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Cast
Cicely Tyson
as Marva Collins
Morgan Freeman
as Clarence Collins
Rodrick F. Wimberly
as Martin Luther Jones (as Roderick Wimberly)
Mashaune Hardy
as Cindy Collins
Brett Bouldin
as Patrick Collins
Samuel Muhammad Jr.
as Eric Collins
Dianne Kirksey
as Cynthia Rawls
Steven Williams
as McCloud
Frankie Hill
as Ida Banbower
Charlie Brown
as Chester Boland
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1981
Runtime1h 40m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, TV Movie, History
Votes7
DirectorPeter Levin
WritersClifford Campion
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.4 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Marva Collins Story
About The Marva Collins Story
Cicely Tyson was Emmy-nominated as Outstanding Actress for her portrait of a Chicago schoolteacher whose remarkable achievements with black children labelled "unteachable" were spotlighted in a 1979 "60 Minutes" segment about how she became disillusioned with the traditional school system and decided to work outside of it, transforming her students into young scholars through her unique teaching style.
Directed by Peter Levin, The Marva Collins Story leans on a strong ensemble — Cicely Tyson, Morgan Freeman, Rodrick F. Wimberly — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1981.
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