C'era una volta

Eleven-year-old Gibran Brown's single mother dies, and he heads onto the streets. He's thinking about killing himself with a razor when depressed widower John Cassavetes sits down and talks to him. Eventually he takes him home and tries to take care of him.

It's well intentioned and beautifully performed, although I found its feel-good attitude occasionally a bit saccharine. It was filmed in Atlanta, although there isn't that much that couldn't have been set in any major city.

With Billy Dee Williams and Denise Nicholas.

I wasn't expecting it... honestly, it wasn't on my radar at all, I'd not heard of this little indie gem

it's a tear jerker, but I didn't mind the manipulation at all, of course, that's viewing this film in 2022 instead of 1982 when the film was originally made... it's release was delayed several years due to the Atlanta Child Murders, without that tragedy looming over it's screening, this film could almost be anytime an impoverished kid loses a mother and a down and out stranger steps up

I am assuming this was a labor of love... not a lot of budget but some serious quality people stepped up to make this piece happen, John Cassavetes is almost upstaged by the young Gibran Brown, considering the crackerjack performance he turns in I am really surprised he doesn't have more film credits... Billy Dee Williams doesn't have a lot do but turns in the goods... really notable small role by Denise. Nicolas.

Worth the watch.

I had forgotten how powerful an actor Cassavetes was until I stumbled on this film on cable. The movie, of course, is a tear jerker and as such manipulative, but that does not detract from the force of his performance. Watching him remove his coat is an acting lesson. As I watched him, I found myself thinking of Pacino. Too bad they couldn't have done a film together.

This is an ever so sensitive story that shows a very unique bond between an aging lonely person and a homeless child. The care and love that develops between the two proves once again that love is possible from a non biological father towards a child that is not his son. One that raises a child, knows him well, and wins his trust becomes actually a father figure for any child. Tige, the colored little boy was played perfectly by a little child managing to steal the hearts of us all. The moral of this film is that only sincere feelings can create unique bonds. Marvin expressed such sincere feelings towards little Tige. Only by acting in such a manner could he reach this kind of special bond. Marvin's courage and honorable sacrifice must be admired, he gives up the most precious thing in his life and retreats back to his lonely and bleak life. The end of this lovely friendship ends so tragically for Marvin but in a very justified way for Tige. This film is greatly recommended for improving parental qualities and skills.

5 of 10 stars. This Film is fairly good at best, but it's worth watching if you want to see a good performance by the Legendary John Cassavetes.

The Film stars John Cassavetes and Gibran Brown alongside Billy Dee Williams. Cassavetes puts on a good Performance, it's not a Masterpiece Performance like he often delivers, but it's good. As the Film moves on, Cassavetes certainly picks up momentum and seems to peel the onion a bit and also improvise a bit in many scenes in the 2nd half of the Film, and as always, he never over-reaches but also makes sure the table is almost entirely cleared. Gibran Brown was 12 when this Movie was Filmed, and he does a good job, I was impressed and it was neat to see as the Film moved on that he and Cassavetes actually seem to have a few very good open and improvised emotions that are poured onto the Film.

Billy Dee Williams does okay, but I've never been as impressed with Williams as some are. I'm not trying to be too hard on Williams, because he's not a terrible Actor; but often times it appears as if he is being Filmed Acting like he's looking out a window if it's a scene where he's looking out a window; and I don't want to think that he's Acting like he's looking out a window when he's being Filmed looking out a window; I want to think that he's looking out a window. Acting is a hard job, and Williams seems prove this in some of the scenes in this Film.

The Directing by Eric Weston is simply uneven. Some scenes work good, but some scenes are unfortunately Filmed in a way that tend themselves to an Afternoon Special. Very uneven Directing; the opening credits and the music in it are horrid and really set a bad tone for the start of the Film.

But again, Cassavetes and Brown make the Film at least okay with their good performances. Most know that Cassavetes passed away at a very young age in 1989, and he was only in his late-50s when he died. Most know that he is one of the most Influential, Respected and best Director's of all time according to most Film Historians and Directors. Most also know that he was a highly respected Actor, and financed many of the Films he Directed by Acting, as he was very sought after because of his Acting abilities. Some have asked me, what are the 10 best Films that Cassavetes Starred in. I would say if I contacted 100 of the most respected Film Historians, they would all have slightly different orders, but this would be there Top 10 consensus. And this Film would be in their Top 10 (which I disagree with as you can tell from my review), and Historians would consider The Top 3 in his Top 10 to be Masterpieces: 1. Rosemary's Baby (1968) 2. Love Streams (1984) 3. Mikey And Nicky (1976) 4. Nightside (1973) 5. Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) 6. The Killers (1964) 7. Edge Of The City (1957) 8. Husbands (1970) 9. The Webster Boy (1962) 10. Marvin & Tige (1983)