WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: RUBY BRIDGES {TAPE 2 OF 2} (TV)

Summary

Continued from T:51943. Tape two of two. One of this series of Disney movies presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney." This made-for-television production is about six-year-old Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to attend integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1960. This part begins with Ruby too upset to eat her dinner after the way Mrs. Stein treated her and Abon. One day, as Ruby is escorted into school, the crowd reaches a fever pitch when a white minister is called a "traitor" for taking his daughter inside. Barbara tries to explain to Ruby why people are behaving the way they are. Barbara also discusses slavery with Ruby. Meanwhile, Ruby begins secretly throwing out her lunches. Robert continues speaking with Ruby, trying to get a grasp on her emotions. He wonders why Ruby draws a picture of Alison as a white person. Afterward, Robert remains aloof from the rest of the Bridges family. He turns down Lucy's offers of dinner and pie, upsetting both Jane and Abon. Robert reveals to Abon and Lucy that Ruby has been acting strange, and Lucy agrees, noting her odd eating habits. Robert thinks that Ruby is afraid of being poisoned, based on the threats of a female heckler outside the school. According to Robert, that's why Ruby will now only eat packaged foods. Abon tells Lucy that night that Ruby seems to think that white people are better than blacks.

Meanwhile, Jane wonders why Robert won't eat the Bridges' homecooked meals. Eventually, Ruby gets her report card -- straight A's -- and Abon questions if it is indeed paying off for Ruby. By now, more white children have begun attending school. One day, the Broyards ask Ruby if she would like to learn how to play the piano. Meanwhile, Abon is growing more discontent with his circumstances. Abon tells Lucy that the Broyards are more interested in their agenda than Ruby's situation. Lucy responds that she would like Ruby to experience the good life the Broyards can provide. Then, a neighbor, Mr. Taylor, offers Abon some housepainting work and his spirits are quickly lifted. One day, Ruby asks Barbara why all the white students are in a separate class, and Barbara doesn't know how to answer. She confronts Miss Woodmere, who claims that Miss Spencer refuses to teach Ruby. Miss Woodmere wonders why Barbara is so concerned with Ruby's welfare. Invoking the law, Barbara gets Miss Spencer's white students to join Ruby for a class. Ruby is elated to interact with other children. But not all the children welcome interacting with Ruby, especially a young boy, Jim. Later, Robert questions Ruby on how she feels about Jim's treatment of her. Later, Alison's father, Mr. Lewis, now won't associate with the Bridges, claiming Ruby has affected his business and his life.

One morning, tired of taking it in stride, Ruby finally seems to talk to the protesters. Later, Ruby claims to Robert that she was simply praying for her tormenters. Afterward, Robert tells Abon that Ruby's family support is what makes her so strong. Also, Robert finally eats a homecooked gumbo with the Bridges. Robert writes up a paper on Ruby and the Bridges' amazing resilience. One day at school, the janitor uncovers all of Ruby's secretly discarded lunches, which have caused roaches to appear. Barbara isn't angry, just concerned about Ruby not eating her lunches. They work out a compromise, with Ruby sharing Barbara's lunches. One day, Robert brings a toy house to Ruby in order that they can play "a game" in which she discusses her fellow classmates. Later that evening, after seeing Mrs. Stein delivering groceries to Lucy, Abon takes Robert to a black jazz party. There, Abon discusses his military service and how he doesn't have much faith in integration. One day, Barbara finds that Ruby's test scores are incredible but Miss Woodmere insists on lowering them to reflect "a true assessment of her ability," thinking "special attention" accounts for Ruby having scored higher than the other students. Overhearing the squabble, Miss Spencer steps in to defend Barbara. Finally, it appears that both Ruby and Barbara are being accepted at school. A voiceover tells how Ruby opened the Ruby Bridges Educational Foundation in 1995 to promote cultural diversity in public schools. After the program, reporter Lisa McRee sits down with the real Ruby Bridges to discuss subjects which include: what she actually went through; whether it was a "traumatic experience"; what happened to her in second grade; her reaction to the film; if she feels like a part of history; why she didn't grow up hating white people; and what she believes to be the message of the film. Includes commercials.

(Network varies; this series was also telecast on NBC from 1961 to 1981 and on CBS from 1981 to 1983.)

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: January 18, 1998 Sunday 7:58 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:57:51
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:51944
• GENRE: Drama, historical
• SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama, historical; Civil rights movement; Racism - Drama
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - 3 Musketeers candy bars
  • TV - Commercials - AT&T for United Negro College Fund
  • TV - Commercials - Advil cold relief
  • TV - Commercials - Chef Boyardee ravioli
  • TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Chex Mix snacks
  • TV - Commercials - Dr. Pepper soft drinks
  • TV - Commercials - Ethan Allen furniture
  • TV - Commercials - Frito Lay snack packs
  • TV - Commercials - Hallmark stores
  • TV - Commercials - Huggies diapers
  • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Endangered Species shampoos and soaps
  • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars
  • TV - Commercials - Kraft Singles cheese
  • TV - Commercials - Kraft macaroni and cheese
  • TV - Commercials - Little Caesars pizza
  • TV - Commercials - Little Debbie cream pies
  • TV - Commercials - Maybelline mascara
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
  • TV - Commercials - Quaker rice cakes
  • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
  • TV - Commercials - Wal-Mart stores
  • TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Extra bubble gum
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "America's Funniest Home Videos"
  • TV - Promos - "Boy Meets World"
  • TV - Promos - "Dharma & Greg"
  • TV - Promos - "Grace Under Fire"
  • TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
  • TV - Promos - "Nightmare Street"
  • TV - Promos - "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"
  • TV - Promos - "Spin City"
  • TV - Promos - "Teen Angel"
  • TV - Promos - "The Wedding"
  • TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: Aladdin and the King of Thieves"

CREDITS

• Marian Rees … Executive Producer
• Anne Hopkins … Producer
• Euzhan Palcy … Co-Producer, Director
• Toni Ann Johnson … Writer
• Ruby Bridges … Based on events in the life of
• Patrice Rushen … Music by
• Lisa McRee … Interviewer
• Ruby Bridges … Guest
• Penelope Ann Miller … Cast, Barbara Henry
• Kevin Pollak … Cast, Dr. Robert Coles
• Michael Beach … Cast, Abon Bridges
• Jean Louisa Kelly … Cast, Jane Coles
• Peter Francis James … Cast, Dr. A.C. Broyard
• Patrika Darbo … Cast, Miss Spencer
• Chaz Monet … Cast, Ruby Bridges
• Diana Scarwid … Cast, Miss Woodmere
• Lela Rochon … Cast, Lucielle "Lucy" Bridges
• Toni Ann Johnson … Cast, Alma Broyard
• Michael Burgess … Cast, Mr. Lewis
• Al Butler … Cast, Senior Marshal
• Charlie Lucas … Cast, Mr. Taylor
• Kiara Tucker … Cast, Alison
• Christopher Stokes … Cast, Carl
• Whitney Tucker … Cast, Mary
• Georgia Weeks … Cast, Jimmy's Mother
• Jeffrey Spoto … Cast, Jimmy
• Derin Altay … Cast, Mrs. Stein
• Ralph Wilcox … Cast, Pastor
• Joan Gibson … Cast, Mrs. Taylor
• Robin Robertson … Cast, Reporter
• John P. Menese … Cast, Minister
• Brandon Morgan … Cast, Gospel Singer
• Paula Davis … Cast, Arlene
• Joe Maggard … Cast, State Trooper
• John Keenan … Cast, Barricade Guard
• Gil Johnson … Cast, Policeman
• Chuck Kinlaw … Cast, Policeman #1
• D.L. Anderson … Cast, Mother #1
• Christian Fincannon … Cast, Cathy