
THE COLOR PURPLE (1985, starring Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey): Performed by terrible actors with a callous screenplay, The Color Purple might have failed to bring to life the power of Alice Walker's moving story. Much more than simply the trials and tribulations of Black women from the south, The Color Purple is a story of faith, friendship, and redemption. Notable facts: Goldberg, Avery, and Winfrey were all nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for their heartwrenching performances. The film was also nominated for best picture, best original song ("Miss Celie's Blues" by Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, and Rod Temperton) and best original score from both awards.
IMITATION OF LIFE (1934, starring Louise Beavers, Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Rochelle Hudson): If you can make it to the end of this movie without so much as dabbing a stubborn tear with a kleenex, you have no heart. Imitation of Life is the classic story of a Black woman's struggle to make a life for her and her daughter that later creates a riff in their relationship after her daughter decides to pass as white. Beavers's agonizing portrayal of the mother desperately trying to reclaim her daughter as her own heart aches for her is nearly unbearable to watch. A bold story for its time, Imitation of Life was so well performed from the entire cast. Notable fact: The film was nominated for an Oscar for best picture.

CLAUDINE (1974, starring Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs): It's hard enough being broke on you're own. But add six children to the mix in a small Harlem apartment, your affinity to want to crawl into a fetal position heightens twicefold. But not Claudine, the tough mom was determined to keep her family together during tough times and proved a positive figure to both her children and to timeless black female performances. Notable fact: Carroll was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe, among other awards. Co-star Jones was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as her hopeful love interest. R&B great Curtis Mayfield was nominated for a Golden Globe for his soulful tune "On and On."

MALCOLM X (1992, starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett and Delroy Lindo): Arguably Washington's best performance and director Spike Lee's best movie, Malcolm X brilliantly captured the complexities of an era and a human rights activist. Its intriguing, inspiring, and unbelievably profound all wrapped into one, and still captivates audiences today. Notable fact: Though the film, Washington, and Lee were nominated and/or won for numerous Oscar precursors, it did not garner a single Academy Award.
JUNGLE FEVER (1991, starring Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, John Turturro, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis and Samuel L. Jackson): An honest look at interracial dating, Jungle Fever explores the impact it takes on family, friends, and those involved, for the good and the bad. Especially within the black community, there are strong emotions about it either way and this film takes a candid look at the psychology and dynamic of both. Oh, and it has a real catchy theme song by Stevie Wonder too.

SHAFT (1971, Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn and Charles Cioffi). A black detective takes on the streets of Harlem and the Italian mob with swagger, class, and a fierce determination for justice, in the 70s. You really can't beat that. It was one of the best cop films, which was followed by a slew of other related films. Just a few years after In the Heat of the Night showed a black male cop take on the injustice of the streets and tackle race relations, Shaft's smooth portrayal was less vulnerable, but equally as intimidating. And you can't beat that rhythmic tune by the late great Isaac Hayes, which later went to win a Best Song Oscar. Notable fact: In 2000 (the same year the remake was released starring Samuel L. Jackson), Shaft was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

STORMY WEATHER (1943, starring Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Cab Calloway): During a time when black actors and performers were rarely if ever seen in lead roles, Stormy Weather brought the charisma, effervescence and undeniable talent that is still a staple for the movie-musical today. A real who's who in Black entertainment at the time, the film is loosely based on the life of dancer Bojangles (who plays the character on whom he's based), worldwide entertainer Lena Horne, with cameos by Cab Calloway and Fats Waller, the Nicholas Brothers, singer Ada Brown, and Katherine Dunham. Notable fact: Although the running time is a mere 77 minutes, there are a total of 20 fabulous musical numbers throughout.
Hey, why stop at twelve? Here are a few other equally notable films in the vault:

In the Heat of the Night (1967, starring Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger and Warren Oates)
Do the Right Thing (1989, starring Danny Aiello, Joie Lee, John Turturro, Ossie Davis, Giancarlo Esposito, Spike Lee, Rosie Perez, and Ruby Dee)
Eve's Bayou (1997, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jurnee Smollett and Meagan Good)
What's Love Got to Do With It (1993, starring Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne and Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly)
Ray (2004, starring Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, and Sharon Warren)
Ali (2001, starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jeffrey Wright, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nona Gaye, and Jon Voight)
Cornbread, Earl, and Me (1975, starring Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Rosalind Cash and Bernie Casey)
Lady Sings the Blues (1972, starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor)
Coming to America (1988, starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Vanessa Bell Calloway, John Amos and James Earl Jones)
9 comments:
Good on you for not including "Dolemite". ;)
Seriously though, it's a good list, although I would put "In the Heat of the Night" among the most notable ones because of its subject.
@El Chupanebrey I know I kind of struggled with including In The Heat of The Night on there, but I didn't want too many cop movies on there (and I already had Shaft). These movies are certainly not in any particular order (including the ones that I didn't offer a summary for). I think the entire list is equally notable. thanks for commenting!
Love this list, but where's Cooley High?
@Anonymous ahhhhh Cooley High! How could I forget? Nice addition
No Glory? ;) Nice list, quite a few I haven't seen.
Great list! I'm glad to find The Color Purple in it. I saw it not so long ago and really loved it. Didn't know that Goldberg played dramatic roles.
@Castor though a fantastic movie, I thought of puting Glory on here but didn't.
@Lesya Khyzhnyak yeah people forget that Whoopi is a great dramatic actress. glad to see she was back to that in For Colored Girls.
Great list. So many incredible movies.
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