Movie Review

Been Rich All My Life (2006)

EW's GRADE
B+

Details Limited Release: Jul 21, 2006; Rated: Unrated; Length: 81 Minutes; Genre: Documentary

 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? The Silver Belles have been kicking it since the 1930s, as seen in the...
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? The Silver Belles have been kicking it since the 1930s, as seen in the joyous ''Life''

Money has little to do with the kind of emotional wealth shared so generously in Been Rich All My Life, Heather Lyn MacDonald's affectionate portrait of the Silver Belles — five uptown knockouts who met as Harlem chorus girls in the 1930s and continue to dance into their 80s and beyond. MacDonald mixes choice footage of the hoofers in their prime with loose on-the-spot scenes of octogenarian dailiness in happy times and sad. Injury, illness, and death make appearances, but these remarkable women never lose their gratitude for where their feet have taken them. Good times and bum times, they've seen it all and they're still here. Lucky us.

Originally posted Jul 19, 2006 Published in issue #888 Jul 28, 2006 Order article reprints

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement