Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

This story reveals the conflict of two laws. Virginia says slavery is legal. Canada says slavery is illegal. Who is right? Who can "legal" slaves appeal to? Is the right of the state absolute? Where does morality reside, in the majority or in the human heart?James Mink's daughter is kidnapped from freedom in Canada and then sold into slavery in Virgina. Mink recieves word. He appeals to Canadian government. They side with their fellow rulers in Virgina. The only aid Mink can find is the Quakers Underground Railroad. They provide training and transportation. Mink and his wife free the daughter at the risk of their lives.The obvious drama is the fight to free the daughter. The subtext is the amazing support slavery recieves by the Virginia populace. Why? It is the law. This is repeated many times in the story. Mink, and the viewer, can barely believe such wickedness. The devout Quaker's clearly reject Virgina law for "a higher law".Are all these Virginians evil? Story includes a scene of the slave master crying over the death of his "Mammy", who was beaten to death. He is heartbroken. Evil? Wicked? What? Where does law end and morality start? Where does morality start and law end?Other films with similar theme are: "Amazing Grace", story about Wilberforce fighting for abolition in England; "Belle" about the first ruling against salvery in Britain; "Polycarp" which recounts the early Christian rejection of Caesar worship; and "Hitler on Trial" relating the effort of a Jewish lawyer to convict Hitler of murder. All these are real history. All these present the same question, What is the basis, the foundation of law? Majority vote or minority justice? Can "higher" law bring justice that the "state" cannot?This is a fine drama. I wondered: "If I was there, which side would I support? How much would I risk?" Thought provoking.

No matter how many times I see or hear of it, I can't get my mind around this dark part of history. It's just so heartbreaking. This movie is good. It's intense. There are some issues with it but overall, it's well done.

Very good buy

Realistic portrayal of slavery in the US and Canada in the 1800's. Mostly based on true events. Great cast.

This is a good movie, but I was disappointed that the story is only loosely based on the history of Canadian James Mink rescuing his daughter Minnie (Mary in the movie) from slavery on a Virginia tobacco plantation. The escape of another slave who ended up marrying the daughter is a "compilation" of historical accounts of escaped slaves, and this never happened in connection with Minnie's escape.After watching the movie, I researched biographical accounts of the Mink family. Because the account from midway through the movie to the end is fabricated/fictional, I only gave it four stars. Yet, it is a good story, holding the viewer's interest until the film's end.The movie version has a "happy ending". But In real life (according to Wikipedia's biographical information on James Mink), "after Minnie returned to Toronto, it appears she had a son, [living] with her parents...and then an arsonist [set fire] to the Mink hotel and livery. They lost everything. Eventually, trains transported people and so George and James Mink's business fizzled away. James Mink died in 1866 and it appears he was living alone near today's Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto. He is buried in the Riverdale Cemetery in the area of Toronto known as Cabbagetown."

This movie was very inspiring and entertaining without being preachy. The great Louis Gossett plays the central role and is convincing as a free black, wealthy entrepreneur during slavery. I know that it sounds oxymoronic - free, black, wealthy, entrepreneur are seldom used in one sentence to describe any black person before the emancipation proclamation. This particular character lives in Canada. A family friendly movie. However, the viewers should be over 13 because of the nature of the film. (racism, betrayal, denigration of others based purely on color).Movie was well worth the money that I spent for it and I would recommend it highly!

This movie was on T.V. once, years ago and I have been looking for it since then. It is a true story and a very important piece of American History that needs to be told. Sadly, this is the first time that I have been able to find it, when it should be alongside Roots, and all the other important movies of this genre. It is a good teaching tool and it belongs in your video library no matter what race you are. The DVD itself is in execllent condition and was delivered on time. I'm glad I was able to find here, as even special libraries that I had asked had never even heard of this story.

haste makes waste in a hurry to get daughter married forgot about the consequences that can follow fake man that made money tried to make more money in slave for sale true friend made sure her letter reached her dad because he grew in love with her and tired of being a slave and beat it shows that there are good hearted White People and hateful White People who just don't give a damn except for how much MONEY is involved inSOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

The cast was excellent and the story mesmerizing. I was hooked to the very end. Black Canadian businessman played by Lou Gossett wants his mixed race daughter to marry and live happily ever after to a man with means. What he didn't know is that the man he married her off to was a miserable scum who sold her into slavery in the USA south. She finds a way to get word to her parents of what happened and they must get down there to rescue her and bring her back to Canada. Her former husband is in league with the slave catchers, tries to kill her father but fails and its a race against time to escape to safety in the North and eventually Canada. In the end they make it.

review for . Captive Heart: The James Mink Story [DVD] [1996] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] very good dvd the print and audio is outstanding . english audio . no subtitles

Based on a true story of James Mink the son of an American slave who escaped to Canada. In Canada James became an educated wealthy businessman living in Toronto married with a daughter.The story centres around His daughter who marries an American white man who goes back to the United States and then sells her into slavery. James and his wife travel there to rescue her.

A MUST for every Canadian and lover of history. It is based on actual fact and follows the true events with good accuracy. It should be in every high school in the Canadian history library. James Mink actually operated a coach service from Toronto through to Kingston in the Upper Canada days!

This movie is based on a true story. The screen writer has added to the storyline to make a more interesting story, as the historical accounts are sketchy. The resulting movie is very interesting, as the story of this one Canadian family is so different from the usual way negro slavery in the United States has been presented. As a Canadian, I found it engaging and encouraging how Canadians in the mid 1800's assisted northeastern U.S. states in rescuing slaves and bringing them safely to Canada.The acting was very good, drawing us into the emotional agony this family experienced with the kidnapping and enslavement of the beautiful, young daughter. This 92 min. movie explored the plight of the negro slaves in America very well, while contrasting their lives with the free negroes in Canada. I recommend this movie for its ability to remind us of how precious freedom is, and to cause us to consider the price that some have paid for that freedom. There is some violence and portrayal of sexual abuse.