


Copyright 1995 ABC-CLIO. This review was taken from the ABC-CLIO Video Rating Guide for Libraries on CD-ROM, a 5-year compilation of over 8900 video titles and reviews, 1990-1994. For information regarding order VRGL CD-ROM, contact: ABC-CLIO, P.O. Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911; 805-968-1911
This following text has been included in the UCB Media Resources Center Web site with the kind permission of the publishers.

This is an outstanding biographical video of writer James
Baldwin, covering his entire life history. Opening and closing
scenes are of his funeral, and there are numerous flashbacks
(both in color and black-and-white) of his homes, his friends,
and his family. The intent of the production is to reveal to the
viewer the hardships imposed on Baldwin and others of his race
during his lifetime.
Baldwin never tried to hide the facts that he was black,
impoverished, or homosexual, and many of his books are written
about these very personal subjects. His novels, such as Go Tell
It on the Mountain, Giovanni's Room, and Another Country, were
not considered "acceptable" during his early writing career as
they describe the agonies of trying to live with one's
homosexuality and deal with intimate interracial relationships.
These were subjects that publishers of that day avoided, feeling
that they were not proper reading material.
Credits at the end of this videotape list over a dozen names
of the prestigious people now living in France, Turkey, and the
United States, who have been quoted and interviewed. Such
important voices as Maya Angelou, David Baldwin (James' brother),
David Lemming (his biographers), Malcolm X, and many others, are
quoted or relate stories that help make this an interesting and
informational documentary on James Baldwin.
This is not only an excellent biography, but also a serious
documentary of the anguish and hardships imposed on blacks during
the lifetime of this author, lecturer, and teacher.
The videography, including original footage in many instances,
the background music, and the narration all work together to
create a production that is informative and factual without being
overly dramatic. Highly recommended for libraries serving
literature studies on the secondary school or college level.
James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket

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