MovieChat Forums > Bird (1988) Discussion > Where are the First 2 Black Wives?

Where are the First 2 Black Wives?

posted 13 years ago by Synthia7
4 replies | jump to latest

Charlie Parker "married" four women (OK. the last 2 were common law and not legal, I believe).

The first 2 were black -- yet, in all of the flashbacks, there are no black women in the film. Was his mother even depicted?

I guess these black women just were not integral to his jazz life and personal development.

Thanks, Clint.

I like this book excerpt, BTW:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Sz7K1c9QSoMC&pg=PA305&lpg=PA3 05&dq=%22charlie+parker%22+white+women&source=bl&ots=xK6GZ IpxnQ&sig=63jUNMl-MpRYGSHsYoO_GRZ_OLU&hl=en&ei=sgv7TOulNY2 inwe48NDHCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&amp ; ; ;ved=0CBYQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20parker%22%20white%20wo men&f=false

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] KrystelClaire 13 years ago

I don't intend to defend the film, but - and I'm guessing here- all filmed biographies need to decide what they want to show and what they need to leave aside. His story with Chan Robinson was the one which everybody has heard about, so probably Eastwood decided to stick to that - and a couple of lovers/girlfriends. With the film lasting almost three hours, and with so many characters which sometimes I was left confused as to who was who, I'm glad that there were not many more wives, girlfriends, work colleagues, club owners, etc...
That's my opinion anyway.

[–] jacowium 12 years ago

I think that's more than an opinion, krystelclaire, I think it's the perfect, decent response!

Please click on "reply" at the post you're responding to. Thanks.

[–] aquarianbrass 8 years ago

Yeah, and they make these decisions based on audience. Lets not be naive. If the black wives were left out it was for a reason, and probably not a good one.