Reviews (1)

One of the Best Made-for-TV Mini-Series
This is one of the best made for tv mini-series. The movie is based on the dominick dunne novel of the same name. The story is also based on a true story, the story of alfred bloomingdale and his mistress of 12 years, vicki morgan.
both jason robards and rebecca de mornay do outstanding jobs, but jill eikenberry is not to be forgotten either as the wealthy unforgiving socialite wife.
i highly recommend this movie, its one of my favorites. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Please put this film on DVD!
I have owned two copies of "One Against the Wind"--because I wore out the first one! You can get the story from other reviews. I show this movie to college freshman in a writing class where we talk about being your highest and best self and making moral choices (among other things). It's entertaining, riveting, and a great springboard for discussion. I don't want to have to buy another VHS--Hallmark, please, transfer this movie to DVD as you have with "The Love Letter" and "What the Deaf Man Heard."

One of my favorite "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movies!
Judy Davis and Sam Neill headline this Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. The story is set France during the early days of Nazi occupation. Davis plays an outspoken, brash, high-profile, American-born French countess (by marriage). She and her two children, a son and a daughter, plunge into peril when Davis compulsively decides to help Neill, a British flier shot down over France. Their first interaction is classic -- Davis packs quite a wallop!

Davis goes on to become a player in helping downed allied fliers escape from occupied territory.

In the meantime, a Nazi officer is bound and determined to make an example of Davis...and thus the story develops and continues through the end of the war.

This is a "must-watch" movie. There is action, intruige, and incredible courage in the face of danger.

5 stars all the way! Whatever you do, don't miss this movie!

Alan Holyoak

Judy and Sam together again...
Judy Davis and Sam Neill have appeared together in a number of films. They work so well together you think they must be like Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy--married in real life--but alas they are not. I first saw them in a film made 'down under' (I think they are both Australian) "My Brilliant Career." Sam was chasing Judy, and as usual she was spurning him.

In this wonderful Hallmark Hall of Fame production, Judy Davis plays the Comtesse Mary Lindell, two-time winner of the 'Croix de Guerre' and Sam Neille plays a British pilot shot down over France in the early days of WWII who goes on to become a Brigadier General. The Comtesse Mary Lindell inadvertantly saves Neill--the downed pilot--and thereby hangs a tale.

The Comtesse Lindell is a heroine girls can look up to. As a French citizen and a Comtesse, she was relatively unmolested by the Germans when they invaded France and would not have appeared to have had a stong motive to do the things she did and risk her life and the lives of her children. Lindell's daughter actually became involved with a German officer. However, Lindell had been a Red Cross nurse in WWI, for which she was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her assistance to both French and German soldiers alike, and she was a compassionate and caring person.

In WWII, Lindell developed a stake in the salvation of British, American, Canadian and other Allied pilots, because she accidently saved the life of a single British pilot. He spread the word, and before she knew it, she was inundated with downed pilots seeking her assistance. She could not stand by and watch the Nazis shoot them in the street, in the churches, anywhere they found them. When she was captuered and imprisoned for assisting the enemy, her son stood in for her. Eventually, she was released and resumed her underground career. Her son and her daughter, her friends and a host of other partisans helped her form the "Marie" underground network which smuggled countless Allied airmen out of harm's way through the southern border of France. For her heroism, Lindell was awarded another 'Croix de Guerre' at the end of the war.

This is a fine video, well constructed, and a joy to watch. I think you'll watch it more than once.

A Hallmark Gem
In the days of occupied France during World War II, an English born French woman finds herself in the position of helping downed flyers escape German occupied territory. This is the story of a stubborn, driven woman, the countess de Melville, Mary Lindell, as played by Judy Davis, and her part in the French Resistance. The movie captures well the flavor of occupied France, and moves between action there, and London, where the first man she helps escape back to freedom, played by Sam Neil, works to coordinate her efforts with British intelligence. Her son, who was present on the set when it was being filmed, and whose life is also featured in the film, said that Davis perfectly captured the character of his mother. This Hallmark production is all dialogue and interaction, a classic war film. It is a crown jewel in any video collection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Michael J. Fox movie
This is a good family comedy with Michael J. Fox. Dont confuse it with the other Poison Ivy movie with Drew Barrymore. The Michael J. Fox comedy Poison Ivy came out in 1985. It centers around a kids camp counselor (Fox) who gets a secret crush with another counselor (played by Nancy McKeon from the TV show Facts of Life). This movie is currently only available used but is worth getting if you are a Micharl J. Fox fan. ... Read more

Description

Bio-pic on Shawnee tribe leader Tecumesh, and his attempts to unite all Native American tribes. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Tecumseh: The Last Warrior
As an educator, I strongly recommed the film Tecumseh: The Last Warrior because it is one of its kind in bringing into action the cultural beliefs and way of life of Native American groups such as the Shawnee, who were affected by the clash of cultures and seizure of their ancestoral lands by whites. I use the film as a reward for the students who have studied federal policies toward the Native Americans including those of our past presidents and view points of Native Americans such as Tecumseh, who fought hard to drive the whites out of their lands in the Ohio, Illinois, and other present day states that were organized under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Organized under Tecumseh, native groups resisted to further white expansion and fought hard to preserve their way of life. This film is accurate in depicting Native American stuggles and sufferings and I truly recommend it.

Won't want to miss this one!
You won't forget this one, this movie is great! A great warrior leader who was born under a shooting star lives his life to what his dad had always said he would. Tecumseh vowes to never give up his land. WIth the help of other worriors he fights the americans for the land that was theirs to begin with. He fights for the land of his people, he lives for and to serve his people. This is a moving story about a shawnee warrior who never gave into the americans and fought til death for what he beieved was right. I give it 5 stars, no doubt about it! Go check it out! you won't be disappointed.

Tecumseh, the first attempt
While i thought it was good that the life of Tecumseh was
finally the subject of a movie, i was disappointed at the narrowness of its scope.Very little of the Native traditions about Tecumseh were included,which means that dreams and visions
that guided him were not a part of the plot.Also,the characterization of Tecumseh was stereotypically stoic so as to make him seem one-dimensional and historical rather than real
and contemporary.Tecumseh deserves a better effort.

Indian Wars of the Old Northwest
I was excited when I saw this TV adaptation of James Alexander Thom's historical novel "Panther in the Sky". I have had an avid interest in American frontier history and the indian wars of the Old Northwest. The story of Tecumseh and his indian confederacy is one of great triumph and tragedy for the last of the tribes east of the Missisiippi river in the early 19th century. It is amazing to me how much we are NOT taught about the very bloody conflicts between the native tribes and white settlers that took place in the areas that make up modern-day Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Tecumseh was considered by many, indian and white alike, to be the greatest native resistance leader of all time. While I was pleased with many aspects of this movie, I was disappointed in several historical errors. I understand that when adapting history to film it is neccessary to fudge some things for dramatic intensity, but it can be annoying nonetheless. Overall, I enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good movie about a great leader.

A must see movie!
I recommend this movie to everyone. It really focuses on every little detail of Tecumseh's life. It takes you back into time and allows you to see how the Shawnee people lived and what they went through with the whites, first hand. It tells the story of the legend we know as Tecumseh perfectly. It is a must see for everyone! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

cross at the traffic lights
This TVM directed by Larry Elikann isn't as exploitative as the title suggests. Based on the presumably true life story of Beverley Slater, it has a teleplay by Audrey Davis Lenin based on the book by Slater and Frances Spatz Leighton. Slater played by Lindsay Wagner here suffers brain damage with "permanent personality change" after being in a car accident, with Wagner's change being presented by a butch haircut and colorful wardrobe. The resulting amnesia effectively wipes the 15 year history of her marriage to Armand Assante and their 2 children. The treatment includes some positive aspects to the change by mentioning faults of Wagner's past life, and also Assante's resentment of Wagner's loss of memory as his problem. It's actually an interesting study of what it takes to prolong a long term relationship, to keep the other partner interested and not take them for granted. Lenin can be fogiven for the occasional cliche like "They marched into hell and back", there is a Hallmark touch when Wagner has to choose between two gorgeous men who both want her, though her being able to drive comes across as odd when otherwise she needs process cards to complete tasks. Elikann uses a beautiful music score by Laurence Rosenthal to add poetry, psychological depth and emotion to proceedings, as well as a clip from William Wellman's 1937 A Star is Born. In spite of his standard pigeon-macho acting, Assante is a model of patience and consideration, his yelling contextualised,and plenty of his beef on display. The scene where he strips for Wagner has a camp quality as we wait for her approval. Occasionally we are aware of how Wagner is lit - it seems she has a Dietrich key-light - but Elikann doesn't ask too much of her. Although she doesn't have the skill to flood her role with feeling or technique, her likeability helps her play someone in a reflective state. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

heartwarming movie!
This is a must-view every Christmas! Jessica Tandy is superb as usual and reminds us of what is truly important in life.

This movie is true classic.
Jessica Tandy does a beautiful job portraying Grace, a kind old lady that finds happiness by sharing her gift of story telling.

This is a perfect film for the entire family.

A wonderful movie!
This movie is an artful combination of humor, moral instruction, and a reminder of what is really important in life. It is beautifully written and the acting is fantastic.

NOT ANOTHER FAIRY TALE
Grace McQueen is a senior citizen looking for an opportunity to be of service. She's turned down by agency after agency until she decides to do what she loves;story telling. She manages to get a spot on a public tv station and becomes a hit. Then the fun begins. She is "discovered" by some ad executives who see a gold mine in exploiting her talents.

A whirlwind of network ratings, make overs and new name (Granny Goodheart) overwhelms Grace. How she navigates through this mess is a delightful commentary about how we treat our elders, our own children and ourselves in a doggy eat dog world of our own making.

Jessica Tandy is wonderful as Grace, the grandmotherly figure unwilling to let the studio bosses remake her image. Stephanie Zimbalist stars as the ad executive who is so caught up in her work to the point of neglecting what matters most, her daughter. In this film we re-aquaint ourselves with the taste of what it means to be a family and affirmed in one's old age.

Now sit back and enjoy the Story Lady as she reads you a tale where "they live happily ever after. The End."

Another good film with nothing missing from it.
All the characters and story this film needs. This film is pretty much what I thought it would be, a film about a sweet old lady who tells a lot of fairy tales. There wasn't a story she told that I hadn't already heard. It also shows the importance of parents spending time their kids like in "Casper: A Spirited Beginning" and "Jack Frost" and "A Goofy Movie". The dollhouse that Alex gets is a lot like the one I also got for Christmas. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Unforgettable and Humbling
In his first out of drag role, Rupaul is fabulous. He immediately captures the audience with his sincerity and wit. This is a must see for all families dealing with AIDS and for anyone else who wants to see the world in a different light.

I like this movie because it is very sad.
I liked the whole thing. So I really can't say which parts I like best ... Read more

Description

When an ex-con finds his lover is hooked up with a lawyer, he?ll do anything to win her back. But when ' 'the Junkman' ' kidnaps her, suddenly the two men find themselves united in a desperate fight to save her life - a fight that takes place on the dark side of the law. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

the adrenalin rush of an amateur
Director Larry Elikann is a man of contradiction. He can tear your heart out with Mare Winningham as a homeless mother in God Bless the Child, but he also has an affinity with Armande Assante since he has used him so many times. Assante's macho swagger and don't-mess-with-me attitude may be Elikann's definition of masculinity but unfortunately in this HBO TVM either the director allows or insisted on Assante mangling his lines so that he is mostly unintelligible. I suppose real men like Assante and his ilk don't need to say much but this is definitely an obstacle to motivation, and his performance comes across as manically mannered. The extremity of Assante's act has an odd if not downright offensively homophobic parallel in Elikann's representation of his gay men as predatory prison inmates or black market peddlers. The first can be rationalised by men's need for sexual release, and the second as reckless playfulness, or one can take these portrayals seriously and not be amused. The setup here is that Assante has antagonised The Junkman in prison by refusing to be his "punk" so in retaliation the Junkman has his cohorts on the outside blackmail Assante when he is released by making a hostage of his former girlfriend, Marcia Gay Harden, now attached to Sam Neill. Since it doesn't look like The Junkman is going to be paroled anytime soon, you might wonder how much of an influence he can make from prison, but that given is probably explained by his gang all being pretty boys. Thankfully the kidnapping of Harden is delayed so that we have time to appreciate the casting against type, especially of Neill, as a bedroom stud and man who uncovers his own violent impulses. Harden's unusual look and edginess always makes her an interesting actress and she has been blessed by nature to be able to play sexy as well. Writer Larry Brothers tones up what is basically a triangle with obstacles, with Harden's mixed resistance to Assante's appeal, and I liked Brother's use of "the genie" being the granting of three wishes. Elikann avoids most of the action cliches and even comes up with the occasional memorable images - a cut from Assante's photo of Harden to her first appearance in closeup, a cut from her in profile to a boxed string of pearls, a pan from a wall to a night skyline, someone exiting a swinging door to giving Harden her first view of the returned Assante, and a flock of geese that act as guards to someone's home. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Treat
It isn't now, but this used to be one of my favorite films when I was younger. But I do own it and watch it every now and then for a treat.
As for the performances, all are impressive in my opinion, especially the two kids.

Overall, this movie is quite predictable, but kids will love it and the strong performances keep it very watchable.

Amazing
Amazing because Stockard Channing and the other actors in this movie make a made for tv movie something very special...Not only did I buy this movie, I bought the sequel sight unseen. I give my very highest recomendation to anyone thinking of buying this movie. Do, you will not be disappointed.

A family pic - true emotions and solutions to real problems
Stockard Channing turned in a brilliant performance. The other cast members likewise turned in good performances. The script flowed smoothly throughout its entirety. If you enjoy family targeted drama that rivets you to the screen, here it is. It will make you smile, make you sad, as well as mad, and then make you tear-up with joy. It shows how life can be rotten and how a villian can change for the better. I give Stockard two thumbs up.

Stockard Channing at her absolute best
This is one of the best movies I have seen. The sad part of the movie is that this happens in real life all to often. This is a great family movie free of violence. Very enjoyable wholesome movie.

its one of the best
i just donno wat to say about this just thats itis the great n could be the greartest ... Read more

Reviews (5)

INCREDIBLE SPECIAL EFFECTS DISSATER FLICK!!!!
IN SOME RESPECTS "THE GREAT LOS ANGELES EARTHQUAKE", HAS EVEN GREATER SPECIAL EFFECTS THAN DID THE 1974 DISASTER FILM "EARTHQUAKE!" EVEN WITHOUT SENSURROUND AND A GRAND STELLAR CAST, THIS TV FILM WAS MORE SURREALISTIC TO WATCH TIME AND TIME AGAIN!!!! I DEFINITELY WOULD WATCH THIS FILM MORE THAN "EARTHQUAKE", EVEN WITH IT'S ADDED FOOTAGE!!!!
YOU DIDN'T HAVE WALTER MATTHEAU IN A "STUPID" CAMERO SCENE AS A DRUNK AT A BAR! HIS PERFORMANCE ABSOLUTELY RUINED THE SERIOUS CALABIER OF THE ORIGINAL "EARTHQUAKE!" THAT CHARACTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE MAIN PRINT!!! AT LEAST THEN, "EARTHQUAKE" WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SURREALISTIC, EVEN WITH THE PROCESS SENSURROUND (WHICH REALLY WAS MOST EFFECTIVE IN THE 1976 CLASSIC "MIDWAY!!!!")

this rating refers to the 180minute miniserie!!!!
This is one of the greatest earthquake movies ever made! But I see this version is a cut-into-movie version. Here in the Netherlands I bought the 3 hour miniserie, which is very good.
Great SFX and a great suspense-building story, which isn't boring at any moment!
I've watched this movie so many times now, and still it touches me. Maybe thats got something to do with me living in a city like Los Angeles. I live in HEERLEN, the Netherlands, a big city also built on a fault. In 1992 we had a damaging 6.2 earthquake here, and since then, 3 or 4 quakes per month between 3-5 on the scale. So like L.A. we're also waiting for the big one here, and that makes this movie even more frightening to me. Because this movie shows what can happen in a convincing way, in other words the SFX are super!
Must see movie, but see the 3 hour version, because I can imagine that the movie version isn't that good, like other reviewers said. It's an outrage that this movie is cut! Who has the right to trim a movie?! I always wonder about that, since movie is an art-form. What gives people the right to adjust a piece of art? I mean we don't change a painting of Van Gogh, so why do people change the editing of a movie? It makes me real mad. Anyway stay off the trimmed version and look for the full version.

Shook Up
While it has many of the same problems that most disaster films do (greed, ambition, melodramatic subplots), THE BIG ONE is still a rather scary made-for-TV movie. Joanna Kerns (of TV's "Family Matters") portrays seismologist Claire Winslow as a cross between CalTech seismologists Kate Hutton and Lucy Jones as she tries to warn those in power of a potentially catastrophic quake that she thinks is prime to slam the Los Angeles area. As usual, out of fear for causing the real estate market to crash, much like in JAWS, those in power try to cover up her warnings.

But when the Big One hits, it hits with force. This may be only a television movie, but the visual effects here, of buildings violently swaying and the ferocious destruction scenes, are about as frighteningly real as I've seen anywhere. The scenarios raised in this film may not always be plausible, but they are definitely possible. That is why, despite some typically melodramatic performances and clunky dialogue, THE BIG ONE is highly effective.

I feel the same as Mr. Gambaccini.
I purchased this video after seeing the miniseries, and was very, very disappointed. My video was put out by VIDMARK Entertainment, and ran only 106 minutes. I will never buy anything made by them again. The miniseries was 3 hours long. I would also like to find the original uncut movie.

I AM VERY ANGRY!
I saw this movie on television when it was a Two Part mini series. Then it was re-released as a 3 hour version. This version is so ugly and short that the movie has no guts to it any more. they didnt even remove the names off the credits of some of the people whose parts they removed. I love the first two versions. If anyone has the origional on tape or the second airing. Not to mention they never mention the father at the end, so his character basically is dead. Awfull cut. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of the Best Made-for-TV Mini-Series
This is one of the best made for tv mini-series. The movie is based on the dominick dunne novel of the same name. The story is also based on a true story, the story of alfred bloomingdale and his mistress of 12 years, vicki morgan.
both jason robards and rebecca de mornay do outstanding jobs, but jill eikenberry is not to be forgotten either as the wealthy unforgiving socialite wife.
i highly recommend this movie, its one of my favorites. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Movie!!
This is a great movie starring Tommy Lee Jones as a vietnam veteran rancher trying to stop the Air Force from building an Air Base on his land.It's a must see!!

Little known movie
I first saw this movie years ago and I love it ... Read more

Reviews (1)

it's not the hands of strangers you gotta worry about
Running over 3 hours long, this made for TV movie is well directed and noticably edited at a clip, except when time is needed to explore detail. It's no surprise that the narrative is based on a novel, since there are three plot strands, and it's to Larry Elikann's credit that proceedings build progressively. At the centre are 3 pairs of hands - cop Armand Assante, his wife Beverley D'Angelo, and assistant District Attorney Blair Brown - but their triangle has a lot of intersecting angles. What they have in common is rape. Brown is investigating a gang and D'Angelo is the victim of one. Though the perpetrators are different, it's inevitable that Brown will come to meet D'Angelo. And this is given another dimention by Brown recruiting Assante to help with her investigation, and that's even before D'Angelo is involved! Confused? What I particularly liked was Elikann's decision to not use music, a wise one when so much of the narrative is methodical action. He does succumb to the ubiquitous sax in a sex scene, but the editing cuts away thankfully fast. At first I was irritated by Assante's performance, with his macho strutting and bird-like head movements. In response Brown imitates him and her usual likability is in question. But eventually he becomes more solid (or I overlooked the mannerism) and his final emotionalism is touching. He also has a drunk scene where his energy level picks up considerably. D'Angelo bears the bulk of the load and while she may overdo the distraught victim, she knows how to play against her co-stars, and she excels when she is trapped. Her rape scene is not explicit but the suggestion and Arliss Howard's smiling offender is so perverse that what one imagines is much more powerful. Howard has a sinister briefcase, with undisclosed contents, and when the nature of the photographs he has taken of his acts is seen by someone, they vomit. Brown has the lesser of the 3 roles, but she manages to get a laugh out of a cliched answer to "Are you sure it was him?" - "You hear his voice, and you don't need to hear it again". The frosty treatment she gives to a rape victim is redeemed, and I liked the animal noises she makes in response to Assante at one point. There are a few minor plot holes - Assante staking out his own house to watch D'Angelo, the disappearance of one character without explaination, and Assante being unrecognised by Howard after he has possession of D'Angelo's purse, as if she didn't have a pic of her husband - but these are forgiveable. And we get to witness a rare torture scene which is contextually pleasing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

personal opinions
Its been quite awhile since ive seen this movie but as i recall it was a well thought out film with an exceptioal plot....i especially liked the actor neal mcdonough ...hes gorgeous, hes beautiful(great actor, and great bod) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A TRUE STORY !!!!
This is a True Story of an actual disaster that might have been catastrophic !!! I worked with one of the people who was at this silo when the accident happened, and he told me that it was just like this movie portrayed. Bacially, While doing some routine maintenance on a nuclear missile ( Titan II ??? ), a worker accidentally drops a socket down from the top of the silo, and it then makes a small puncture in the missile's gas-based fuel tank below. When the silo's alarms start going off, they send in a team of Experts to try and repair the leak. They only have a small amount of time to repair the leak though, because if all the gas escapes, the missile colapses in the silo :-( Not to mention, the gas is explosive, and they CANNOT use any tool that will create a spark. I won't reveal the ending, but it's definately a good film.

Important Correction
The two previous reviews were sufficient to describe the film, but I felt it important to add that the events depicted took place in Arkansas. The Damascus Titan II site (launch site 374-7, one of 18 missiles in the Strategic Missile Wing at Little Rock Airforce Base)suffered an accident September 18, 1980. A worker dropped a large wrench socket down the silo which bounced up and punctured a fuel tank on the missile. The resulting explosion (some 8 hours later) killed one worker, knocked the door off the silo, and propelled the (live!) nuclear warhead 600 feet into the air before it fell to the ground nearby.

A Made for TV Movie. Based on a real "EVENT" in New Mexico
This is a good made for TV movie. Easily worth the $5. Im glad to see it available on VHS even though it didnt make it to the theaters. This movie is based on an actual airforce event that took place at a Silo in New Mexico. The movie was filmed just south of Tuscon Az in the only formerly active silo from the cold war that is open to the public. One of the Airman involved in the actual explosion played a small role in the movie and worked to keep the facts straight on this "Fictional Movie". Two actors Reggie Jones and Cordell Rich were left out of the credits but did well on their respective bit parts. Reggie as an Air Force Airman and Cordell as the Medic who worke on Michael and "Pepper" in the ambulance.

How close were we to accidental detonation?
Over-worked and under-paid is a fair description of the men and women of the Air Force who are charged with maintaining nuclear tipped ballistic missiles. The Titan missile was a liquid filled beast that demanded constant attention. One slip of the tool and the chain reaction began. Brave souls gave their lives to try and salvage the bird in silo 7. But, does anyone know that the warhead was blown out of the silo and landed in a nearby field? Are there others we don't know about? You will admire the bravery of the enlisted men, and you will be disgusted at how they were treated. The silent war continues to this day across the plains of Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The Minuteman III has solid rocket fuel and is far less vulnerable than the Titan; nonetheless, young men and women risk their lives regularly to keep these birds on alert. We should never forget the sacrifices of the silent heroes that maintain our fleet of nuclear missiles! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

heartwarming movie!
This is a must-view every Christmas! Jessica Tandy is superb as usual and reminds us of what is truly important in life.

This movie is true classic.
Jessica Tandy does a beautiful job portraying Grace, a kind old lady that finds happiness by sharing her gift of story telling.

This is a perfect film for the entire family.

A wonderful movie!
This movie is an artful combination of humor, moral instruction, and a reminder of what is really important in life. It is beautifully written and the acting is fantastic.

NOT ANOTHER FAIRY TALE
Grace McQueen is a senior citizen looking for an opportunity to be of service. She's turned down by agency after agency until she decides to do what she loves;story telling. She manages to get a spot on a public tv station and becomes a hit. Then the fun begins. She is "discovered" by some ad executives who see a gold mine in exploiting her talents.

A whirlwind of network ratings, make overs and new name (Granny Goodheart) overwhelms Grace. How she navigates through this mess is a delightful commentary about how we treat our elders, our own children and ourselves in a doggy eat dog world of our own making.

Jessica Tandy is wonderful as Grace, the grandmotherly figure unwilling to let the studio bosses remake her image. Stephanie Zimbalist stars as the ad executive who is so caught up in her work to the point of neglecting what matters most, her daughter. In this film we re-aquaint ourselves with the taste of what it means to be a family and affirmed in one's old age.

Now sit back and enjoy the Story Lady as she reads you a tale where "they live happily ever after. The End."

Another good film with nothing missing from it.
All the characters and story this film needs. This film is pretty much what I thought it would be, a film about a sweet old lady who tells a lot of fairy tales. There wasn't a story she told that I hadn't already heard. It also shows the importance of parents spending time their kids like in "Casper: A Spirited Beginning" and "Jack Frost" and "A Goofy Movie". The dollhouse that Alex gets is a lot like the one I also got for Christmas. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Best Movie I've Seen Depicting The Homeless
If I had known in advance that this was a movie about the plight of the homeless, I might not have watched it. I'm so glad I did. A wonderful movie about about a loveable little girl and a loving mother in a terrible (but unfortunately not uncommon) predicament.

A Must See!!
Moving simply Moving, wish it was on DVD or VHS

My Favorite Movie In The World
I Thought this movie was very uplifting.It shows the plight of the world. It shows us how the other half lives and what its like to be homeless and have nothing. I just thought it was a fabulous movie and would love to add it to my collection.

Should be required viewing for social workers
Mare Winningham, one of most versatile and gifted actresses in the business today, is memorable in this telefilm from the late 80's. As other reviewers have stated, this is a real tearjerker for it reveals the trials and tribulations of a single parent trying to cope in a society that is filled with bureaucracy red tape that ultimately works against her.

Grace Johnston is also a triumph as Winningham's young daughter, Hillary. It is hard to imagine that she is an actress playing a part; so realistic is her portrayal. Dorian Harewood makes a small but pivotal appearance as the social worker assigned Winningham's case.

The film ends on a less-than-cheerful note that only reinforces the desperation of Winningham's situation.

A truly powerful film is "God Bless the Child."

An eye-opener
I recently saw this movie and watched it in a large co-ed group...It was so moving that the men had tears in their eyes. "God Bless the Child" is truly a touching movie that every american should see.
It is about a mother, Theresa, and her young daughter Hillary. They live in a large city, and when they get kicked out of their soon-to-be razed apartment building, they take to the homeless shelters. Theresa loses her job and the two run out of money. Soon they are living off what little food they can they recieve from others and sleeping on dirty cots in shelters.
A social worker finds a small house for Theresa and Hillary in a bad neighborhood. Theresa is overjoyed to be living in a house despite the rats that overrun it. Hillary makes friends with a girl next door and all is well until Theresa makes a complaint about the rats to the Health Department. She gets kicked out of her house by the landlord, and again takes Hillary to the shelters. However, Hillary soon develops a severe sickness and is taken to the hospital.
Theresa soon realizes that she will never be able to provide for her daughter the life that she wants Hillary to have. After speaking with the social worker, she makes a heart-breaking decision, that will change the course of Hillary's life forever.
I give this movie two thumbs up...it will open your eyes to those less fortunate than yourself and give you a better understanding of poverty in America. ... Read more