"Queen" (1993) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

John Erman

Writers (WGA):

Alex Haley (story)
David Stevens (teleplay)

Release Date:

14 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Discover The Roots Of A New Generation.

Plot:

A plantation owner's son falls in love with a slave named Easter and together they have a light-skinned daughter named Queen...

Plot Keywords:

Slave | Post Civil War | Struggle | Passing For White | Plantation Owner

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Christopher Allport	...	Union Officer
Ann-Margret	...	Sally Jackson
Bob Banks	...	Slave #1
Suzi Bass	...	Server
Halle Berry	...	Queen
Dan Biggers	...	George
Lane Bradbury		(as Janette Lane Bradbury)
Leo Burmester	...	Henderson
Jerry Campbell	...	White Man #1
Patricia Clarkson	...	Lizzie
Frances Conroy	...	Mrs. Benson
Tim Daly	...	Col. James Jackson Jr.
Ossie Davis	...	Parson Dick
David Dwyer	...	Policeman
Michael Edwards	...	Judge
Tom Even	...	Male Guard
Victor Garber	...	Digby
Sue Ann Gilfillan
Danny Glover	...	Alec Haley
Ed Grady	...	Doctor
John Griesemer	...	Doctor
George Grizzard	...	Mr. Cherry
Tim Guinee	...	Wesley
Jasmine Guy	...	Easter
Linda Hart	...	Mrs. Henderson
Dennis Haysbert	...	Davis
Tommy Hollis	...	Fred
Martin G. James	...	Young Confederate Soldier (as Martin Grapengeter)
Richard Jenkins	...	Mr. Benson
Christine Jones	...	Sarah Jackson
Erik King
Jane Krakowski	...	Jane
Ron Leggett	...	Guard
Patrick Malone	...	Simon
Peter Maloney	...	Perkins
James McDaniel
Lonette McKee	...	Alice
Kenn Michael	...	Henry at 11 (as Kenny Blank)
Bob Minor	...	Poor Black Man
Daryl Mitchell	...	Abner (as Daryl 'Chill' Mitchell)
Charlotte Moore	...	Mrs. Perkins
Danny Nelson	...	Warden
Michael L. Nesbitt	...	Porter
Alan North	...	Bishop
Tom Nowicki	...	Kirkman
Mary Nell Santacroce	...	Woman at Coachstop
Martin Sheen	...	James Jackson Sr.
Madge Sinclair	...	Dora
Lonnie R. Smith	...	Redneck #2
Jussie Smollett	...	Simon (age 11)
Sada Thompson
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Joyce
Eric Ware	...	Micah
Annabelle Weenick	...	Female Guard
Elizabeth Wilson
Paul Winfield	...	Cap'n Jack
Samuel E. Wright	...	Alfred

Also Known As:

"Alex Haley's Queen"

Runtime:

282 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Boone Hall Plantation - 1235 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Elliot Friedgen & Company

Trivia:

Halle Berry suffered a tailbone injury while riding one of the horses in a filmed scene.

Quotes:

Col. James Jackson Jr.: Queen, remember there is some good in everyone.

Get real

This is the mini series version of Alex Haley's paternal side to his family (ROOTS covered the maternal side). The trials and tribulations this woman goes through are cringe inducing - racism from both her blood lines, sexism from practically every male with a pulse. Not an easy sit through - it is long and tedious and the leading lady's performance and horrible makeup really tried my nerves.

I tried to sit through this, really it did - but Berry's performance left much to be desired. Jasmine Guy was better than anticipated and well, it's Danny Glover who is consistently strong in every performance. The big question I have is this: why didn't they get Jennifer Beals for this? Queen was supposed to be so fair complected and Caucasian featured that she passed for white - what the heck is Halle Berry doing here? It is ridiculous to see her normally beautiful complexion covered in Kabuki like make-up and everyone walking around like this is normal and the cast really look strained trying to act like Halle Berry looks like a believable white woman. This leaves the credibility of the production in serious question.

I give it marks for trying, most of the stars are for Danny Glover, but overall - see it only if you have to for school but I recommend reading the book