User Reviews

"White people don't know what good is", wise-cracking black teenager Ernest Harden Jr. tells Bette Davis when she takes him into her home to earn extra income in helping juvenile delinquents stay off the streets. At first, there's a definite wariness between the two, but it quickly dissolves when she decides to teach him how to read. It is obvious that she sees him more than just a troublesome black teen and wants to believe in something. He has ambitions of becoming a professional fighter which she at first tries to convince him to change his goals. But when a sudden argument erupts between the two over his future, she comes to the belief that he robbed her and is forced out onto the street after being evicted. Briefly helped by bag lady Eileen Heckart, she becomes very sick but Harden shows up in the nick of time to help her out.

"How ya doin', white mama?", he asks her during a practice bout. "Better than you are!", she responds as only Bette Davis could. She becomes very fond of him and takes care of him when a tough bag lady (Anne Ramsey of "Throw Mama From the Train") stabs him. It's very touching to see both of their hearts opening to each other, to cross the racial barriers that society both fights for and against. It's not only racial barriers, but age barriers and educational barriers as well. It's no longer about a kind white lady taking in someone from the other side of the society spectrum because they believe it is their duty or need the money, but doing it because it's right. "You can be anything you want to be if you work hard at it", she tells him, teaching him the first values he's ever known in his life and more importantly, giving him an inside scoop on what it is like to have dignity.

This is more than just trying to raise the status of white folks helping out black folks to try and make up for the past (it's time to move on and find new battles to strike out at), but two human beings helping each other during the times of crisis. Made during very troublesome racial times, this dared to show that the races can co-exist and come to love each other beyond what society claims is right and wrong, black and white or rich or poor. The final fight scene shows Davis feeling each hit that Harden takes. Davis is riveting in a scene where she begins calling all these different New York City agencies to prevent herself from being evicted and ends up getting the typical city hall run-around.

I didn't like the whole twist of the furniture being stolen as it left Davis with distrust and pretty much gave her no other option than being on the street, but other than that little plot twist, I think this is a practically perfect T.V. movie with excellent performances that truly stands the test of time and hopefully will wake people up to seeing race relationships in a new light rather than sweeping down the drain. Excellent New York City location footage is another plus!

The high quality of the acting in this TV drama camouflages some basic holes in the story. The movie was filmed in the 1970s, a time when there was still federal support for low income housing. Poor people were not living on the streets the way they do today. The elderly character, who looks around 80 years old, is not yet eligible for social security, so in order to support herself as a mid-60s person she would have had some kind of job. Here she appears as a widow with no visible means of support. Having the young car thief parolee remove all the contents of her home would not have necessitated her living outdoors where exposure nearly killed her, though she had already been given an eviction notice and could have stayed with a church member until she found a new place. So parts of the plot are strained and seem unnecessary. Despite that, it was a good movie and I recommend it.

A 1970s TV movie of the week. White Mama is far more emotional than I would care to admit. Miss Davis portrays an elderly, but proud white woman . A young Mr Harden plays a 16 yr old black man on the edge of delinquency.

Both actors, and Eileen Eckhart are totally believable, creating continual lumps in my throat.

They simply don't make movies like this now, with fine actors portraying real characters that we really prefer don't exist. They do exist, and kudos to this movie.

Surprisingly emotional, I encourage people to experience this wonderful movie. Anything miss Davis is in is wonderful, in my opinion. This movie she portrays one of the most heart touching characters that I have seen her perform.

My advice is to watch and feel this movie.