Mary Alice Movies
Born in Mississippi, Mary Alice is a prolific actress on stage and television who is underutilized in feature films. She got her start with the Negro Ensemble Company and worked off-Broadway for several years. Her theater credits include The Vagina Monologues, A Raisin in the Sun, and Richard III. She received a Tony for her work in Fences and she appeared on Broadway in 1995 in Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years.Alice may be more widely known for her guest appearances on television during the '70s and '80s on shows like Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Cosby Show, and A Different World. She was also featured on the star-studded TV movie The Women of Brewster Place, directed by Donna Deitch, and the HBO miniseries Laurel Avenue, directed by Carl Franklin. She eventually won an Emmy for her work on I'll Fly Away. On the big screen, her breakthrough role came in 1990 with Charles Burnett's psychological drama To Sleep With Anger. She played Gideon's wife, Suzie, who is initially suspicious of the sinister Harry, played by Danny Glover. In the late '90s, Alice found some roles in independent films like Maya Angelou's Down in the Delta and Chi Moui Lo's Catfish in Black Bean Sauce. Well into her sixties, she started to play many estranged mothers. She was Alfre Woodard's mother in The Wishing Tree, Harold Perrineau Jr.'s mother on the HBO series Oz, and Angela Bassett's mother in John Sayles' ensemble film Sunshine State. In 2003, Mary Alice joined up with the Wachowski brothers to take over for the late Gloria Foster (her Having Our Say co-star) as The Oracle in The Matrix Revolutions. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1981
This ABC Afterschool Special tackles the issue of racial harmony, which was still a "hot potato" on children's teleivision even as late as 1981. Chris Barnes is cast as David Bellinger, a white teenager who, like most of his schoolmates, is none too thrilled when a black student, Joel Garth (James Bond III), is admitted to his class. It takes some doing, but David finally extends a hand of friendship to Joel -- and as things turn out, it is the turning point of his life. Katharine Houghton, best known for her performance in the 1967 theatrical feature Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (which starred her aunt, Katharine Hepburn), is here cast as the boys' teacher. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Barnes, James Bond III, (more)
- 1979
This socially conscious drama is set during the Civil Rights Movement and chronicles the endeavors of a black minister to run for sheriff in a Southern county. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The civil rights movement in the South saw the election of the first black county sheriff as portrayed in this drama. ~ All Movie Guide
A trio of musically talented Harlem sisters rise to become major stars of the '50s. Unfortunately, their sudden popularity causes much turmoil in their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, (more)
- 1976
Originally telecast September 14, 1976, as a CBS "General Electric Theater" special, Just an Old Sweet Song was the first of three pilots for Down Home, a proposed TV series created by filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles. Robert Hooks and Cicely Tyson star as Nate and Priscilla Simmons, the patriarch and matriarch of a middle-class Detroit family. Upon learning that their grandmother (Beah Richards) is not long for this world, Nate and Priscilla pack up their kids and head down South. Eventually, the family rediscovers its African-American roots and elects to stay in their new rural surroundings. Robert Hooks' real-life sons (Kevin and Eric Hooks) appear as his screen sons, Junior and Highpockets. Just an Old Sweet Song was followed by two 60-minute sequels in 1978: Kinfolks (in which Madge Sinclair replaced Cicely Tyson as Priscilla Simmons) and Down Home. Alas, none of the three films yielded a weekly series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Florida (Esther Rolle) throws a surprise baby shower for her friend Loretta (Mary Alice). The festivities come to an abrupt and unpleasant halt when Loretta announces that she intends to put the baby up for adoption. Will Florida and the kids be able to dissuade the expectant mother from her unhappy resolve? Estelle Evans, the real-life sister of series star Esther Rolle, appears as Alice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Forced to play host to his unemployed white brother-in-law Rodney Victor (Allan Drake), Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) is fed up with Rodney's obnoxious practical jokes. Finally deciding that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, Fred suggests that he and Rodney work up a nightclub routine. The ultimate strategy is to get Rodney to work and out of the house, but things don't quite turn out that way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, (more)
- 1975
Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) is delighted that his sister Frances (Mary Alice) has finally gotten married. His delight quickly evaporates when he meets his new brother-in-law Rodney Victor (Allan Drake, in his first series appearance). It seems that dear old Rodney is an inveterate gambler and a practical joker -- and worst of all, he's white. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, (more)
An uprooted African-American family is forced to confront their traditional values and ponder the effect that the emerging civil rights movement will have on their lives after relocating from the deep-south to Chicago in the filmed version of Phillip Hayes Dean's insightful and acclaimed stage play. Mary Alice and Maidie Norman star, and Ivan Dixon directs for television. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Alice, Scatman Crothers, (more)
A surprisingly long and worthwhile film, The Education of Sonny Carson is based on a true story. Rony Clanton stars as Carson, a product of the Brooklyn ghetto. After several years of gang and drug activities, Sonny is sobered by his horrendous experiences in prison. He puts his priorities in order and finds a "born again" purpose in life under his new name, Iwina Lmiri Abubadika. The film ends in the 1970s, long before Abubadika's controversial involvement in New York politics. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
