Gorgeous Ponderings...

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Movies from the 70's What were they thinking??? Claudine: the commentary

At the suggestion of P.S.I Love This I watched Claudine (1974) with Diane Carol and James Earl Jones.
I had heard from my aunt’s and others about this movie being so good. BLANK STARE O_O at all of them!

Plot: The film tells the story of Claudine Price, a single mother, living on welfare with six children, who finds love with a garbage collector, Rupert Marshall, who she calls "Roop". The pair's relationship becomes complicated because of a number of factors. Among these are that the couple do not want to marry because they would not be able to support the children without welfare, and that the kids themselves, particularly eldest son Charles, are apprehensive of Rupert, and believe that he will leave their mother just like her previous husbands and boyfriends. Wiki

Here is the commentary between P.S. and I. about this movie. Hilarious!

Me: I finally watched Claudine. Before I comment about it I want to know why you wanted me to see it.

Her: Oh you finally saw that movie!! Well, when I had suggested it, I had just watched it again with my sister and the whole time, I was mad at Claudine for all her stupid ass decisions and dealing with a man that wanted to shirk his responsibilities to his own children. There's so many things I HATED about that movie, it's just an eye rolling session the whole time I watched it. My sister is always like, "would you shut up!" hahahahaha. So, I just thought it would be cool to get your perspective, because at the time, you would slip in random thoughts about women, well particularly, Tara from True Blood and how she's portrayed. I KNOW you have a mouthful about Claudine. Teehheeee

Me: Okay yes Claudine made me sit up and yell at the screen! LOL! Are you serious??? I was overwhelmed by the stereotypes and the portrayal of African Americans in general. Who wrote this mess?

Her: I'm dying laughin' because I knew you would be having a fit at the movie. LOL Wish I was a fly on the wall. Girl, did you die when Rupert ran Claudine a bath and put some Joy dish detergent in the water for the bubbles??!?!? I die every time.. I know her skin was dry as hell. And he was all trying to touch her ill na-na.. I was like EXCUSE YOU!! Lolol

Me: Okay the Joy had me dying. I said dish washing liquid O_O! I was trying to give the scene the benefit of the doubt that they knew each other from before, but come on????? he all in the water??? You (meaning he) don't KNOW me(meaning her) like that!!! All those kids with no father's??? Oooo she got on my nerves! and welfare REALLY!!!! You all up in mine like that???? That system totally contributed to the demise of the black family. Instead of encouraging relationships you gotta hide your man and the gifts??? Oh it was just TOO much! LOL! I like to had a fit!!!!!!!!! I was like what in the SAM Hill am I watching?? LOL!

Her: I can't stop laughing.. you're so funny. The welfare was a mess.. seems like the system was a$$ backward back then.. still is but I digress. You had to hide the iron?? LAWD! Will you watch it again? *dies laughin* I'm gonna watch it right now.. The parts that make me laugh genuinely is when the daughter comes home drunk.. talking about learning how to hold her liquor.. and when they were having the father's day party (WHY??) and that lady was dancing with the little son.. I was like why is she popping her monkey all in his face??? I mean, I know he is short and that was the dance back then but still. Lol

Me: NO I shan't be watching that mess again!!!!!! I agree the daughter being drunk and the grown woman dancing with little dude was too much! Why did they give Rupert a Father's day party???????? That was so dumb. Claudine knew the man already had kidaphobia so what the heck was that about?? I could see if it was a birthday party...

15 comments:

P.S. I love this... said...

I got TEARS popping out my eyes from laughing so hard. Ahhh, I remember that convo vividly. I might watch it again when I get home.. I'm a glutton for punishment. =)

P.S. I love this... said...

Oh and I do love the soundtrack. Gladys Knight was/is the business.

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

@P.S. It was more funny once I read it all together! Really you're watching it again???? Stop It! You are about to need an intervention!

Gladys is cool...I guess LOL!

We have to do another movie.

Anonymous said...

Yep, hated it. I know those who love it for the nostalgia, but I give it the side eye FOR REAL. Ugh. Don't even want to talk about it anymore.

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

@mrstdj
Bwhahahahaha! I feel you on this one! It was TOO much!

Eyes On The Prize (eyesOTP) said...

Ok at least I'm not the only one. The movie and the plot makes zero sense. The best thing about that flick was the soundtrack. I honestly can say that I liked that. The militant son, wild daughter, welfare lady checking for a new iron...what a big bowl of a nuthin' movie!

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

@eyesOTP
Naw!!! you are not the only one! I can honestly say I hated it and I NEVER have to see it again!

Anonymous said...

Too funny! As bad as it sounds, ya'll makin me want to see it!

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

@Janeen
Oh it's a must see for the ridicule factor if you never have LOL! You probably won't again. I want to know your thoughts after you see it...

P.S. I love this... said...

I think I do need an intervention.

I watched today and was like the hell is that on Jones' chest?!?! Looks like little black bugs. YUCKERS!!

And Claudine rushing to put those "Coffee" pantyhose on. Girl I died!!

My mom used to send me to the store to get "coffee" pantyhose and I was always befuddled as her legs are were too light and made them look like my brown baby dolls. It looked crazy.. brown legs and light everything else. hahahaha

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

@P.S. We didn't talk about his taco meat chest hair bwhahahaha! See just too much comedy. Stop watching it!

Nexgrl said...

I saw this movie in the theater with my Mom and my sister. Given the time of production, this was considered one of the better movies. Supposedly, it mocked the welfare system.

So you now know that I'm old.

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

Oh so it was mocking the welfare system??? I discussed the movie with some family members and they said that it was true about the welfare coming to your house and searching like that.

Girl as long as you are doing you and look good doing it who cares! LOL! :)

Nexgrl said...

I do know that federal welfare then and now requires you to document all income and if big purchases are made with said income. I'd heard of random visits when I was young, but I'd never known anyone who experienced them.

My former career was a Federal Food Stamp Eligibility Worker/and Sr. EW Supervisor.

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

Interesting jump from that to librarian. Well in every type of position there are ALWAYS people that overstep the boundaries. Coming from a large family we have ALL types from educated to trife. I listened in on conversations about how riduculous the welfare system was in the 60's and 70's. You were too young when the crazy worker's were in office and there weren't many African Americans working in social services then...