The Women of Brewster Place (1989)

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(1,845 ratings)

Based on the novel by Gloria Naylor, The Women of Brewster Place was produced by and stars Oprah Winfrey. The film concerns a variety of women who live in the housing project located on Brewster Place, and tells about their lives as they struggle in the face of racism, poverty, and troublesome men.… More Based on the novel by Gloria Naylor, The Women of Brewster Place was produced by and stars Oprah Winfrey. The film concerns a variety of women who live in the housing project located on Brewster Place, and tells about their lives as they struggle in the face of racism, poverty, and troublesome men. Winfrey portrays Mattie Michael who was kicked out of her parent's (Paul Winfield and Mary Alice) house after refusing to reveal the name of her soon-to-be-born child's father. She eventually inherits a house, but loses it after her son skips bail. Robin Givens plays Kiswana, a focused woman who does her best to improve the situations of those around her. During a conversation with her mother (Cicely Tyson), Kiswana learns how her decision to change her name from Melanie is a betrayal of her family history. Cora Lee (Phyllis Stickney) craves being needed by babies and continues to have children, although she becomes neglectful as her children age. Miss Sophie (Olivia Cole) traffics in neighborhood gossip. Theresa and Lorraine (Paula Kelly and Lonette McKee) are a lesbian couple who live on Brewster Place because they believe the people in the neighborhood might let them live in peace. The Women of Brewster Place aired March 18-19, 1989, on the ABC television network. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 3 hr.
Directed By: Donna Deitch
Genres: Drama, Television

In Theaters: Mar 19, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Jan 30, 2001
Studio: Xenon

Critic Reviews

Kari Croop, Common Sense Media
Classic miniseries tackles weighty women's issues.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Engaging portrait of seven women in a ghetto tenement who are struggling to overcome the hardships of poverty and the disappointments of shattered dreams.

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Cast

            Oprah Winfrey as Mattie Michael

            Jackée as Etta Mae Johnson

            Cicely Tyson as Mrs. Browne

            Robin Givens as Kiswana

            Lonette McKee as Lorraine

            Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Cora Lee

            Moses Gunn as Ben

            Clark Johnson as Butch

            Lynn Whitfield as Ciel

            Eugene Lee as Basil

            Paul Winfield as Sam Michael

            Mary Alice as Fannie Michael

            Barbara Montgomery as Miss Eva

            Olivia Cole as Miss Sophie

            Douglas Turner Ward as Rev. Wood

            Kemper Sam Williams Jr. as Garvin

            William Allen Young as Eugene

            Leon as Abshu

            Paula Kelly as Theresa

            Shari Belafonte
            
            Vanessa Bell
            
            Jack Kelly
            
            Glenn Plummer
            
            Cathy Tyson
            
            Jackée Harry
            
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