Classic Black Films from 1940s to 1970s
Here are my top seven Black Films that I consider classics from the 1940s to 1970s. Have you seen any of these? If so, what do you think? Please share some of your favorites.
Cabin in the Sky (1943) starring Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Carmen Jones (1954) starring Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte and Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll
A Raisin in the Sun (1961) starring Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee, Louis Gossett, Jr
Lady Sings the Blues (1972) starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor and Isabel Sanford
Claudine (1974) starring Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones
Sparkle (1976) starring Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee
The Wiz (1978) starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Lena Hornes, Richard Pryor
What are some other movies you would consider classics?
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Tagged with: A Raisin in the Sun • Black Classic Films • Cabin in the Sky • Carmen Jones • Claudine • Lady Sings the Blues • Sparkle • The Wiz
Filed under: Fun Facts • Movies
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I like Shaft too, but you hit all the movies I love. I have never heard of Cabin in the Sky, I will have to check that out..
I have actually seen them all, with Lady Sings The Blues and Sparkle being Faves!
Blessings,
angelia
All the ones you listed Shelia, especially my first date movie Sparkle.
Adding
Cornbread,-Earl-and-Me (1975) starring Laurence Fishburne, Roslind Cash, Moses Gunn
Cooley High (1975) staring Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Garrett Morris
You have a few of my favorites listed, some I own, some I don’t.
I own:
A Cabin in the Sky-I saw this as a child and never forgot it. I recently bought it and it was still just as good.
The Wiz-There’s not enough words to describe how I love this movie.
A Raisin in the Sun-This may have been the movie where I first saw Sidney Portier, and love his performance some much that I needed to see more.
Don’t Own:
Claudine-I loved this movie. I need to buy it so my daughter could understand what will happen to her if she tries my patience. just kidding.
Other favorites:
To Sir with Love-starring Sidney Portier and Lulu. This movie was so powerful and had such a great message. You know if we had more teachers like the person he portrayed we would have more success with our children.
Lean On Me-Now that was another powerful movie.
I realize a pattern with me, I love movies that have to do with teachers and schools.
You have a lot of my favorites represented here.
Gwyneth
Alesia, I liked Shaft. I think Cabin in the Sky is available on DVD now.
Angelia, I was about 7 years old when Sparkle came out and I wanted to sing like the sisters in the movie.
Janice, I forgot about the two you mentioned Cornbread,-Earl-and-Me and
Cooley High. Both of those are classics.
JC Martin, To Sir with Love didn’t make my original list, but it’s definately a favorite.
Gwyneth
i’ve only seen lady sings the blues and the wiz. i haven’t seen the original version of raisin in the sun. i hear it’s a good movie. your post reinforces that notion.
I was born in 76 so I didnt’ see some of these movies like Claudine, The Wiz and Sparkle until some time later….I love The Wiz, Claudine was just on this past weekend on TV One….Sparkle was good as well!!
Don, if you get a chance, definately rent some of the other movies.
Meachy, I too was either not born or a little girl when most came out but after watching them as an adult, they easily became favorites because I can watch them over & over.
I’d definitely add Stormy Weather (1943). I thought Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was way too old to play a love interest for Lena Horne, but they had to have a tap dancer for the leading man, and they couldn’t have found a better one. Fats Waller was wonderful, and so was Dooley Wilson (the guy who sang “As Time Goes By’ in Casablanca). But the highlight of the movie, even more so than Katherine Dunham’s troupe dancing, was that routine done by the Nicholas Brothers, culminating in their split jumps over each other as they descended the stairs. I marvel at their skill whenever I see it.
I’ve seen and loved all of the movies you list except Cabin in the Sky.
Lady Sings the Blues is one of my all time favorite movies from that era. It’s one of the few movies, I have on DVD. Diana did an amazing job in that movie…going from being damn near a child and skipping down the street to being a grown woman on drugs – just amazing for someone who had very little acting experience at that point.