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Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored

  • 19951995
  • PGPG
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
536
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
  • Drama
  • Romance
A narrator tells the story of his childhood years in a tightly knit Afro-American community in the deep south under racial segregation.A narrator tells the story of his childhood years in a tightly knit Afro-American community in the deep south under racial segregation.A narrator tells the story of his childhood years in a tightly knit Afro-American community in the deep south under racial segregation.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
536
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Tim Reid
  • Writers
    • Clifton L. Taulbert(book)
    • Paul W. Cooper(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Al Freeman Jr.
    • Phylicia Rashad
    • Leon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tim Reid
  • Writers
    • Clifton L. Taulbert(book)
    • Paul W. Cooper(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Al Freeman Jr.
    • Phylicia Rashad
    • Leon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations

    Photos14

    Isaac Hayes in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Al Freeman Jr. and Charles Earl Taylor Jr. in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Al Freeman Jr., Paula Kelly, and Karen Malina White in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Charles Earl Taylor Jr. in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Al Freeman Jr. and Charles Earl Taylor Jr. in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Phylicia Rashad in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Leon in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Richard Roundtree in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Tim Reid in Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)
    Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Al Freeman Jr.
    Al Freeman Jr.
    • Poppaas Poppa
    Phylicia Rashad
    Phylicia Rashad
    • Ma Ponkas Ma Ponk
    Leon
    Leon
    • Uncle Melvinas Uncle Melvin
    Paula Kelly
    Paula Kelly
    • Ma Pearlas Ma Pearl
    Salli Richardson-Whitfield
    Salli Richardson-Whitfield
    • Miss Aliceas Miss Alice
    • (as Salli Richardson)
    Anna Maria Horsford
    Anna Maria Horsford
    • Miss Annieas Miss Annie
    Bernie Casey
    Bernie Casey
    • Mr. Walteras Mr. Walter
    Isaac Hayes
    Isaac Hayes
    • Preacher Hurnas Preacher Hurn
    Ray J
    Ray J
    • Cliff (12 Yrs.)as Cliff (12 Yrs.)
    • (as Willis Norwood Jr.)
    Karen Malina White
    Karen Malina White
    • Maryas Mary
    Damon Hines
    • Cliff at 16as Cliff at 16
    Iona Morris
    Iona Morris
    • Nila Fontaineas Nila Fontaine
    Phill Lewis
    Phill Lewis
    • Sammy (19 Yrs.)as Sammy (19 Yrs.)…
    Taj Mahal
    Taj Mahal
    • Mr. Willas Mr. Will
    Polly Bergen
    Polly Bergen
    • Miss Maybryas Miss Maybry
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • Cleveas Cleve
    Braxton Brown III
    • Sammy (7 Yrs.)as Sammy (7 Yrs.)
    Frank Hoyt Taylor
    Frank Hoyt Taylor
    • Straw Bossas Straw Boss
    • (as Frank Taylor)
    • Director
      • Tim Reid
    • Writers
      • Clifton L. Taulbert(book)
      • Paul W. Cooper(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This film relates the story of a tightly connected Afro-American community informally called Colored Town where the inhabitants live and depend on each other in a world where racist oppression is everywhere, as told by a boy called Cliff who spent his childhood there. Despite this, we see the life of the community in all its joys and sorrows, of those that live there while others decide to leave for a better life north. For those remaining, things come to a serious situation when one prominent businessman is being muscled out by a white competitor using racist intimidation. In response, the community must make the decision of whether to submit meekly like they always have, or finally fight for their rights. —Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@execulink.com>
    • segregation
    • rural setting
    • race relations
    • prejudice
    • mississippi
    • 42 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for thematic elements including mild violence, language, and sensuality
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Melvin tells the group of elders all the benefits of living up North, he says that Colored men even drive buses. Preacher Hurn replies "Shut yo' mouth!" Isaac Hayes wrote the theme to Shaft (1971), and Richard Roundtree played the titular character.
    • Quotes

      narrator: Everyone clung to the idea that if you worked hard, you get a piece of the American dream.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Screamers/Richard III/Bed of Roses/Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored/Angels and Insects (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Maybe Tomorrow
      Written and Performed by Lionel Cole

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Upon a time
    I kept waiting for the bad moments to happen, as so often they do in these reminiscent movies of growing up in the south, yet no real drama occurred. These were moments pieced together, and if that was the intent--it worked. True, a child's reflection of childhood would be pieces of memory chained loosely together, impressions of events, people, and times. However, when the movie ended I thought, "That's it?" There were fine performances; however, the plot seemed to soft-step around the real issues, such as the Jim Crow laws, segregated schooling, subservient wages, and escaping to the north to avoid the subjugation. We got breadth, when depth might have made a much more interesting plot line.
    helpful•1
    2
    • wordsmith_57
    • Mar 29, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 26, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • BET Pictures
      • United Image Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,291,255
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $75,675
      • Jan 28, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,291,255
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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