Stan Lathan Movies

Having racked up excellent ratings for the 1987 TV movie Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion, the producers concocted yet another "retro" film, 1989's An Eight is Enough Wedding. Dick Van Patten returns as Tom Bradford, who anxiously prepares for the wedding of his oldest son David (Grant Goodeve). While most of the original cast shows up for the nuptials, Tom's wife Abby is played by Sandy Faison. She replaces Family Reunion's Mary Frann, who in turn had replaced the original Abby, Betty Buckley. Dick Van Patten's real-life wife and son Pat and Jimmy also show up in supporting roles. Like Family Reunion, An Eight is Enough Wedding was telecast opposite the World Series (on October 15, 1989, to be exact); and like the earlier film, Wedding won its timeslot in the ratings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

For years, the name "Uncle Tom" and the title Uncle Tom's Cabin have been synonymous with the most egregious form of racial condescension. John Gay's script for the 1987 film version of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin hoped to "set the record straight" and restored the reputation of the 1852 abolitionist novel--mostly by returning to the source. Eliminating such theatrical "improvements" as Eliza's crossing the ice, this adaptation of Cabin depicts Uncle Tom (Avery Brooks) as an intelligent, non-submissive slave (there is only the slightest hint of "revisionism"); likewise, Jenny Lewis is a fully three-dimensional Little Eva. Simon Legree is as hateful as ever, but as played by Edward Woodward, Legree is shown to be more a product of his times than a cardboard hissable villain. Gay is very careful in his depiction of precocious preteen slave girl Topsy (Endyia Kinney), who still is so sexually misinformed that she believes she "just growed," but is not quite the mental midget described in Mrs. Stowe's novel. Produced for the Showtime Cable service, Uncle Tom's Cabin premiered on June 13, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this poignant adaptation of James Baldwin's novel about a few generations in the life of an Afro-American family, a young boy's efforts to gain some approval from his Bible-thumping, disciplinarian father takes center stage, and the family's background is told in a series of flashbacks. The story begins in 1935 with young Southerner Gabriel Grimes (Paul Winfield) as he runs away from home and takes on the identity of a Baptist lay preacher. Childless by his timid first wife, Gabriel has an illegitimate son by Esther (Alfre Woodard), an irresistible temptress. Unfortunately, the son comes to no good, forcing an embittered Gabriel to move to Harlem and start over with another wife, and eventually, two more sons. But the man has by this time gone over the edge and is filled with a rage against the vicissitudes of his life (he cannot get ahead in the church and is forced to work as a day laborer just to keep food on the table). He takes out his anger on his family and is so single-mindedly fanatical about religion that he forces his sons to join regular home Bible study to the exclusion of all other activities -- especially those promoted by the white-dominated society outside of Harlem. When his timid but intelligent son John (James Bond III) wins a writing honor, Gabriel makes him give it back -- and in general, his fanaticism and anger turn life into intermittent misery for the talented and sensitive son who loves writing. John's desire to please his father is all the more touching when the impossibility of pleasing him is so obvious. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

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

Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Josh (Todd Bridges) steal money from the Godsey's store to cover their losses in a crap game. But when the authorities catch up with them, Jeffrey magnanimously allows Josh take all the blame. And in another development, an insulting remark from a soldier convinces Ben (Eric Scott) that it is high time that he enlist in the Armed Forces -- even though he is a new husband and an even newer father. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

From the Broadway Theatre Archive, this performance video of the play Trial of the Moke tells the real-life story of Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point military academy. In 1881, Flipper (Franklyn Seales) was involved in a conspiracy and framed for embezzlement by those who didn't want to see him succeed. In 1976, the play premired at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. This production also stars Alfre Woodard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Howard Rollins Jr. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Veteran black comedienne Jackie "Mobs" Mabley is featured in her first (and last) starring vehicle, Amazing Grace. Essentially playing herself, Mabley portrays a feisty ghetto dweller who champions the cause of ex-convict Moses Gunn. With the old lady's help, Gunn is elected mayor, then proceeds to clean up his corruption-ridden administration. Amazing Gracealso includes appearances by Slappy White, Butterfly McQueen and Stepin Fetchit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This concert documentary chronicles the many acts that appeared during Jesse Jackon's Operation PUSH exposition held in 1972 in Chicago. Featured concert performers include Marvin Gaye singing "What's Going On," The Temptations with "Papa Was a Rolling Stone, " and Bill Withers performing "Lean on Me." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide