Blogcritics Comments on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Comment by Nicole on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sat, 17 May 2008 01:52:14 EDT

I cringed at the thought when I was told about slavery etc. But that was too much brought out in a movie to have called it Garbage. It's something that they went through without compromise it's that simple!!!!! Mother F*&)$#* try that s$@( although there is some out their that still look down on us. Just recently when they found Hitlers right hand man here in Ga. didn't care what f*&^%#(* age he was and that son of a Bitc was in his 70's.His crime does not marit him to continue living here. Thus they ware going to ship his ass BACK to where he came from. Dog jumped and got the hell out of doge before officially being charged, tried and convicted of his crime. No id did not go un-noticed that the current proved that to his pale a#$ this day and age. No offense but a spade is that!!!! you deliverd bad amongst us. You suffer just like they did. Where they went is anyones guess but you bet your a&% that he is'nt aroung us Black people anymore!! you can bet your a#@ on that. Today my model is HANDLE YOUR SCANDLE

Comment by Nicole on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sat, 17 May 2008 01:46:49 EDT

I cringed at the thought when I was told about slavery etc. But damn that was too much brought out in a movie to have called it Garbage. It's something that they went through without comprimise it's that simple!!!!! Mother Fuckers try that shit although there is some out their that still look down on us. Just recently when they found Hitlers right hand man here in Ga. didn't care what fucking age he was and that son of a Bitch was in his 70's.His crime does not marit him to continue living here. Thus they ware going to ship his ass BACK to where he came from. Dog jumped and got the hell out of doge before officially being charged, tried and convicted of his crime. No id did not go un-noticed that the current proved that to his white ass this day and age. No offense but a spade is that you deliverd bad amongst us. You suffer just like they did. Where they went is anyones guess but you bet your ass that he is'nt aroung us Black people anymore!! you can bet your ass on that. Today my model is HANDLE YOUR SCANDLE

Comment by Nicole on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sat, 17 May 2008 01:44:58 EDT

Comment by finnish guy on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:38:53 EST

Very disturbing movie but it is nevertheless a good reminder why USA does have a big problem with rascism and why americans seem to be so obsessed about race. While Europeans have nationalism, Americans have rascism, both have caused violence(WW I and partly WW II were caused by nationalism ) but Americans after Civil War have maintained a more or less balanced society. Jacobetti and Co. were probably misantrophes than rascists. The thing reperations is complicated: who are the ones should pay: the whites of present day US ? Most of them came after the Civil War or had none whatsoever to do with slavery coming from countries like Poland, Finland etc that were not participating in this. Do they have pay the bill just because they happen have to same skin tone as slave owners ? This will open a whole can of worms that will lead nowhere, should Finnish-Americans sue modern Muslims because Russians sold Finnish as slaves to them during 18th century invasions/rebellions. Jews were paid reparations because it was very short time after the Holocaust and the guilty parties or the ones such as IG Farben who benefitted from slavery, were still present. What about the black slave traders themselves, movie Cobra Verde by Werner Herzog addresses this issue. It shows that part of the defeat in tribal wars was slavery.

Comment by junia on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:39:40 EST

i feel that this movie should be seen by everyone. the reason being is so that all of the truth of history be told. i mean everyone else history is being told so why not BLACKS! and by people seeing this movie we would get a better understanding of how different our world is now. and also if the truth is going to be out then it all needs to be said they say that slavery started in 1619 and it lasted 400 years thats a lie because it started hundreds and hundreds of years before because the pourtaguess were the first to start off the slave trade. thats why in brazil the blacks speak that language. also Sir John Hawkins was the first english slave trader and when he brought us to north america here we speak english. in the books they say that it was from 1619-1555 but thats on 64years and they got that number 64 from how long it took them to make a black slave to become mentally dead! so if the truth gone to be told then let it be told right and watch the movie all cultures and races....learn to appreciate!! love peace, material history gurl!

Comment by Casanova on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 12:49:28 EST

What were you saying about David Duke?

Comment by Igor Alexander on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sat, 1 Dec 2007 20:20:11 EST

I want to correct a statement I made earlier. I wrote: "A number of people leaving comments have referred to this movie as a documentary. This film is not a documentary, folks. To the best of my knowledge, the producers never claimed that it was." The statement that "the producers never claimed that it was" is incorrect. It is actually clearly stated at the end of the movie (in the director's cut, at least) that the film is a documentary. I had trouble paying attention to both the images and the subtitles, which went by really fast, in this movie, which probably accounts for why I missed it the first time (I've watched the movie a second time since). This, however, doesn't change my position. Just because the makers of this movie claimed that it was a documentary, doesn't make it so. Remember, we are talking about the makers of the Mondo series here, after all. Much of this movie is pure fantasy, and that which has a basis in fact has been exaggerated and dramatized. It would be like claiming that the events shown in the Amityville Horror were real because the movie poster says it's "based on a true story." After watching Goodbye Uncle Tom a second time, I'm still not sure what its makers were trying to achieve. It's an odd movie, with a lot of mixed messages. David Duke points the finger at Jews, but as I've already explained, this theory doesn't jibe with the fact that the movie (at least the director's cut) singles out Jews as being the founding fathers of racism. It seems half the movie is spent trying to incite blacks to murder whites, but then the movie ends with a conciliatory "can't we all just get along?" message, emphasizing that white Americans have already paid a tremendous price for slavery in the bloodletting that was the Civil War. To quote the movie directly: ". . .the accounts are balanced. For every imported slave, one American death." In another passage: "We [blacks] must not respond to their old white racism with a new black racism." The possibility crossed my mind that the filmmakers may have been communists who wanted to create conflict in American society in order to weaken it, but then near the end of the movie is the following: "[We blacks are] also playing the game of the white communists who want to make use of us to destroy America." There's also a part earlier in the film where it's stated that Marxists took part in the slave trade in order to finance their revolutionary activities in Europe. I think I'm going to have to track down a copy of the English theatrical version of Goodbye Uncle Tom. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is very different from the director's cut. I'm also going to have to find a copy of Africa Addio (Goodbye Africa), which is a documentary (a real one, this time) by the same filmmakers which, according to the reviews I've read online, shows what a hellhole Africa became after decolonialization. Stating this obvious truth is as politically incorrect as you can get and this documentary certainly didn't win the filmmakers any friends in the liberal establishment. One could wonder if the filmmakers may not have had more in common with David Duke than Mr. Duke himself realizes. While the motivations of the financiers and the distributors of Goodbye Uncle Tom (particularly the U.S. theatrical version) remain suspect, the filmmakers themselves, Jacopetti and Prosperi, are difficult to pigeonhole and my previous analysis of their work may have been hasty and simplistic. It's my understanding that there's a documentary out about them called Godfathers of Mondo; no doubt seeing this would shed a lot of light on the issues that have been raised here.

Comment by Igor Alexander on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:18:16 EST

A number of people leaving comments have referred to this movie as a documentary. This film is not a documentary, folks. To the best of my knowledge, the producers never claimed that it was. Calling it a documentary makes about as much sense as calling Schindler's List (which was based on a novel) or Oliver Stone's JFK a documentary; there may be some historical truth woven into those movies, but by and large, they're works of fiction. Slaves were pieces of property that had monetary (and practical) value, but only so long as they were alive and in reasonably good health; does anyone truly believe that the average white slave owner would have wasted valuable time and resources hunting down and killing escaped slaves that he had paid good money for? That's ridiculous, and yet that's just one of the many whoppers the filmmakers have asked us to swallow. Also strange how the makers of this movie, who obviously did a fair bit of research, neglected to mention that the slave trade was to a large extent run by blacks at the African end. I guess it's harder to demonize whites when you have to explain to your audience that African blacks were also cutting a profit off the trade in black flesh. If you wanted to be generous, you could call this film a historical drama. I think it'd be more accurate to call it a nasty piece of political propaganda which was intended to fan the flames of racial hatred at a time in U.S. history (the mid 60's to mid 70's) when an all-out race war seemed like a likely prospect. It's creepy to think the producers went through with this movie knowing full well that it would increase social unrest, political instability, and acts of violence against whites (not to mention blacks considered to be "Uncle Toms"). I'd be curious to know what their motivations were for making it, especially considering that they are themselves white. Another case of trendy, self-righteous European liberals sticking their noses in American affairs, perhaps? Or was David Duke correct in asserting that Jewish hatred of white gentiles had something to do with this movie?

Comment by Igor Alexander on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 05:53:15 EST

Chris - It's interesting that you made a crack about David Duke in your article, because Duke actually mentions this movie in his autobiography, My Awakening. From pages 310-311 of his book:

"While I was still in college, I attended a so-called Black-exploitation film called Farewell Uncle Tom. I read about the film before its showing in New Orleans where it played in a mostly Black movie house downtown. Expecting a difficult situation, I drove down from Baton Rouge with two of my bravest and most dedicated LSU friends. In 90 minutes, at a matinee filled with Blacks, my friends and I received an emotional and graphic education on the heinous impact of the Hollywood anti-White movies." "Set in the antebellum South, the film portrayed slave life as an orgy of White mutilation, starvation, murder, and rape of Black men and women. A Black revolt occurs, and the screen erupts with revenge-minded Blacks hacking to death White men, women, and children. With each bloody outrage, the audience howled with approval. 'Right on!' some screamed. 'Rape the Bitch!. . . Kill 'em!' The Black crowd laughed and cheered during the goriest scenes of mutilation, rape, and murder. "To make sure the film's point was clear to its patrons, the film's ending flashed to the present day, showing afro-wearing Black men in leather jackets and sunglasses, sneaking into the bedroom of a White couple. The camera depicts the couple's horror as the attackers hack them to death with a hatchet. In slow motion, the hatchet falls repeatedly, splattering blood and brains across the room. Even after 20 years, I vividly recall the film and the raw hatred it engendered in the Black audience. "At the sight of the murders, the audience worked itself into a frenzy. As soon as the credits appeared, my friends and I, sitting in the rear of the theater, grabbed our coats and left quickly. We were somber as we drove back to LSU because we knew that Farewell Uncle Tom was designed to incite Blacks to murder and rape Whites across America. "In researching the film, I discovered that Cannon Releasing Corporation had released it and that Cannon's president was Dennis Friedland. His associates included Marvin Friedlander, Thomas Israel, James Rubin, and Arthur Lipper. I found out later from a film review that most of the Jews involved with the White-hating film actually had their names removed from the film credits. "The time I spent in that dark theater touched my emotions so powerfully that I swore to myself and to God that I would make whatever sacrifices I must to someday stop the brutal attacks against our flesh and blood as symbolized in that hateful film. I also resolved to stand up against filmmakers who create a climate of anti-White hatred."

I'm not sure I agree with Mr. Duke's theory about Jews having made this movie to incite hatred against white gentiles. I just watched the "director's cut" version and there are a number of points in the movie where it's implied that Jews were involved in the slave trade (which they were), and there is at least one part where Jews are explicitly blamed for the oppression of blacks (cue the film at about 1h 14m to see what I'm referring to). If this film was a totally Jewish production, why would Jews be attempting to incite hatred against themselves? Of course, it's quite likely that the version of the film Mr. Duke saw in the theatre all those years ago was very different from the director's cut, and may have had the parts naming Jews removed. I do, however, agree with Mr. Duke that this movie was intended to incite hatred towards whites, and judging by the comments left here by some of your black readers, the producers were successful.

Comment by Jayboogie on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 12:11:06 EST

I've just seen the movie for which there was a discussion session afterwards. Many black people in the audience were disgusted and said the movie was made by white racists etc. I have to say that it was a very difficult watch but I'm glad I saw it. As a black woman that would be my preference to living through it as my ancestors did daily. It was very clumsy in parts and the music was a paradox against the backdrop of horror I was watching - but through it all, it confirmed to me the grotesque destruction of the African mind which was essential for slavery to continue over centuries as it did. There are too many disturbing scenes to mention but one would definitely be the 'stud' farm' where we were bred like the animals they told us we were ... now its clear why centuries later there are still fatherhood issues for many Black men in both America and the Caribbean which stems from the fact that they were force to rape black women with their 'good seed' to produce more slaves (as trade from Africa had been outlawed). They had no relationship with these women and they didn't know their children ...black family was forbidden as everyone was owned. It shows how painfully pitiful the Klan really are if they love this film as someone said in an earlier review. White people don't come out looking good in this! They're depicted as brutal, ignorant, in-bred, illiterate paedophiles - which goes in some way to explain why many white liberals didn't want this film to be shown ....

Comment by Michael on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 00:12:30 EDT

This is not the history this society teach our children in books.For my brothers and sisters I say watch the movie, make sure your children see it and give prayers for the millions that didnt make it through journey from the middle passage. The truth is often the first casualty of brutality. The majority of them see their ancestors as pioneering, brave, and culture building. They purposeful dont see them for what they were, butchers. Perhaps they hate us because we see this Do not waste your words with these here. If they wish to believe us animals, let them. Their underestimation can only strengthen our position. For the barbarism that they inflicted on us, the native american, and countless others will one day have a reckoning, and their founding fathers are all in Hell. It's funny that to learn to be truly brutal we had to come here. Now many of our children are soldiers who have founght in every major war and even the present one. Green Berets, Rangers, Seals, even Delta. This is good, because if the attempt is ever made on us again...., Well I'll just leave it at that. Sleep tight

Comment by Trae on Goodbye, Uncle Tom

Tue, 9 Jan 2007 22:49:46 EST

Great film, funny as a southerner to see it from a foreign view. You can watch it free here: