White Mama (1980, TV-Movie)

Synopsis:

In order to make ends meet, a penniless white widow (Bette Davis) rents a room to a troubled black teenager (Ernest Harden Jr., White Men Can’t Jump). After a rocky start, the strange pair forges a genuine friendship out of mutual love and respect.

Reaction & Thoughts:

“Without me, you’ll be in the streets inside of two minutes.”

I know exactly what you are thinking because I thought the same thing: “Oh, no, this must be yet another bland and patronizing race relations melodrama.” I assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. White Mama, a modestly produced CBS TV movie, is surprisingly gritty and sincere, and never talks down to the audience.

While the film manages to steer clear of many message movie clichés, it does rely on the familiar odd couple formula. It’s hardly an original idea to bring people with diverse backgrounds together in order to create tension, but White Mama is made fresh by smart and perceptive writing, and the outstanding work of an excellent cast.

The film was directed by actor Jackie Cooper (original The Champ) and written by Robert C.S. Downs. Cooper and Downs made the decision of focusing on what the main characters have in common, not on what divide them. I didn’t expect that. For the record, White Mama does take a few jabs at racial and economic inequality. However, this honest and touching drama is, first and foremost, a human story of perseverance.

The movie works because of the good chemistry between veteran Bette Davis and newcomer Ernest Harden Jr. Davis is vital and dignified. Harden Jr. is jaded and impertinent. It’s a case of opposites create sparks. Their relationship is well-developed, and while you are always aware that the bickering will lead to some type of compromise, the two actors make the obvious look natural and poignant.

White Mama features a terrific supporting cast. Oscar-winning Eileen Heckart (Butterflies are Free) and Anne Ramsey (Throw Momma from the Train) play a pair of “bag ladies.” Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) is a school counselor. Character actor Vincent Schiavelli (Ghost) plays a drug dealer. And boxer-tuned-actor Tony Burton (Apollo Creed’s trainer in the Rocky movies) is, yes, you guessed it, a boxing promoter.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

Socially conscious movies tend to offer simplistic solutions to complex issues. White Mama proves to be a lot more interesting than some Oscar-winning productions that deal with bread & butter issues. The acting is first-rate — Bette Davis received an Emmy nomination and Ernest Harden Jr. should have been nominated too — and the situations are believable. Color, 96 minutes, Not Rated.

TV Trailer: