Eugene Byrd Movies
Actor Eugene Byrd debuted as a teen star in the early '90s, with contributions to episodes of The Cosby Show and Law & Order, then spent the following decades alternating between occasionally intelligent, offbeat features (Dead Man [1995], 8 Mile [2002]) and more conventional programmers (Piñata: Survival Island [2002], Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid [2004]). Circa 2006, Byrd took on a supporting role in Alison Eastwood's psychological drama Rails and Ties (2007). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Made for television, Murder in Mississippi covers the same historical ground that was fictionalized in the theatrical film Mississippi Burning (89). The film recounts the murders by the Ku Klux Klan of three civil rights workers in 1964. Rather than detail the subsequent FBI investigation, the plotline follows the life of one of the white murder victims, Mickey Schwerner (Tom Hulce), who gave up a comfortable lifestyle in the North to struggle alongside African-American freedom fighters in the South. Jennifer Grey portrays Schwerner's wife, while Josh Charles and Blair Underwood portray the other two martyred activists, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney. Filmed in Georgia, Murder in Mississippi was produced by David L. Wolper of Roots fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hulce, Blair Underwood, (more)
- 1986
- R
This drama concerns a young teen's transformation as she works at a half-way house for troubled kids. Franny (Mary Stuart Masterson) leaves behind a pampered, rich kid's life of yachting parties and affluent pastimes to take up a summer job working under Mrs. Chopper (Anne Meara) at a temporary shelter for homeless teens. Even though the experienced Mrs. Chopper warns Franny about not getting too involved with her charges, Franny decides that if she can organize a talent show, the youngsters will see that they are really worth something. Needless to say, Mrs. Chopper was partly right, and partly wrong. Jennifer Lopez of 1997's Selena and 1998's Out of Sight makes a precocious film debut here as one of the young teens. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Stuart Masterson, James Earl Jones, (more)
