Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley

Watching The Ed Sullivan Show while growing up during the ‘60s, I found myself looking forward to the comedians almost as much as the rock bands. I liked Moms Mabley for the simple reason that she looked and talked funny; this documentary reminds us that Mabley—who has since fallen into obscurity—was also a trailblazer. When it comes to female comics, Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers usually receive the most props for being game-changing standups. In what is obviously a labor of love and respect, director Whoopi Goldberg here overcomes a dearth of personal information about Mabley to etch an indelible portrait of the African American comedian and storyteller who achieved crossover success at a time when America could be scandalized by a TV special in which Petula Clark touched singer Harry Belafonte's arm. Goldberg has gathered an A-list roster of peers and admirers, including Rivers, Belafonte, Eddie Murphy, Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, Dick Cavett, and an eloquent and insightful Arsenio Hall. The well-chosen clips include a moving appearance on, of all things, Playboy After Dark, in which Mabley sings “Abraham, Martin and John,” and a hilariously uncomfortable stint with Merv Griffin in which she says that people down South love her and refer to her as Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger (“at least I think that's what they say,” she deadpans). Baby Boomers will get a kick out of being reacquainted with Moms, while for comedy buffs this is an essential missing piece of history. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (D. Liebenson)