The Movie Claudine -- featuring Gladys Knight And The Pips The 1974 film Claudine is a socially conscious romantic comedy starring Diahann Carroll as a poor single mother in Harlem struggling with welfare, poverty, and raising six kids, who falls for garbage collector Roop (James Earl Jones), exploring black family life, welfare system complexities, and finding love amidst urban challenges, all uplifted by Curtis Mayfield's iconic soundtrack and the stars' great chemistry. . . Follow Us at David