All By Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story (1982)

Eartha Kitt was a force to be reckoned with and this documentary allows her to shine. The film is comprised almost entirely of footage of Kitt just being herself or responding to interview questions. While I sometimes groaned at the obtuseness of the interviewer’s questions, she freely and unabashedly offers up her views on the events in her life including her abandonment by her mother due to colorism and her professional ostracism after sharing her views on the Vietnam War and her feelings on living alone and loving herself. Interestingly while there is some singing performances sprinkled into the film, there isn’t much actual discussion on her career, with few mentions of her television and film career beyond a mention of Catwoman to a teeny Allison Smith. I would have enjoyed seeing an addendum of sorts to include her later life after this film was made as I’m sure she had plenty more to say.