Comments on: The Black Version: It was Pollyanna, We Do It Like Polly!

By: Obscure Black C-Listers: Dorian Harewood | What Would Thembi Do?

Obscure Black C-Listers: Dorian Harewood | What Would Thembi Do? — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:56:48 +0000

[...] Owens onscreen, in 1984’s “The Jesse Owens Story,” but he also starred in the WWTD favorite Polly – the black version of Disney’s Pollyanna. He played the patient but passionate Dr. [...]

By: jazzfan360

jazzfan360 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:43:00 +0000

My white friends make funna me hardcore for my undying Polly love. I in turn make fun of them for their fierce defense of the original white version. Now, I love me some original recipe Parent Trap, but Haley Mills and old-school Pollyanna can’t do nothin for me.

The Polly movies aren’t necessarily all that well written (and Phylicia was severely underused in both of them and Keshia should never have been allowed to sing) but they’re wonderful. And such great talent all over the place! All those wonderful black actors, AND they found room for white Oscar nominees Celeste Holm and Anthony Newley. If only they could worked in a role for Diahann Carroll and a sassy town strumpet for Jackee or Loretta Devine (who back thin was much thinner and playing those type of roles) we woulda REALLY been in business. Barbara Montgomery, the great Ken Page, and that dude playin the henpecked hubby with the holy ghost (George Tarbell, I think??) need their own Obscure Actor entries lol (and look, there’s Vickilyn Reynolds playin his wife).

Good pick. “Stand Up” is some MAJOR good times. Dorian Harewood’s from my hometown, met him a couple years ago. Nice guy…shorter than I expected, though. Wish there was a vid on Youtube of that awesome “Hotlanta” number from the sequel. Larry Riley sure had some voice…RIP for REAL.

By: Shanna

Shanna — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 01:40:00 +0000

If I’m not mistaken this was a Disney production and it was a made for tv movie. I loved every minute of it. Black musical loveliness to rival “The Wiz”.

By: Dara

Dara — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:51:00 +0000

this movie did more than entertain me…it made me feel like i could somehow one day be as dope and inspirational as little polly…it gave me my first crush (oh jimmy bean, how your s-curl shines)…and it continues to influence my love of the twirly dress to this day.

bravo, thembi. BRAVO.
*drops a tear*

By: Thembi

Thembi — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:12:00 +0000

Nancy, thank you for mentioning passing great moments in black history (aside from the whole peanuts and traffic lights deal) to your husband, debunking the belief that people in intercultural relationships somehow abandon the colored race. Marvelous, darling.

By: Julia_Claudine_Deveraux

Julia_Claudine_Deveraux — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 15:59:00 +0000

Several people have asked me if I knew whether or not Polly was available on DVD. I remembered watching it when the film came on tv but was not as memorable in my mind as it had been to others who saw it. I tracked a vhs copy of it and was like “wow”. It was a great film and I too cannot understand why its not on DVD.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:34:00 +0000

I so miss white gloves at church…and frilly dresses…and claire’s evil eye when she’s displeased…oh wait, one of these things was never actually reality…I LOVE YOU THEMBI AND CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE “the black version”! You are making my job as passer-on of great moments in black history to my hubby much easier!

By: hottnikz

hottnikz — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 06:27:00 +0000

I didn’t watch the video, but I think from your descriptions that I saw this movie before. I think it was a made for TV movie.