The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

Awesome movie for the price it’s great

Cicely Tyson died on January 28, 2021, at the age of 96. It reminded me that I had never seen this classic movie in which she starred, impressively playing the part of a fictional 110-year-old woman, Jane Pittman, when Tyson was in her 40’s (there was some equally impressive make-up applied for her to fulfill that role). She also played Pittman at various other ages in her life. The movie was directed by John Korty and released in 1974, thus within a decade of the ‘60’s civil rights movement.Michael Murphy plays the part of a sympathetic reporter intrigued by her story, attempting to record it for posterity, via a recorder and an old typewriter. The year is 1962. Murphy is indelibly fixed in my mind for his role as the scumbag political operative in Robert Altman’s “Nashville.” So, it was a good change of pace to see him in the role of a decent man.Tyson tells Murphy she can take him back as far as he wants to go, and suddenly the viewer is on the Louisiana plantation where Tyson is a 11-year-old girl watching a ragtag bunch of defeated Confederate troops come through for water, being chased by Yankee troops. When the Yanks arrive, one tells her about Ohio, and it becomes the destination objective of the young Pittman, though it appears that Pittman never managed to leave Louisiana and East Texas in her entire life. Shortly thereafter, the plantation owner calls all the slaves together and tells them they are “free,” free to leave, free to stay, though he has no money to pay them.Dignity in the face of adversity and the brutal violence that is used to keep Blacks “in their place,” including denying them an education, are prevalent themes throughout the movie. When the plantation owner announced that they were free to leave, many decided to do just that. The group does not get far before numerous members are attacked and killed. Pittman survives by hiding and inherits the flint and iron stone used to start fires.On and on, through the years. There is a lynching and even a hired killing by a Cajun. The primary target is the “uppity” ones, often a teacher trying to educate his brethren. The focus is on ensuring a workforce of “cheap” manual labor, letting the “market” dictate their wages. Stops along the way from the Civil War until 1962 include the time of the “Kingfisher,” though Huey Long is never mentioned by name, and the flood of 1927 as well as a burned “Freedom Rider” bus (who today remembers those details?). Also included are non-racial tragedies of life, like when the love-of-her-life, Joe Pittman, is killed by an evil white horse (color typecasting?).Is the movie dated after half a century? Well, there is no more infamous water fountain that says: “Whites Only.” At one level, the form of racial discrimination has subsided: look at the advertisements today, which seem to feature bi-racial couples disproportionately to their actual numbers. But the violence, police violence in particular, to keep us all in our place, has only intensified. Since this movie was released, our judiciary has invented, out of thin air, a legal doctrine of “qualified immunity,” which in practice means “absolute immunity.” There are now two classes of Americans: those subject to the laws, and those exempt. Separate and very unequal. When does the modern-day “Plessy v. Ferguson” get tossed into the dustbin of history? No question, this new legal doctrine is used against Blacks, disproportionately. As our local newspaper complains, it is virtually impossible to have the police investigate a property crime, but somehow there is the police human-power to be checking for air fresheners dangling from the rear-view mirror. The real priority remains: keeping people in their place.For a beautiful and dramatic movie about race relations, then and now, 5-stars.

Great DVD. Mom loved the movie.

Awesome quality

This film is a phenomenal video version of the powerful book by Ernest J Gaines.The acting is impeccable and this portrays the sweeping revelations that the book creates which one would not think possible on film Yet… it indeed does so!

I have been watching movies since I was a little girl .., One thing that I know is that the late Cicely Tyson was one of the greatest actresses of her generation. Did you know that she was 50 years old.. Yes I said 50 years old when she filmed this movie. Do the math .. As a Woman of Color I am so proud that I was able to see her in film.. growing up. My only regret was that I never got the opportunity to meet her in person. Though she lived mostly in New York City .. I have been very fortunate to meet so many Movie,Television and Recording artists.. This movie I saw over 15- 17 years ago. I simply enjoyed it..even though there are scenes that I became angered with. Racism is a horrible ...disgusting disease in society. .. I hope that many more people will watch this movie. Just to understand what many people of color had to experience in this country . Especially before 1969 ... This country was racially segregated and many negro person's. Had to ride in the back of a city bus, seperate baths, water fountains and public facilities .. This country that every one wants to come to... ?? If you really only knew ...the ugly history. The cast were ..just fine . The exterior shot's and the costumes complimented those era's. I hope that no one remakes this movie..like they had the nerve to do with a re-boot of "Root's". Most younger black actor's have no awareness of slavery, the Southern living ..not the tradition's that I was exposed to growing up in the Deep South. I can related to this movie ..but I never really experienced ..what segregation was like. Unlike my parents generation had when they were growing up with my grand parents. The make up was ...on the spot..! I can't imagine having to endure that for days on end... Miss Tyson ...we shall remember you for your sacrifices and struggles. We thank you for the Legacy that you have soley secured in the film industry.

The movie is excellent! Actress Cicely Tyson is absolutely outstanding as Miss Jane Pittman as well as the other actors and actresses. Miss Pittman tells the story of her life from her childhood during slavery until her 110th birthday to a writer who is interested in Miss Pittman's story. I have never read the book by author Ernest J. Gaines and I am sure the book is just as good as the movie. Ms. Tyson won an 'Emmy' for her brilliant performance as well as 'Actress of the Year' which she truly deserved! I cried when Miss Pittman's husband and son were killed by the white man as well as the lynching of a Black man by the KKK. I liked the special features of everyone who participated in the movie. REST IN POWER to the following actors and actresses: Ms. Cicely Louise Tyson (December 18, 1924-January 28, 2021); Mr. Richard Allen Dysart (March 30, 1929-April 5, 2015); Ms. Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930-December 2, 2008); Mr. Thalmus Rasulala (ne Jack Crowder) (November 15, 1939-October 9, 1991); Ms. Katherine Marie Helmond (July 5, 1929-February 23, 2019); Mr. Will T. Hare (March 30, 1916-August 31, 1997); Mr. Joel Fluellen (December 1, 1907-February 2, 1990); Mr. Roderick Maurice Perry (July 30, 1934-December 17, 2020); Mr. David Hooks (ne David Woodall Hooks) (January 9, 1920-October 1, 2008); Mr. Roy Poole (March 31, 1924-July 1, 1986); Ms. Beatrice Winde (nee Beatrice Lucille Williams) (January 5, 1924-January 3, 2004); Ms. Josephine Mary Premice (July 21, 1926-April 13, 2001); Mr. Dudley Knight (July 1, 1939-June 27, 2013); Ms. Collin Wilcox-Horne-Paxton (February 4, 1935-October 14, 2009); Ms. Carol Joan Sutton (December 3, 1944-December 10, 2020); author Mr. Ernest James Gaines (January 15, 1933-November 5, 2019): 'You all may be gone but you will never, ever be, forgotten.'

This 1974 TV movie predates the tv miniseries Roots by a few years. The fictional story of a century old woman who went from being an American slave in the 1800’s and eye witness to that life, to being there during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

GREAT

Cicely Tyson IS Miss Jane Pittman. I never expect a film to be exactly as the book. I only want a movie to give absolute pleasure, information and, wherever possible, wonderful dialogue, good direction and very good set production. This movie has it all. For all the above points, and the Amazon price, this DVD is highly recommended.

A suburb DVD ...GREAT ACTING