Pam Grier Movies
The reigning queen of the 1970s blaxploitation genre, Pam Grier was born May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, NC. An Air Force mechanic's daughter, she was raised on military bases in England and Germany. During her teen years the family settled in Denver, CO, where at the age of 18, Grier entered the Miss Colorado Universe pageant. Named first runner-up, she attracted the attention of Hollywood agent David Baumgarten, who signed her to a contract. After relocating to Los Angeles, Grier struggled to mount an acting career, and worked as a switchboard operator at the studios of Roger Corman's American International Pictures. Finally, with Corman's aid, she made her film debut in the 1970 Russ Meyer cult classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, followed by an appearance in Jack Hill's 1971 cheapie The Big Doll House.For several years, Grier languished virtually unnoticed in grindhouse fare like 1971's Women in Cages and 1973's Arena (aka Naked Warriors) before winning the title role in Hill's 1973 action outing Coffy. Playing a nurse seeking vengeance against the drug dealers responsible for her sister's descent into heroin addiction, Grier immediately rose to the forefront of the so-called "blaxploitation" genre, a group of action-adventure films aimed squarely at African-American audiences. Portraying the 1974 superheroine Foxy Brown, she became a major cult figure, as her character's fierce independence, no-nonsense attitude, and empowered spirit made her a role model for blacks and feminists alike. At the peak of her popularity, Grier even appeared on the covers of Ms. and New York magazines. Her films' often racy content also made her a sex symbol, and additionally she posed nude for the men's magazine Players.
Successive action roles as gumshoe Sheba Shayne in 1975's Sheba, Baby and as the titular reporter Friday Foster further elevated Grier's visibility, but fearing continued typecasting she shifted gears to star opposite Richard Pryor in the fact-based 1977 auto-racing drama Greased Lightning. She did not reappear onscreen for four years, resurfacing to acclaim in 1981 as a murderous prostitute in Fort Apache, the Bronx; however, no other major roles were forthcoming, and she spent much of the decade appearing on television and in straight-to-cable features. A major role in the 1988 Steven Seagal action hit Above the Law marked the beginning of a comeback, and after appearing in 1993's Posse, Grier starred with fellow blaxploitation vets Jim Brown, Richard Roundtree, and Fred "the Hammer" Williamson in 1996's Original Gangstas, a throwback to the films of the early '70s.
In 1997, the actress' career resurgence was complete with the title role in Jackie Brown, written in her honor by director and longtime fan Quentin Tarantino. Grier's tough, sexy portrayal of a jaded flight attendant earned praise from critics far and wide, as well as the promise of steady work. She could subsequently be seen in films ranging from the indie comedy Jawbreaker (1999), in which she had a supporting role as a detective, to Jane Campion's Holy Smoke (1999), which cast her as the girlfriend and assistant of deprogrammer Harvey Keitel, to Bones (2000), a horror film that saw Grier playing the girlfriend of a murdered man (Snoop Dogg) who comes back from the dead to wreak vengeance on his killers. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
The fifth season of the ms.-adventures of the "bisexual and sapphically inclined ladies and their friends," as Alice (Leisha Hailey) states, once again finds them engaged in all sorts of shenanigans. In the season's ongoing story line, Jenny (Mia Kirshner) finagles a chance to direct the movie of her book and hires an assistant (Malaya Rivera Drew) whose intentions are suspect. Jenny's friends express disappointment in the actresses portraying them in the film adaptation of her roman à clef, but she already has her hands full with the problematic star (Kate French). Shane (Katherine Moennig) is involved in copious sexcapades and continues to utilize her uncanny ability to seduce any woman in the lesbian universe. Only this time, her roving libido puts a crimp in her relationship with the beautiful Paige (Kristanna Loken). Elsewhere, Max (Daniela Sea) begins a relationship with the interpreter for Jodi (Marlee Matlin); workaholic Bette (Jennifer Beals) winds up in the arms of a former lover; and dating woes plague the extremely picky Tina (Laurel Holloman), but her luck appears to change when she spends an enchanted evening with a stunner she met online. The reason why Tasha (Rose Rollins) didn't go to Iraq is revealed as she gets slapped with a discharge for homosexual conduct and saddled with a homophobic military lawyer. Club owner Kit (Pam Grier) faces several business challenges, including new competition in Shebar, "L.A.'s first superhot girls only club." And it's not long before Kit and her posse find themselves in a catfight with the cutthroat lesbians (Elizabeth Keener, Alicia Leigh Willis) who own Shebar. ~ Ray Stackhouse, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Beals, Pam Grier, (more)
THE L WORD Season 4 picks up with the women wrestling with issues close to their hearts. As with previous seasons, old demons rear their ugly heads and a host of new characters are brought into their fold, offering them access to a broader community with diverse issues. The L Word stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Dallas Roberts, Daniela Sea, Rachel Shelley, and Pam Grier. Newest additions to the cast include Cybill Shepherd, Marlee Matlin, Janina Gavankar and Rose Rollins. Special guest stars are Rosanna Arquette, Eric Roberts, Bruce Davison, Kristanna Loken and Jane Lynch. This season, the war in Iraq becomes an integral part of Alice's (Hailey) life as she struggles to move on after the death of Dana; Helena (Shelley) tries to find financial independence and come to terms with leaving behind a world of privilege; Phyllis Kroll (Shepherd) -- who takes the courageous plunge late in life to come out of the closet -- risking everything that has defined her life up to now; and, Bette (Beals) has to deal with Jodi Lerner (Matlin), a woman who confronts her head-on about her Type-A personality.
- Starring:
- Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, (more)
The third season of the hit show, The L Word, follows a group of friends - both gay and straight - through stories of career, family, inner struggle, friendship and romantic relationships. Stars Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Sarah Shahi, Rachel Shelley and Pam Grier.
- Starring:
- Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, (more)
Season two of Showtime's lesbian-oriented seriocomedy series The L Word finds the formerly blissful relationship between control-freak Bette (Jennifer Beals) and supplicative Tina (Laurel Holloman) on hiatus due to Bette's infidelity, with Tina hiding the fact that she is once again pregnant. Having come out of the closet, Jenny (Mia Kirshner) splits with her husband, Tim (Eric Mabius). Wisecracking Alice (Leisha Hailey) and hyper-defensive Dana (Erin Daniels), who is engaged to her new manager, Tonya (Meredith McGeachie), try to hide their affair from their tongue-clucking friends. And the footloose Shane (Katherine Moennig) avoids getting serious with seductive deejay Carmen (Sarah Shahi), despite secretly harboring feelings for her. In other developments, Bette's straight half sister, Kit (Pam Grier), opens up her own nightclub, The Planet, and urges Bette to mend fences with their father, Melvin (Emmy nominee Ossie Davis), who is dying. Tina, who is disenchanted with Bette, nonetheless enters into a relationship with another domineering woman, Helena (Rachel Shelley), the daughter of influential philanthropist Peggy Peabody (Holland Taylor) and a professional rival of Bette. Jenny begins to date Carmen, thereby unintentionally cultivating Shane's jealousy. And a number of surprises are in store for certain of the characters as the 2005 Gay Pride Festival. The season ends with a funeral, Tina's painful labor throes, and various piquant moments of truth for Bette, Jenny, and Alice. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, (more)
The opening season of American television's first lesbian comedy drama series, The L Word, finds longtime partners Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman) deciding to start a family -- and since it is out of the question for the domineering Bette to be weighed down with the burden of pregnancy, it is up to "happy housewife" Tina to be artificially inseminated. Meanwhile, the couple's next-door neighbor, Tim (Eric Mabius), has invited his fiancée, Jenny (Mia Kirshner), an aspiring writer, to live with him. Fascinated by Bette and Tina's circle of gay friends, Jenny begins seriously questioning her own sexual orientation. Elsewhere, the eternally wisecracking Alice (Leisha Hailey) disappoints her friends by entering into yet another dead-end romance. Tennis pro Dana (Erin Daniels) continues to put off telling her parents that she's a lesbian. And promiscuous hairdresser Shane (Katherine Moennig) continues to leave a trail of broken hearts as she woos women everywhere and beds some of her more vulnerable female customers. By the end of the first season, Jenny has had her first lesbian affair with Marina (Karina Lombard), whereupon Tim kicks her out of the house -- and worse, Marina has not informed Jenny that she already has a lover. And, in the emotional aftermath of Tina's miscarriage, Bette succumbs to the temptation of cheating on her with another woman. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, (more)
British director Isaac Julien takes on the Blaxploitation era of the '70s in the hour-long documentary Baadasssss Cinema. With archive film clips and interviews, this brief look at a frequently overlooked historical period of filmmaking acts as an introduction rather than a complete record. Features interviews with some of the genre's biggest stars, like Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, and Richard Roundtree. Director Melvin Van Peebles discusses the historical importance of his landmark film Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song. For a contemporary perspective, the excitable Quentin Tarantino offers his spirited commentary and author/critic bell hooks provides some scholarly social analysis. The music of Blaxploitation movies is rightfully discussed, focusing on Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" and Isaac Hayes' "Shaft." Also features interviews with writer/director Larry Cohen and film historian Armond White. Baadasssss Cinema was originally shown on the Independent Film Channel in August of 2002 as part of a week-long Blaxploitation film festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
The scene is San Francisco, where a diabolically crafty serial killer is preying on newlywed couples, killing the groom before the bride and then removing both wedding rings. Assigned to track down this maniac is homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer (Tracy Pollan), who, despite the usual quota of false clues and red herrings, seems more than prepared for the biggest challenge of her career. But Lindsay is not prepared for facing her own mortality: She has been diagnosed with a blood disease that nearly always proves fatal and may not live long enough to bring the honeymoon killer to justice. Based on a novel by James Patterson (as indicated by the film's "official" title), First to Die debuted February 23, 2003, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Pollan, Gil Bellows, (more)
In the late '60s, American culture experienced a period of change as the youth movement challenged conventional attitudes about politics, sex, drugs, and gender issues, while the advancement of the Vietnam War found many citizens questioning the actions and wisdom of their government for the first time. As American attitudes continued to evolve, so did the American film industry; as costly big-budget blockbusters nearly brought the major studios to the brink of collapse, smaller and more personal films such as Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider, and Five Easy Pieces demonstrated there was a ready audience for bold and challenging entertainment. As the '60s faded into the 1970s, American cinema moved into an exciting period of creativity and stylistic innovation, which led to such landmark films as The Godfather, MASH, The Last Picture Show, Shampoo, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Chinatown, and Taxi Driver, and new freedom for directors and screenwriters. Ironically, however, it was another pair of big-budget blockbusters directed by students of the new wave of filmmaking -- Jaws and Star Wars -- which brought the studios back to power and put an end to Hollywood's flirtation with offbeat creativity. A Decade Under the Influence is a documentary which explores the rise and fall of new American filmmaking in the 1970s, and features interviews with many of the key directors, screenwriters, and actors whose work typified the movement, including Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader, Roger Corman, Dennis Hopper, Jon Voight, and Julie Christie. A Decade Under the Influence received its world premier at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, and an expanded version of the film was later shown on the premium cable outlet The Independent Film Channel; the documentary was the final work of co-director Ted Demme, who died shortly before the film was completed. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, (more)
- 2002
In the first episode of a two-part story, medieval sorceress Morgaine LeFey and her equally villainous son Mordred reappear in the present, just before Halloween. The two reprobates are searchinig for the Philosopher's Stone, which will enable them to restore England to its Arthurian glory, with themselves as supreme rulers. In their efforts to thwart Morgaine and Mordred, the Justice League teams with the demonic Etrigan -- actually Jason Blood, who is still paying a terrible price for his long-ago betrayal of Morgaine. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael T. Weiss, Olivia D'Abo, (more)
- 2002
In the conclusion of a two-part story, medieval villains Morgaine and Mordred summon an army of the "undead" to vanquish the Justice League and to help them get their hands on the Philosopher's Stone. The villains' ultimate goal is to restore England to its ancient splendor, with themselves as absolute ruler. With the assistance of the quasi-demonic Etrigan, the Leaguers are determined to stop Morgain and Mordred in their tracks -- but they may have to do without the assistance of J'onn J'onnz, who is poised to go over to the enemy side in exchange for a reunion with his long-lost Martian loved ones. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael T. Weiss, Olivia D'Abo, (more)
New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but that means some people have to stay awake all night to look after the folks whose days begin after the sun goes down; this made-for-premium-cable drama looks at a group of cabbies trying to get by while working the night shift. The Lady Luck Cab Company is a taxi service run by Box (Sarita Choudhury), who inherited the failing business from her late father and is struggling to keep it afloat against long economic odds as Lady Luck's drivers work long shifts in some of the Big Apple's less picturesque neighborhoods. Hershey (Danny Glover), one of Lady Luck's drivers, was once a professional boxer, but when his athletic career went south, so did his wife, and now he drives a hack while trying to romance George (Pam Grier), a good-looking waitress who likes Hershey, but is frustrated with his schedule, which rarely allows him a night off. This is bad news for Hershey, since Ralph (Paul Calderon), a regular at the diner where George works, has been making a play for her as well. Another driver, Salgado (Michelle Rodriguez), is a short-fused Latin American woman who is frequently the victim of sexual harassment from her customers, which makes her all the more difficult to be around. Jose (Bobby Cannavale) thinks he's hit the jackpot when he discovers a briefcase full of cash has been left in his cab, though he has reason to believe it's stolen. And Rasha (Sergej Trifunovic), a refugee from Bosnia, is still tormented by the violence that cost his family their lives, and has trouble concentrating on his driving, leading him into more than one auto accident. While the drivers deal with their individual dilemmas, all of them are suddenly wary of their customers, thanks to reports of a serial killer preying on New York's cab drivers. Produced for the Showtime premium cable network, 3 A.M. was screened at the Sundance Film Festival prior to its broadcast debut, where it earned an enthusiastic reception. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Glover, Pam Grier, (more)
Rodney Gibbons directs blaxploitation legend Pam Grier in the suspense film Wilder. Grier plays a cop named Della Wilder who loves to spend part of her day aggravating any abusing husbands or boyfriends who cross her path. She and her partner begin investigating the murder of a woman who was intimately involved with a physician named Sam Charney (Rutger Hauer). Although he appears to be the culprit, Charney starts to look more innocent as he and Wilder uncover a plot by a large drug company. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Rap star Master P directed and stars in this action drama. Maker (Master P), a hip-hop music mogul and crime boss, helps broker a deal between Noah (Gary Busey), a major dealer in illegal arms, and a consortium of extremist groups. However, Maker was cut out of the loop at the last minute and he's eager to get revenge -- and his piece of the action. He initially uses Davis (Jeff Fahey), an employee of a shipping company, to send his merchandise around the world, but when the company upgrades to computer-based tracking, he brings in Jason (Gary Davis), a digital-savvy workaholic trying to wipe out the memory of his first wife. Jason earns a big cut of Davis's profits, and is introduced to his world of fast times and loose women, including Laura (Jodi Bianca Wise), a sweet but streetwise hooker. Unknown to the others, FBI Agent Diane (Pam Grier) is watching Noah's deal in order to put him and his crew behind bars, but she doesn't realize that several of the players have hidden agendas. No Tomorrow also features a cameo by singer Jerry Vale. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Busey, Gary Daniels, (more)
- 1998
This TV comedy-drama series takes place at Linc's, a Washington, D.C., bar and grill where blacks gather to talk about issues they face in a society dominated by whites. Widower Russell A. "Linc" Lincoln (Steven Williams) runs the tavern, host to a diverse Capitol Hill gang of customers. In the one-hour pilot episode, children's rights activist Eleanor Braithwaite Winthrop (Pam Grier), who's married to a white man, and dynamic lobbyist Johnnie B. Goode (Georg Stanford Brown) discuss a bill she's trying to get through Congress, while Linc is startled by some revelations after his Army daughter Rosalee Lincoln (Tisha Campbell) comes home from Fort Bragg. Other regulars include sharp-tongued waitress CeCe Jennings (Golden Brooks); token white Harlan Hubbard IV (Joe Inscoe), who heads a pedophile senator's staff; Nigerian cabdriver Winston Iwelu (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje); and earthy Eartha (Daphne Maxwell-Reid), a prostitute privy to D.C. dirt when Washington elite unveil secrets in the bedroom. Filmed in Petersburg, Virginia, this series premiered August 1, 1998 on Showtime with a one-hour pilot kicking off the half-hour series. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pam Grier, Steven Williams, (more)
- 1997
A theme of racial harmony underlies this comedy-drama. The couple Joe (Ernie Hudson) and Annabelle Lee (Pam Grier) learn the baby they are adopting is not black but Chinese. As Julian Lee (Dante Basco), reaches teen-hood, his father dies and the adopted boy moves with his mom to Atlanta. Here he hopes to make friends with the local teens, who are somewhat perplexed by the Asian-American's hip-hop slang and high scores when he grabs the basketball. Julian intervenes when his younger brother Perry (Rashaan Nall) falls in with local gangsta Frog (Tone Loc) and his group. Meanwhile, in a parallel plot, similar problems surface for clueless foreign-exchange student May-Ling (Margaret Cho). She's baffled to find herself living with a black family, a situation leading to inventive cross-cultural comedy. The film's soundtrack combines hip-hop, funk, and Asian instrumentals. Shown at the 1997 Hamptons Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernie Hudson, Pam Grier, (more)
- 1994
Vivian (Daphne Maxwell Reid) sees red when Philip's former girlfriend Janice (played by action-movie icon Pam Grier) pays a visit. Janice also brings along her daughter Wendy (played by All of Us costar Elise Neal), who falls for Will (Will Smith). By episode's end, both Philip (James Avery) and Will are in the doghouse--Philip for inadvertently suggesting that Vivian was his "second choice", and Will for ending up in bed with the insatiable Janice! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
When a mother will not tell where her child is because she maintains that her ex-husband abused the girl, the mother is imprisoned in this true story. ~ All Movie Guide
Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey find the two obtuse pals battling The Grim Reaper, God, robots, great philosophical questions, and girls -- although not necessarily in that order. In this loose parody of the Terminator movies, directed by Peter Hewitt, the ultimate has happened -- at Bill and Ted University of the future, for many years now the people of the world have been "excellent to each other." But fed-up with Bill and Ted's peaceful world and even more fed up with heavy metal, the evil De Nomolos (Joss Ackland) decides to do something about it. De Nomolos creates a cyborg Bill and Ted, who travel back in time to kill the original Bill and Ted, win the Battle of the Bands and pave the way for the hellish reign of De Nomolos. In the past of 1990, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are immediately dispatched by the time-traveling cyborgs. And while the cyborgs Bill and Ted make time with the real Bill and Ted's girls (Sarah Trigger and Annette Azcuy) and prepare to take the real Bill and Ted's place in the Battle of the Bands, Bill and Ted are forced to deal with Hell ("Just like an Iron Maiden album cover"), the Grim Reaper (William Sadler), and God himself. When Bill and Ted are asked the secret of the universe, they get it right and as a reward a pair of Martians construct a set of "good" Bill and Ted robots to go head-to-head with the "bad" Bill and Ted robots at the Battle of the Bands. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, (more)
- 1987
Cliff (Bill Cosby) takes Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) and her little friends to a fancy restaurant that specializes in "gourmet burgers." Unfortunately, the kids find their expensive meal inedible, and it is up to a sympathetic waiter (Lee Weaver) to save the day. Elsewhere, Clair (Phylicia Rashad) is visited by her sister Sarah (Yvonne Erwin), who announces her plans to become a mother; and Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) has an ulterior motive when he agrees to give sister Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) some tennis lessons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Hurricane Mel bears down upon New York City just as four very pregnant defendants simultaneously go into labor in Harry's courtroom. In the course of events, one of the mothers-to-be (played by action-film diva Pam Grier) decides it's about time to marry her baby's father, while Dan (John Larroquette) is pressed into service as an emergency obstetrician! And just to make things even more difficult, Harry (Harry Anderson) must deal with the trailer-trash excesses of the Wheeler family (headed by future Star Trek: The Next Generation costar Brent Spiner). Florence Halop makes her last appearance as court matron Florence Kleiner in this, the final episode of Night Court's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In the first episode of a two-part story, New York City battens down in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Mel. Several people end up being trapped in Harry's courtroom, with no supplies or utilities. Among those huddled together are four very pregnant defendants--not to mention those inimitable indigents, the Wheeler family from West Virginia! Former blaxploitation-film diva Pam Grier plays one of the moms-to-be, while future Star Trek: The Next Generation costar Brent Spiner repeats his role as Bob Wheeler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Detectives Crockett (Don Johnson) and Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) follow crooks north to New York in this premiere episode of Miami Vice's second season. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Based on the true story that took place in Harlem during 1971, this made-for-TV crime drama centers on assistant district attorney Robert Tanenbaum's desperate search for a trio of cop killers. Tanenbaum (James Woods) is assisted by an equally determined detective (Yaphet Lau Kotto). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Woods, Yaphet Kotto, (more)
The phenomenal success of the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots all but demanded a sequel to writer Alex Haley's epic story of his African and African-American forebears. Debuting February 18, 1979, Roots: The Next Generations picked up where its predecessor left off, with Haley's slave ancestors winning their freedom in the aftermath of the Civil War. Even so, life for black Americans was wrought with hardship and oppression thanks to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the staunch refusal of the white power structure to pass anti-lynching laws, and the formation of the dreaded Jim Crow laws which legalized racial segregation in the South (and much of the North). Covering the period from 1882 to the mid-1970s, the miniseries first focuses on blacksmith Tom Harvey (Georg Stanford Brown), great-grandson of Kunta Kinte (the protagonist of the original Roots), and his family. Meanwhile, reacting to the marriage of his son to a black woman, anal-retentive Southern colonel Warner (Henry Fonda) begins setting the legal wheels in motion to deny blacks like Tom the right to vote and to hold "white" jobs. A few decades later, Tom's son-in-law encourages his fellow blacks to stand firm against the KKK's reign of terror. His labors on behalf of his race are rewarded when his daughter Bertha (Irene Cara) becomes the first descendant of Kunta Kinte to receive a college education. It is Bertha Palmer who weds the equally ambitious Simon Haley (Dorian Harewood), who goes on to serve in WWI and to organize farmers and sharecroppers during the Depression. Simon's son Alex (played at various ages by Kristoff St. John, Damon Evans, and finally James Earl Jones) is just as determined to succeed in a white man's world as his father, and to that end becomes a professional writer after his own service stint in the Coast Guard during WWII. At the height of his professional success (largely due to his having ghost-written the autobiography of Muslim activist Malcolm X), Alex Haley pays a visit to his boyhood hometown -- where, almost by accident, he receives the first clue to his heritage, a clue that will lead him on an odyssey of self-discovery, arriving full circle at Kunta Kinte's birthplace in Africa. Although the miniseries' "money scene" was Haley's nervous interview with American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell (Marlon Brando in a superb cameo turn), the climactic episode, in which Haley tearfully embraces the living African descendants of Kunta Kinte, is one of the most unforgettable moments in the history of network television. Running 12 episodes and 14 hours, Roots: The Next Generations concluded on February 25, 1979, playing to huge ratings all along the way and ultimately garnering several Emmy nominations (and one win). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Georg Stanford Brown, Olivia de Havilland, (more)
