln is also explored in great detail and she is portrayed in an honest, yet unflattering light. At a time when the nation was in great crisis, she often appears as a petty, insecure woman who does not realize the true nature of the events as they unfold. One point well made that I was unaware of was Lincoln's relationship with his children. He generally allowed them free reign around the White House. Put bluntly, they behaved as undisciplined brats.
In a tie for the position of greatest president ever, Lincoln was that rare combination of traits: humble, gentle, yet powerful and ruthless when necessary. It is one of the great tragedies of this country that he was killed just when he was needed most. Many of the politicians that we are saddled with today could learn some, serious, significant lessons by studying the life of Lincoln. I recommend this tape to everyone.

I was lucky enough to have bought the companion book before I saw this documentary. Once I saw it, I had to have it. This is THE definitive Abraham Lincoln biography. Not only does it show us the Abe we all remember from grade school, but the videos do a great job of showing us the many levels of Lincoln: the man, the husband, the father, the President, the lawyer. Can't say enough good things about this.

I've always been fascinated by Lincoln's life. The man was a genius in many ways and also loved to laugh, but suffered from profound depressions. After calling off his engagement to Mary Todd, he asked friends to remove all sharp things from his room, as he feared he might be tempted to take his own life.

This four hour VHS biography is very well done. It does jump around a bit, but the jumping is always done in context of the story being told. Kind of the video equivalent of someone saying "to tell this story in all it's richness, let me back up a bit here and tell you some of the history..."

It appears Mary Todd and Abe Lincoln truly had a love affair, albeit a tempestuous one. They also loved their children and were devoted to their family, yet Lincoln had nothing to do with his own father after ascending to the Presidency. Mary Todd had no sadness upon learning her half-brother had died fighting for the Confederacy, yet showed her half-sister, whose husband died on the Confederate side, the most tender solicitude.

As has been said of all good biographies, and can be said of this VHS bio, this really shows all sides of Lincoln - "warts and all."

A real bonus are the voices used to tell the story of Lincoln's life. The beautiful rich voice of James Earl Jones provides the primary narration, but a laundry list of stars such as Richard Dreyfuss, Glenn Close, Oprah Winfrey and and many others narrate the anecdotes and reminiscences of Lincoln's friends, family and adviors.

This biography is well done, informative, engaging and entertaining and shows the many sides of Lincoln.