White Mama (1980)

Name: White Mama
Genre: Drama, TV Movie
Released: 1980-03-05
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 8
Cast: Bette Davis, Ernest Harden Jr., Eileen Heckart, Virginia Capers, Anne Ramsey

White Mama (1980), directed by Jackie Cooper, starring Bette Davis and Ernest Harden Jr.

03/05/1980 BR Drama and TV Movie 1h 45m

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A proud widow. A frightened homeless kid. Nobody cared about them until they cared enough to fight for each other.

Synopsis

A poor, elderly white woman living in a tenement in a black ghetto is befriended by a neighborhood boy, and the two of them form a mutually beneficial relationship: he provides her companionship and protection, and she becomes the mother he never had.

William B. JurgensenCinematography
Jackie CooperDirector
Jerry DronskyEditing
Jean Moore EdwardsProducer

About the film

White Mama is a 1980 American made-for-television drama film directed by Jackie Cooper and starring Bette Davis in the title role. It was adapted from the novel of the same name by Robert C.S. Downs. It was broadcast as The CBS Wednesday Night Movie on March 5, 1980.

For her performance, Davis was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.

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For her performance, Davis was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.

Synopsis

Davis portrays Adele Malone, an impoverished white widow who takes in a black juvenile offender named B.T. for the support money it will bring. During the course of their stormy relationship, Adele teaches B.T. about responsibility, dignity and pride, and he teaches her street savvy, survival and grit. Together they find a mutual trust and respect that are dramatically tested when Adele is evicted from her apartment and forced to join the legions of homeless bag ladies. In the subsequent dramatic change of events, B.T. enters a brutal boxing match where he must fight an awesome opponent in order to help his caring friend to financially survive.

Cast

Bette Davis as Adele Malone

Ernest Harden Jr. as B.T. Williamson

Eileen Heckart as Three Bag Lady

Virginia Capers as Gorilla Sydney

Anne Ramsey as Heavy Charm

Lurene Tuttle as Mrs. McIntyre

Tony Burton as Black Fighter

Peg Shirley as Judge Alice Quentin

Ernie Hudson as Counselor

Dan Mason as Father Gannon

Vincent Schiavelli as Medic

References

External links

White Mama at IMDb

Text from White Mama on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mama

Trivia

It premiered on March 5, 1980, a Wednesday.
It runs 1h45 — a typical feature length.
This film's quiz has 12 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.

Production

StudiosTomorrow Entertainment
CountriesUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
StatusReleased

Cast

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Crew

William B. Jurgensen Cinematography
Jackie Cooper Director
Jerry Dronsky Editing
Jean Moore Edwards Producer
Robert C.S. Downs Writer

Questions about this film

What is White Mama about?

White Mama: A poor, elderly white woman living in a tenement in a black ghetto is befriended by a neighborhood boy, and the two of them form a mutually beneficial relationship: he provides her companionship and protection, and she becomes the mother he never had.

Who directed White Mama?

White Mama was directed by Jackie Cooper in 1980.

Who stars in White Mama?

The cast of White Mama includes Bette Davis, Ernest Harden Jr., Eileen Heckart, Virginia Capers and Anne Ramsey.

How long is White Mama?

White Mama runs for 105 minutes, or 1h45.