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Once Upon A Time... When We Were Colored

Play trailer Poster for Once Upon A Time... When We Were Colored PG 1995 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
It's 1946 in Mississippi, and young Cliff (Charles Earl Taylor Jr.), living under the care of great-grandfather Poppa (Al Freeman Jr.) and great-grandmother Ma Pearl (Paula Kelly), is starting to notice the world around him. But it isn't a pretty one for blacks in the South, and over the span of 16 years, Cliff gets introduced to segregation and sadness. But hope finally arises when his close-knit community bands together to fight for civil rights in a nonviolent way.

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety 01/10/2007
B
Based on Clifton Taulbert's book, this sensitive memory film about the author's coming of age in the segregated South is an emotionally quiet saga, plaved against a tumultuous era in black communal life. Go to Full Review
Mike Clark USA Today 01/01/2000
2.5/4
Though the film exhibits a vaguely nostalgic tone, it's hardly sugar-coated, displaying an increasingly discernible edge to its portrayal of racist realities. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
4/4
Rarely has a film more movingly shown how people who work, live and pray together can find a common strength and self-respect. Go to Full Review
Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 11/25/2007
84/100
Everything about this film bespeaks wholesomeness, from its gentle life lessons to its calm dignity ... (t)hat said, it is not quite as good as some of the hype would have it. Go to Full Review
Edward Havens FilmJerk.com 06/26/2003
4/5
Jim Shelby Palo Alto Weekly 05/20/2003
2.5/4
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Audience Reviews

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jon c 01/26/2021 Clifton L. Taulbert's book is adapted by director Tim Reid. He tells the story of an African American family sticking together through thick and thin. It's Mississippi Delta 1946. Southern plantations and cotton fields were still aplenty. Glenn Allen, Mississippi is Cliff's home and he shares each of the people's experiences growing up in a world where they want to pursue their dreams while also battling the racism and segregation. This story takes place over 16 years with Cliff and others fighting for civil rights in a time when the whites wanted to take them away. Everything from the Ku Klux Klan to separate bathrooms to drinking fountains is what Cliff puts up a fight against. Since there were so few black icons to look up to it felt like a giant loss when one of them would lose in sports or anything else. No one should ever tell you what you believe is right. It's all about common strength and self-respect. A movie that shows the lives of a black community keeping their faith and hope alive together. See more 10/10/2012 Great movie, ending was just okay. But overall I loved it! See more 06/11/2010 The story begins in 1946, when Cliff is born. He is initially raised by his great-grandparents, who expose him to such things as a KKK rally to teach him about the racism blacks have to endure. When he's older, Cliff is reared by his great-aunt, and meets liberal whites such as Mrs. Maybry, who, since blacks are prohibited from entering the library, checks books out for them. But despite the omnipresent bigotry Cliff encounters, his life is also filled with rich childhood experiences, such as fishing trips and family picnics. And perhaps best of all, the young man is fortunate enough to be raised in a tight-knit family that finds its strength in unity. A great film with strong brilliant performances. Loved it. See more 04/20/2010 Here's another film rating. See more 12/11/2007 beautiful and deeply moving. See more 10/02/2007 Though the film exhibits a vaguely nostalgic tone, it's hardly sugar-coated, displaying an increasingly discernible edge to its portrayal of racist realities. See more Read all reviews
Once Upon A Time... When We Were Colored

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Movie Info

Synopsis It's 1946 in Mississippi, and young Cliff (Charles Earl Taylor Jr.), living under the care of great-grandfather Poppa (Al Freeman Jr.) and great-grandmother Ma Pearl (Paula Kelly), is starting to notice the world around him. But it isn't a pretty one for blacks in the South, and over the span of 16 years, Cliff gets introduced to segregation and sadness. But hope finally arises when his close-knit community bands together to fight for civil rights in a nonviolent way.
Director
Tim Reid
Producer
Michael Bennett, Tim Reid
Screenwriter
Paul W. Cooper
Production Co
United Image Entertainment, Bet Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Box Office (Gross USA)
$65.1K
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround