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Subject: Take a Giant Step - 1959

Author:
Judith
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Date Posted: 15:39:06 03/08/08 Sat

Just a short blurb about this interesting film, that aired on TCM yesterday. It's a bit like Rebel Without a Cause, with Johnny Nash playing a young black teen, living in a white, suburban neighborhood. His folks have not only worked harder than most, but had to play the game by the 'white rules', in order to get where they are, and they expect the same from their boy (Spencer), and YET, have instilled values of pride within him...and this conflict of 'knowing your place' and 'smiling when you should be defending yourself', mixed with a healthy self-esteem, becomes the cause of most of his teenage turbulance. Not to mention, hormones are raging, and he has no girlfriend prospects in the biggoted town.
His circle of friends are a lot like him, athletic, regular kids, but they begin to pull away when parents don't want Spence at certain parties, and also from Spences own anger, which pushes them further still. His wise, crotchety, dying Grandma becomes literally, his only friend, and with her death, he starts to unhinge.
This was going to be short, I am wanted in the kitchen, but you can see how this movie touched me...there were several psychological and societal threads running throughout, and you really felt for this kid!! His folks, while basically good people, never actualy SPOKE to him! He was supposed to be grateful that he was in a good town with college looming, and that was that, he just had to hold all his feelings in and deal. I kept thinking, 'all you have to do is sit down and let him tell you what he's going through!' but they didn't validate his experiences. Hehe, frustrating. The maid, played by Ruby Dee, was quite the wise soul, as well, though towards the end, Nash does a lot of posing in well-fitting jeans, and well, I won't reveal any spoilers, but needless to say, she was reacting as I was, to him at that time!
If you're curious as to how it turns out, you'll have to see it. I feel there WERE things left unresolved, but it WAS made in 1959, so just the fact they dealt with some of those issues was a lot, I suppose.
The kitchen beckons....

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[> Subject: The wonderful Cast>>>:

Author:
J
[Edit]
Date Posted: 15:56:31 03/08/08 Sat

Johnny Nash ... Spencer 'Spence' Scott

Estelle Hemsley ... Grandma 'Gram' Martin (she was great!)

Ruby Dee ... Christine the maid

Frederick O'Neal ... Lem 'Daddy' Scott (He looked like my ex-husband, though Ken is Greek, etc.)

Beah Richards ... May Scott (also the Mother in, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner)

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>Just a short blurb about this interesting film, that >aired on TCM yesterday. It's a bit like Rebel Without >a Cause, with Johnny Nash playing a young black teen, >living in a white, suburban neighborhood. His folks >have not only worked harder than most, but had to play >the game by the 'white rules', in order to get where >they are, and they expect the same from their boy >(Spencer), and YET, have instilled values of pride >within him...and this conflict of 'knowing your place' >and 'smiling when you should be defending yourself', >mixed with a healthy self-esteem, becomes the cause of >most of his teenage turbulance. Not to mention, >hormones are raging, and he has no girlfriend >prospects in the biggoted town. >His circle of friends are a lot like him, athletic, >regular kids, but they begin to pull away when parents >don't want Spence at certain parties, and also from >Spences own anger, which pushes them further still. >His wise, crotchety, dying Grandma becomes literally, >his only friend, and with her death, he starts to >unhinge. >This was going to be short, I am wanted in the >kitchen, but you can see how this movie touched >me...there were several psychological and societal >threads running throughout, and you really felt for >this kid!! His folks, while basically good people, >never actualy SPOKE to him! He was supposed to be >grateful that he was in a good town with college >looming, and that was that, he just had to hold all >his feelings in and deal. I kept thinking, 'all you >have to do is sit down and let him tell you what he's >going through!' but they didn't validate his >experiences. Hehe, frustrating. The maid, played by >Ruby Dee, was quite the wise soul, as well, though >towards the end, Nash does a lot of posing in >well-fitting jeans, and well, I won't reveal any >spoilers, but needless to say, she was reacting as I >was, to him at that time! >If you're curious as to how it turns out, you'll have >to see it. I feel there WERE things left unresolved, >but it WAS made in 1959, so just the fact they dealt >with some of those issues was a lot, I suppose. >The kitchen beckons....
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[> Subject: The wonderful Cast>>>:
Author: J [Edit]	Date Posted: 15:56:31 03/08/08 Sat Johnny Nash ... Spencer 'Spence' Scott Estelle Hemsley ... Grandma 'Gram' Martin (she was great!) Ruby Dee ... Christine the maid Frederick O'Neal ... Lem 'Daddy' Scott (He looked like my ex-husband, though Ken is Greek, etc.) Beah Richards ... May Scott (also the Mother in, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner) [ Post a Reply to This Message ]