It's a credit to MacDonald that she provides a little-known view of Harlem's halcyon days, but what's missing is the pith and marrow: We feel that the women still elude us.
Comment
03/01/07
Been Rich All My Life (2006)
78 %
Reviews Counted: 27 Fresh: 21 Rotten:6 Average Rating: 6.6/10
Consensus:
An uplifting account of a group of older women and their zest for life that will inspire audiences young and old.
Runtime: 81 mins
Synopsis: BEEN RICH ALL MY LIFE follows the unlikliest troupe of tap dancing divas. They are the "Silver Belles," five former showgirls now aged 84-96, performing to standing ovations, as sassy as they ever were. They met during Harlem's 1930's heyday, dancing in the chorus lines at the Apollo Theater,... [More]
Genre: Education/General Interest
Reviews
An enchanting, if bittersweet, memoir which seamlessly interweaves wistful, tenderhearted reflections with archival film footage and the readily-observable harsh realities associated with advanced age to yield a splendid slice of African-American history.
02/06/07
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10/30/06
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10/01/06
At a time in their lives when their contemporaries are bouncing great-grandchildren on their knees, these Harlem divas of dance are bouncing their booties around.
09/29/06
MacDonald seems less interested in the Silver Belles' past than their inspirational present. Eventually, the inevitable broken hips and dizzy spells take their toll, but those who remain seem determined to shuffle-step their way into the sunset.
09/28/06
Top Critic
[MacDonald's] subjects -- former black chorus girls from Harlem's golden age, when the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater ruled New York nightlife -- are utterly captivating.
09/28/06
Because Been Rich follows a well-hoofed path, there aren't a lot of surprises, but the women make for good company.
09/14/06
Reminds us that every life contains many acts worth hearing about, not just a select few.
08/25/06
This is a film about brave women who left home as teenagers and have been on their own ever since. Now, nearing the end of that road, they face their inevitable decline with a cheerful vivacity.
08/25/06
If you only watched the first half of Been Rich All My Life, you might walk away thinking it's a so-so documentary about another fascinating, underreported piece of Harlem history. And you'd be at least half right in that assessment.
08/04/06
This is a sweet documentary about a small group of women who've danced their way through life.
08/02/06
The film could be more adept and probing, but the ladies -- Cleo Hayes, Marion Coles, Elaine Ellis, Fay Ray, and Geri Kennedy -- are delightful.
07/27/06
A richly uplifting if somewhat rambling portrait of indomitableness in the face of old age and infirmity, Been Rich All My Life will be inspirational to young and old alike.
07/26/06
Top Critic
Good times and bum times, they've seen it all and they're still here. Lucky us.
07/22/06
While it's enjoyable on it's own terms, there's really no reason to go all the way to the film forum and plunk down twelve bucks to see this thing, when you could probably see it on public TV in a year or two.
07/21/06
Been Rich All My Life has a soft, golden glow, but it could have been much richer.
07/21/06
These women deserve some fond acclaim for their attempts to conquer age.
07/21/06
Under director Heather Lyn MacDonald, the film is generic and uninspired, better suited to public TV than the big screen.
07/21/06
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