Black Girl

This film essentially revolves around a woman by the name of "Mama Rose" (Louise Stubbs) who has three teenage daughters named "Norma" (Gloria Edwards), "Ruth Ann" (Rhetta Greene), "Billie Jean" (Peggy Pettit). The first two were fathered by a man named "Earl" (Brock Peters) who Mama Rose kicked out of the house because he cheated on her. Billie Jean, on the other hand, had a different father who apparently ran off when she was younger and as a result Mama Rose has had to raise all of her children with her own mother who everyone calls "Mu' Dear" (Claudia McNeil). Also living in this small house is Mu' Dear's elderly male companion by the name of "Herbert" (Kent Martin) who pays half the rent. It should also be noted that Mama Rose also has a foster daughter named "Netta" (Leslie Uggams) who she took in when she was quite young and who is currently in college trying to become a teacher. In that regard, both Norma and Ruth Ann have acquired a great dislike for her because she is trying to make something of herself. Likewise, neither of these two young women like their half-sister Billie Jean either because she is trying to pursue her own dream of becoming a dancer--while they feel destined for a life of poverty and hopelessness. As a result, both Norma and Ruth Ann do everything they can to make life miserable for Billie Jean and diminish Mama Rose's love for Netta. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a deep and interesting film which sheds a glimmer of light upon the struggles of ordinary people within the black community trying to make it in urban America in the early 70's. Admittedly, there were some scenes which seemed a bit too gloomy at times and the film is rather dated as well. Even so, I thought it was worth the time spent and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Just as other writers on this page, I saw this movie on TV One. I caught it in the middle and watched it repeatedly as often as I could. I even would scan through the menu on cable to see when it would come again. But there is a GOD and I have it on DVD!!!! If you email me, I can let you know where I got it. The story is one of the greatest I've ever seen in depicting the human experience, especially in the black community. Whether or not I like the way the characters were depicted at the time, it is/was true of families today. I love this movie!!!!!! I remember seeing the eldest daughter, Norma, in "Which Way is Up?" as Richard Pryor's father's wife (if that makes sense). But I haven't seen any other actors (except Brock Peters) in other films. This movie is truly one of the best and should be discovered by all.

This is a very interesting movie to me.I don't remember seeing it back when it came out and I would have.Claudia McNeil(Mu'Dear) is a favorite of mine ever since I saw her in the movie version of "A Raisin in the Sun."With all the shouting and bickering through this film it was nice to have her calm everything down at the end.I couldn't figure out where al the anger came from in the household.It seemed like the movie started in the middle of the story being told.The youngest daughter has quit school and is dancing in a bar,the mother(Mama Rose) is working as a maid to support the household yet everybody is grown.The two oldest daughters don't live at home,the grandmother has a man living with her and btw that seemed very out of character like something the mother would be doing instead.Also for all the preaching Mama Rose did when the father(a pimp?) of the two oldest comes back for a visit he makes a vulgar comment about the youngest(Billie Jean)saying he'd take her to Detroit and turn her out. She isn't his child and everybody except the boarder thinks it's funny.Billie Jean wants to study dance and buy her mother a house while the two oldest are the meanest and most hateful characters and both got on my nerves throughout the whole film.Neither were doing anything but having children and talking about their husbands yet both were very jealous of Billie Jean and Netta(college student) who their mother had taken in.They seem to exist to spew poison about both girls and use Netta to drag Billie Jean down to their hateful level which happens.A basic cable channel that features African-Americans shows this movie regularly and I'm sad to find out after he passed this week that Ossie Davis directed it.His wife Ruby Dee plays Netta disturbed mother that couldn't care for her.Netta comes into the movie so late you almost forget she's involved.The plot is Mama Rose can only talk about how proud she is of her daughter Netta and with mother's day coming up she's looking forward to her coming home.Her three daughters are sick of their mother praising a stranger while having nothing good to say about her blood children.All three hide Netta's letters to Mama Rose and she has no idea about it.Norma and Ruth Ann tell Billie Jean their mother is giving Netta her room and that she'll probably have to move out.Turns out Billie Jean had already been hiding Netta's letters to her mother and all three hide the last one annoucing Netta's homecoming.From then on it's a lot of bickering between them all and Earl(father) when he gets there that really about how all of them did nothing with their lives like Netta did.Earl throws money around and even asks Rose to take him back but she's too proud and he leaves.Netta comes home and finds out she needs her real mother after all and helps Billie Jean find get on the path to an education and dance career.The movie showed mainly what was the normal acting style in the 70's for blacks.Eyes popping,pronoucing every syllable,shouting and glaring at the other actor.This movie should be viewed by students that want to be actors to see how far we've come.Or have we? I said it was interesting because in the 70's every black movie was a drug/prostitute/pimp/police/detective plot movie. mojo2004

This was the first time I realized Ossie Davis had directed movies!! This is one of the best, angst-filled, coming of age stories I have ever seen. It should rank right up there with "A Member of the Wedding" and "To Kill A Mockingbird" as far as young girls seeking answers to life and trying to find their way. I miss Ossie Davis. He was an amazing talent to have been able to coalesce the right mood and tone for this movie from the perspective of a young girl. The cast was one of the most perfect I've seen since "A Raisin in the Sun" (Sidney Poitier version) and definitely, each actor seemed to squeeze the blood out of their respective roles. What perfection!

This movie is one in which deserves a 2nd look (maybe a 3rd). You have to REALLY know what it's like to grow up black back in the 70's in a house w/ siblings who's father is different than your own and a mother who just does not get it until you are out the door (if then). The portrayal of many of the characters was REAL. While not in the brightest of light, they all have quite a bit of growing to do. At least a some growth was accomplished in this movie. The treatment of the child with a different father was very common. The mother's ignorance and anger at how her life turned out was truthful in every way. The father who pops in town flashing a new car and very new money was common. The siblings running to him to get what little he would provide was also common. Nowadays, children could very much care less. I doubt if he'd get the same reception in 2006. I too don't understand while Brock received headline status, other than his name. Peggy Pettit was the real star in this movie. I am proud to have found that she is doing wonderful work with her talent these days!