Tamera Grindlesperger Movies
Sisters Gabrielle C. and Maria Burton direct the independent comedy Manna From Heaven, written by their mother, Gabrielle B. Burton, and produced by their siblings at Five Sisters Productions. In Buffalo, NY, during the '50s, the wind blows in cash money to the tune of 20 thousand dollars. Believing it was a tangible gift from God, Sister Teresa (Ursula Burton) tries to gather up the money and pay it back 30 years later. However, her family members don't want to give up their free money and can't even get along, including card dealer Inez (Wendie Malick) and con artists Bunny (Shirley Jones) and Ed Burns (Frank Gorshin, in his final film role). Also starring Seymour Cassel, Shelley Duvall, Cloris Leachman, Harry Groener, Faye Grant, Jill Eikenberry and Louise Fletcher. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Burton, Ursula Burton, (more)
- 1999
Jerri attempts to deal with her new braces while trying to determine if another student is retarded in this episode of Strangers With Candy, which borrows plot points from the series' unaired pilot, "Retardation: A Celebration." Mortified at the thought of getting braces, Jerri's fears are compounded by he Pleasure Club's upcoming field trip to Good Time Island and the fact that Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) and Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert) want her to spy on Pleasure Club secretary Kimberly Timbers and determine if she is retarded. Choosing Jerri for the job due to her new braces ("...retarded people like shiny things."), Mr. Noblot informs Jerri that the board of education requires proof of retardation by one's peers and if Jerri doesn't comply she will not be allowed to join the field trip. Following Mr. Jellineck's (Paul Dinello) lead to learn more about retarded people at the library, Jerri listens to the a cassette entitled "Retardation: A Celebration" (which offers the tip that, besides their love of cake and shiny things, retarded people are "just like you and me") in order to find out more. Learning that Principal Blackman plans to capture Kimberly and harness her incredible retarded strength, Blackman convinces Jerri's parents to step up the pressure lest they lost their positions as chaperones on the field trip. Despite her best efforts to change her snitching ways, Jerri gives in to her instincts as she boards the bus for Good Time Island and outs Kimberly as retarded. Taking Kimberly's seat on the bus, Jerri eagerly awaits getting laid on Good Time Island. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
