Claudine

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

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.

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