James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A documentary film with the title James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket. It consists of two (2) reels of color 16mm acetate film with optical sound (2017.55.23.1a and 2017.55.23.1b). The documentary recounts the life and influence of author James Baldwin using a combination of archival footage of Baldwin and contemporary interviews with his surviving family and friends. The film was directed by Karen Thorsen in collaboration with the famous documentary production company Maysles Films. The film includes footage of interviews and public speeches by Baldwin, scenes from Baldwin's funeral service, and explorations of Baldwin's homes in France, Switzerland, Turkey, and Harlem. Interviews with family and friends include his brother David; biographer David Leeming; writers Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, William Styron, Ishmael Reed and Yashar Kemal; painter Lucien Happersberger and entertainer Bobby Short.

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