Polly (1989 film)

Polly is a musical television movie that originally aired in November 1989 on NBC. Adapted from the book Pollyanna, Polly was directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen and stars Keshia Knight Pulliam and Phylicia Rashād. It also featured the final performance of actress Butterfly McQueen.

Plot

The film is set in Alabama during the 1950s and features an all African-American cast (with the exception of Celeste Holm). Pulliam stars as Polly Whittier, an orphan who is sent to live with her aunt Polly Harrington, who is a descendant of the founding family of a small Southern town (also called Harrington) during the segregation era. A key point in dividing the town is a ravine which has an unrepaired bridge which burned down many years ago, and no one knows how it started and is suspicious of everyone else. Polly is able to convince people to look at the bright side of things, but tragedy strikes when Polly falls two stories from a tree, suffering a spinal injury.

Polly proved to be a ratings hit and a sequel, Polly: Comin' Home!, followed in 1990. Both of these films are available on DVD exclusively from the Disney Movie Club and Disney Movie Rewards.

Cast

• Keshia Knight Pulliam as Polly Whittier
• Phylicia Rashād as Aunt Polly Harrington
• Dorian Harewood as Dr. Robert Shannon
• Barbara Montgomery as Mrs. Conley
• T. K. Carter as George Dodds
• Vanessa Bell Calloway as Nancy Palmer
• Brandon Quintin Adams as Jimmy Bean
• Butterfly McQueen as Miss Priss
• Larry Riley as Reverend Gillis
• Brock Peters as Mr. Pendergast
• Celeste Holm as Miss Snow
• Ken Page as Mayor Warren

Musical numbers

1. By Your Side – Polly
2. Honey Ain't Got Nothin' On You – Polly, Nancy, & Girls
3. Sweet Little Angel Eyes – Jimmy Bean, Polly, George, Nancy, & Children
4. Something More – Aunt Polly
5. Shine A Light – Mayor Warren, Dr. Shannon, & George
6. Rainbow Maker – Polly, Nancy, & Aunt Polly
7. Stand Up – Reverend Gillis, Dr. Shannon, & Congregation
8. Finale – Company

• Soundtrack released on compact disc in 1989 by Walt Disney Records

Home media

Both Polly and Polly: Comin' Home were released on VHS by Walt Disney Home Video in 1990. Around 2000 the two movies were released on DVD on Disney Movie Club Exclusive.

Award nominations

External links

• Polly at the Internet Movie Database
• Polly at AllMovie