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 A Nurse's Perspective on "Miss Evers' Boys", January 11, 2003
By Dianna Lipp Rivers (Beaumont, TX USA)
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From my perspective as a professor of nursing, I would say the movie depicted well ethical issues of the most serious type. In this fact-based story, nurse Eunice Evers (Alfre Woodard) was drawn into the Tuskegee syphilis research study by promises that treatment would be coming, hopefully in six months to a year. Her responsibilities included recruiting African American subjects. They were screened for being syphilis positive and then brought into the research study without full disclosure that no actual effective treatment was being provided. Even when penicillin became available, "Miss Evers' Boys" would not be given the life-saving medicine. Only one of the "Evers'Boys", Caleb Humphries (who was expertly played by Laurence Fishburne) escaped the ravages of progressive syphilis by receiving penicillin immediately upon joining the military during World War II. Miss Evers' was portrayed sympathetically, even as she used all of her cultural skills to do the wrong thing -- recruit and retain subjects in this unethical study spanning 40 years. The HBO movie is excellent for students, nurses, medical researchers, doctors, and the general public interested in ethical issues in medicine.
47 of 47 people found the above review helpful.
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 A Powerful Story, Well-Told!, June 1, 2002
By Gregor von Kallahann
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It's no secret that Hollywood has backed off of traditional socially conscious dramas. Oh, sure, issues of race and class are often touched on in cinematic releases, but in recent years, it has been pretty much up to cable channels such as HBO and TNT to produce meaty fact-based dramas with socio-political heft. We can only be thankful that someone has picked up the slack and that such work is still being done. "Miss Evers Boys," a dramatization of what has become the now-scandalous Tuskegee Negro Syphilitic Study, is a case in point. It is as powerful an indictment of racism as you are likely to see. It is also a nuanced and complex a statement on same. It is hard to see how any viewer could remain unmoved by this film. Much of "Miss Evers'" impact stems from Alfre Woodard's astonishing performance as the title character. Had this actually been a theatrical release, she would likely have walked off with an Academy Award. She had to settle for an Emmy, which was certainly well-deserved. I have seen Alfre Woodard in roles in which she did not appear comfortable, but she inhabits the role of Nurse Eunice Evers totally (or perhaps, Eunice Evers inhabits her). Her performance alone would be enough to recommend the film. But it does indeed have much more to offer--including a great supporting cast (including producer-leading man, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Morton and Craig Sheffer), an intelligent and complex script, and capable direction. Thanks be unto the heavens that someone is still producing powerful, fact-based social drama. We need them now more than ever.
34 of 35 people found the above review helpful.
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An American Tragedy, January 27, 2006
By jal3 (San Antonio, TX)
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This is a made for cable drama based upon true events. As such, historicity takes a back seat to drama. That being said, there is no real reason to complain about this film. It depicts a despicable human experiment that took place near Tuskeegee, Alabama, beginning in 1932 and continuing for several decades. In a government study, black men with syphilis were offered treatment and records were kept on their progress. They got better. Suddenly, the funding for the program was cut. Some time later, a new program was begun. In this one, the black syphilitic men were studied and treated but the treatments were placebos. They served as a control group. Originally, the promise was that, upon completion of the program, the patients would be given the real treatments. In actuality, so much data was derived from these men that the program continued and continued for years with no real treatment. Eventually, the men began to die off and their minds an bodies succumbed to the devastation of the disease.
One might well wonder why men would agree to take part in a study like this. The key was, they were never told that they were not being treated. They thought they were getting good health care but the system considered them expendable.
One might well wonder why caring medical practitioners would agree to be involved with this study. They did not think they had any real choice. If the study was not done, the men would get no care at all. At least with the study, other health care treatments were given.
This story is told from the point of view of a black nurse who was a part of the study from the beginning. It deals with her interactions with the patients and with her personal battles with her conscience. It is well done which just makes the film all the more distressing.
15 of 17 people found the above review helpful.
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Every race responds to disease in the same manner, March 16, 2008
By R. Kyle (USA)
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Unfortunately, the "Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphillis in the Negro Male", which began in 1932 in Alabama, is strong proof that clinical studies were not created equal. In this experiment, poor African American males were not treated for syphillis and not told of their true condition.
When penicillin became available as a treatment, the subjects were not afforded the option of getting the shots. (NOTE: Depending on the stage of syphillis, penicillin may not be a safe treatment option)
As a result of unethical treatment on the part of the experimenters in this study, the US National Health Investigation Board was developed in 1979. This board promulgated Institutional Review Boards and ethical guidelines for the conduct of clinical research studies. None of the clinical staff of this study faced any criminal charges.
"Miss Evers Boys" is a made for television dramatization of the Tuskegee Study from the point of view of Nurse Eunice Evers (Woodard).
The film details the RN's enthusiastic enlistment into the study because she believed The New Deal was for everyone and was going to help African Americans.
According to the film, the original study offered treatment for syphillis patients--who were told they had 'bad blood' because the doctors believed most of the men would not understand the physiology of their disease.
Later, when treatment funds dried up, researchers were encouraged by the National Health Service to continue the study to determine the effects of the disease. At the time, they believed that monies for treatment would be available within six months to a year, tops. The experimenters were depicted as sympathetic and trapped in an unfortunate situation. The Congressional Hearing panel who conducted the expository hearings on this study apparently felt similarly because no researchers were charged with cruelty regarding this study.
The film is an excellent study in medical ethics. It's impossible to watch this movie without tears in your eyes and anger in your heart. I believe "Miss Evers Boys" would be a good education for students of Black History as well as medicine, nursing, and ethics.
11 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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Powerful Case Study in Medical Ethics & A Good Story, November 23, 1998
By Glenn-Graber@utk.edu (Knoxville, Tennessee)
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I cannot attest to the historical accuracy of the story told in this film, but I would say that it offers a richer, less cartoonish account of this experiment than one usually encounters. You are beside the physician and nurse who run this experiment as they sort out the reasons for and against cooperation with what is clearly a problematic experiment. The result is an account that requires a more thorough ethical analysis than most students engage in when they condemn this experiment outright. I found it engrossing as a story and extremely effective as a case study in medical ethics.
8 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Miss Evers was not a victim of the white establishment, July 26, 2007
By Second Rate Eric Hoffer Imitator (Houston, TX USA)
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"Miss Evers Boys" is very difficult to watch. At times, you may have to stop the movie to regain your composure. One scene in particular shows a victim screaming in awful pain. This HBO made for TV story is too sympathetic towards Miss Eunice Evers. As matter of fact, it goes so far as to hint that she was a victim of the white establishment. Nothing could be further from the truth. The woman was truly a vile human being. She freely chose to betray her friends and neighbors infected with syphilis. Her constantly reiterated rationalization that "the doctors know best" is laughable to say the least. At the end, we learn there were never any indictments handed down regarding these Nazi like experiments. Why weren't Miss Evers and Dr. Broadus arrested? Was it because it might damage the politically correct narrative describing them as victims?
7 of 10 people found the above review helpful.
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Miss Evers' Boys, January 6, 2010
By TREND700 (USA)
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Faced with having their federal funding cut off entirely, the staff of a syphilis treatment center in Tuskegee, Alabama is forced to institute a government-mandated research project in which they study--without the patients' knowledge--the effects of the disease on untreated black patients. Based on the true story of the decades-long Tuskegee experiment. I must say that this was one of the best TV movies I've ever seen. Not only were there quality actors (Alfre Woodard, Laurence Fishburn, Joe Morton), but the people involved succeeded in making this an honest drama. One of the most well written movies ever and I encourage people to see it.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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A Shameful History, July 5, 2006
By Mara (Bronx, NY)
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This movie is a great teaching tool for anyone. The events that occur and how they were enacted were an amazing, sad and shameful thing to wacht. It was use to teach me about laws that govern the medical field and why they are in place. My daughter use it to show the abuse that can occur when people are ignorant about STD's or any disease.
This film is a great addition to any lover of history and movies
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Very Powerful, June 25, 2000
By mistermaxxx (usa)
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Films Like this Point out Race&The Hatred of this Society from 40+ years back.THe Story hasn't ended.this is very Powerful No Treatment because of the Color of Ones Skin.ALfred Woodard does a Fantastic Job here as does Lawrence Fishburne.Very Essential Film.
4 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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black guinea pigs, May 6, 2007
By truth be- known (worcester,ma usa)
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i think all people of african descent should see this movie. this movie gives the true yet tragic story of how the u.s. government treats its african-american citizens. how dare the government feel that it has the right to use live human-beings in a experiment to study the effects of a disease. the very thought of giving a deadly disease to an innocent,unsuspecting group of people. this movie lets you know just how far the government of the u.s. will go to get what it wants.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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HBO comes through, December 30, 2002
By Kenneth T. Rivers (Beaumont, TX United States)
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This is one of the better HBO productions to make it to video. Drama, ethics, and history all combine into an excellent movie with tremendous acting. This is a story that should not be forgotten.
3 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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An Imprint in History, March 6, 2001
By A Customer
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I was very upset when I say what the Goverment did to Our people in this movie! Just to show that Blacks and Whites react the same to Syphills! Damn! I was not taught this in school High School! This is a a piece of history that should be taught!
3 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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Shocking, December 14, 2008
By Nurse (USA)
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I had to buy this movie to watch it for school. I was shocked by the real-life story that this movie depicts. It's a great movie to watch, especially for those in healthcare to see how research trials with human subjects were conducted.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Miss Evers' Boys review, January 10, 2007
By David A. Deppeler (Madison, Wisconsin)
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The movie was an assignment for school. I still found it very interesting and well done. It's a great example of the importance of laws governing the use of human subjects in research. Good information on an ugly piece of US history. Hopefully the lessons reach further than dealings in our own country.
2 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Blaming the Victim, March 22, 2006
By 1SophisticatedLady (Orlando, Florida)
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Overall, this is a film worth watching, but to be honest I am extremely irritated in the fact that they bind a black woman up in all the evil, prejudice, racist, and other wrong doings of the U.S. government. Although, it is Miss Evers who calls the groups of men "her boys," its more self-inflicted labeling and a defense mechanism to fight off the nonsense the men encountered at the hands of the government. The subject is touchy and very heartbreaking yet, its still worth buying because it sheds a certain amount of truth to the history of brutality experienced by African-American men and women.
1 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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 Very disappointed, July 26, 2011
By Candice
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I purchased this movie for a project for my Research Methods course at the University I am attending. Upon trying to view the movie not a single dvd player in my house would play the dvd. I even tried to play it on my laptop and my laptop wouldn't eject the movie for a couple of hours. It wasn't a lot of money so I have just left this alone but I got an email asking me to review the purchase so just thought I'd get the information out there so others are not disappointed as well.
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Experimento Tuskegee, July 2, 2011
By Alejandro
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La película es algo larga para mi gusto. Pero es un lindo film sobre el experimento Tuskegee que no ha sido muy difundido.
Yo la recomiendo.
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Gift, May 26, 2011
By SweetBabyCarrot
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A friend of mine needed this for nursing. She needed it asap. Thanks for the prompt service :) Very pleased
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Miss Evers' Boys great for RNs, March 26, 2011
By Con404
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I needed to get this for my class that I am taking. It is quite a good movie, especially for RN's and ethics! Amazon is always great with their shipping also!
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Amazing!, February 24, 2011
By Erik Mendoza
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I am taking a theatre class and I just finished reading this play literally two hours befor I post this. The way I have read many reviews it seems spot on with the actual script. First of all "Miss Ever's Boys" is a truly remarkable piece. It demonstrates how cruel some people can be to let others of a different ethnicity suffer from syphillus and allow it to go untreated after a cure has been found. The story starts with Miss Evers' boys growing fond of her from the start, and soon put their complete trust in their hands; that eventually turns into their lives. I was a bit skeptical about reading the script, but I was hooked and could not put it down until I finished it. I will watch the movie afterwards as I found it on youtube broken up into segments.
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Ms Evers' Boys, February 14, 2011
By dAzZlEdByEdWaRd
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I was required to watch this movie for a Developmental Psychology Class; however, I liked the movie so much I ordered it. My husband also enjoyed it.
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A truly wonderful historic film!!!, October 13, 2010
By Matt Tawesson (Macomb, IL, USA)
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This movie is such a joy to watch. When I first saw this movie a few years ago, I loved it and it became an instant favorite of mine. Based on the true story of the infamous "Tuskegee Study", it is quite a shocker. Nurse Eunice Evers (played beautifully by Alfre Woodard) is invited to work with two doctors on a program that was federally funded to treat patients afflicted with the syphilis disease in Macon County, Alabama. The patients--who were men--were being given free treatment. But within a while, the program ended and was withdrawn by the government. When this happened, money was offered for what became known as "The Tuskegee Experiment", which was a study of the effects of the syphilis disease on patients who didn't get treatment. Immediately after, the men were being told that they were being cared for, when they were declined the proper medicine that would have fully cured them. Miss Evers was then faced with such a scary issue: she would have to abandon the study and inform her patients of the news or to stay quiet and offer nothing but comfort. The movie is mostly shown in flashbacks, starting in 1932 when the program started, up to the "present" in 1973. Laurence Fishburne (who also was executive producer of this movie) plays Caleb Humphries, who had known Eunice since childhood. This is a must see movie for anyone, whether they are going into the medical profession or not. Alfre Woodard won an Emmy for her performance, and truly deserved it (if this movie had been made for the big screen, she obviously would've won an Oscar).
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Beautifully told, September 9, 2010
By Michele Greene (Jacksonville,FL)
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I love this movie in every way. It showed the heartbreak tale what the african american men had to go through. And did they really have bad blood? I don't believe so. The sad part is when Ben died. A truly moving movie. One of the best. Watch it. Y'all be glad you did.
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informative, September 24, 2008
By becka bear (Northridge, CA USA)
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it's a great movie that allows you to see how the tuskegee study actually came about and how it took many years later for something to be done. its sad but informative. i loved it.
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Miss Evers Boys, April 9, 2008
By Evane (California, USA)
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I enjoyed it tremendously. (You'll have to watch out that it doesn't depress you). However, I found it to be noteworthy as it was historical and shed a bit of light on a situation that maybe some did not know ever existed. I would have liked it if the story would have dealt more with the government's ivolvement with the Tuskegee Project in preventing medicine to be given to the black men that were unknowingly used for this experiment. This story focused more on Miss Ever's commitment to the men, instead of the government's decision that these human beings were expendable. Excellent acting by Alfred Woodard & Laurence Fisburne.
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Follows Historical Details, March 30, 2008
By Nightshifter (Bookworm)
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I had to be involved in a debate for school about the Tuskegee Incident. This video seems to follow history fairly accurately, unlike some of Hollywood's other 'based on real life' stories.
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 Interesting Movie, May 5, 2009
By S. Ewing (USA)
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A very interesting movie. It is thought provoking and is well made. Not my usual type of movie, but I enjoyed watching it a few times.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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great!, May 8, 2008
By Quran S. Sabir
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I was impressed and pleased with the speed of delivery and the quality of the product.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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SAD TRUTH, May 9, 2007
By MANAQUIJONDY
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IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TRUTH AND CAN STAND IT WHEN YOU SEE AND HEAR IT, HERE IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO WATCH. MASTERFULLY DONE....
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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boys who became men's, April 12, 2007
By love book jones (theodore,al.usa)
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all young adult men and women need to watch this movie. it was a Great Movie.about things that happen in life.that is not your fault.
0 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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miss ever's boys, May 12, 2010
By Latisa Taylor
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i have not got a change to watch the movie yet, but when i do i will let u know.
0 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Very Good, January 9, 2007
By Margaret Bednarczyk Stewart
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This movie arrived in good time and it is in excellent condition. I highly recommend this seller. Thanks!
0 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Miss Ever's Boys, January 29, 2012
By Smcgrat
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This an excellent, I bought it as a gift for a friend whom had heard of this movie and was very interest in this project. How the research effect many people that where used and not treated properly, misled could have been simply cure with penicillin instead they used as human lab rats. this film is a must see it is informative and very touching, As Miss Ever's did care very much for her Boys.
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Great movie but I couldn't stomach the doctors, January 28, 2012
By Message from Montie (Chicago)
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I read an article once that said something about how a good book can fail if you don't like the main characters. If not for Caleb (played by Laurence Fishburne), I'd have never finished this film. Alfre Woodard did a great job playing the role of nurse Eunice Evers, but I thought Evers' decisions were the most illogical, insulting, goofy I'd ever seen in a film, in addition to the government's decision and her arguments in court sounded about as smart as the "you hit me last" rationale.
For those who don't know the history of the Tuskegee Experiment, this movie will be educational. For those who do, it'll be interesting to see it play out. I knew about the experiment, but I did not know how deep the doctors were in trying to prove that black people and white people were so similar when it comes to medicine and science. (That's a helluva "sacrifice" to prove it, too.)
I don't ever want to watch this movie again because I was so frustrated with Woodard's character. I seldom watch a movie and get mad for real, but I almost turned this movie off three times because I was so angry at the way it was playing out. However, again, Fishburne kept me tuned in. My favorite line of his was "I hope what you gettin' is better than what you givin' up." The scene against the tree was my favorite. I think he deserves every single award that Hollywood has created. In every movie he's been in, he embodies the characters. From "Higher Learning" to "Always Outnumbered" to "School Daze" to "The Matrix" to this movie, he is an excellent actor. Watching him glance at another actor or speak a few words would trick the mind into believing he really IS the character he's playing.
Although the story was hard to watch, looking at his acting was a delight for the eyes. He is one of my top three favorite actors.
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Good., December 21, 2011
By F. Roger Snape
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I particularly enjoyed the dance scenes and the doctors were very credible. The period covered was lengthy and just occasionally the time lines were a little blurred.
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high school class, November 28, 2011
By jstrickland
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I have used the movie Miss Evers'Boys in my class for several years.
I teach high school Healthcare Science. It is an excellent example to
use in the Legal and Ethical Issues unit.
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Excellent Movie!, October 30, 2011
By Starving Student
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I used this movie as a teaching tool for research ethics. It hits on all the major issue of class and race, but does it in a way that makes the movie engaging and entertaining while not loosing the message. i highly recommend this movie.
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