Customer Reviews

Amazing Grace

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lovers of the legendary Black commedienne Moms Mabley will treasure this film. In a way, it's about everything she stood for. She moves to Baltimore and gets involved when crooked politicans use a confused Black man (Moses Gunn) and his alcoholic wife (Rosiland Cash) as puppets in a phony race. Seventy-plus year old Moms steps in this mess and does her best to straighten things out! I dare anyone who remembers Moms to keep a dry eye when she gives her climactic speech to the students at Morgan State University (a real Black college in Baltimore). It's almost as if she were giving her own eulogy while still giving the students hope to fight for a better tomorrow (she had a heart attack during the filming and died shortly after it was released).

Admittedly, this is a very low-budget film with poor sound. But like I said, if you love Moms, you'll love this.

I saw this movie on cable a while back and I just laughed myself to the ground. Let me explain this movie; A older lady(Ms Moms Mabley herself, who was a gem and is gone now, but if u was around back in the day, u know what I mean); just happens to live next door to this shady politician(Moses Gunn), who if elected, will take the money slated for that area and use for his own "uses". Somehow, Moms has this fella(Slappy White) who helps her out in her shenanigans by putting up elaborate spy systems so they can hear the politician's business. After his high faluting wife(Rosalind Cash, who was as much a gem and gone too)puts on airs with Moms and some of the neighborhood women, Moms give her something to cry for and she and her husband in time, see the light to turn things around. Folks, this is one good movie; a bit disjointed at times, but you can catch the message just the same; Look for bit parts by Debbie Morgan and some others who are prominent now.

Fantastic! What a wonderful movie, blending the old south with the movement of the times. It influenced me to buy it and add it to my collection of American movies.

I have heard of Moms Mabley but never got a chance to see her comedy until I watched Amazing Grace. The DVD was excellent and Moms Mabley comedy was off the hook. I strongly recommend the DVD

I was surprised that Moms Mabley was on DVD. The story plot is good and even through it was filmed a good time ago, it rings true in politics today. It was funny while still making moral points. I will watch it many time in the future. This is truly a reflection from the good old days. It is a really good way to see parts of Baltimore in the old day.

Amazing Grace was the last movie that starred the incomparable Moms Mabley; she died only eight months after the release of this film. Amazing Grace gives us plenty of laughs, snappy dialogue and many, many scenes that allow Moms Mabley to strut her stuff and entertain us as no other comedienne ever could!

The action starts just after Grace (Moms Mabley) returns to Baltimore after a family reunion. She quickly finds out that her next door neighbor, who she barely knows because he's new to the neighborhood, is running for Mayor of Baltimore! With her platonic buddy Forthwith Wilson (Slappy White) she spies on her new neighbors, Welton Waters (Moses Gunn) and his wife Creola (Rosalind Cash). When Moms find out that the city's corrupt political machine is buying the election of Waters to use him as a paid pawn, Grace vows to take action!

Grace boldly spies even on the current mayor and helps gather damaging information on him and his machine to help Welton Waters rid himself of the political machine and run a clean campaign. As other reviewers have noted, Grace's campaign speech near the end of the movie is truly stirring. Moms Mabley outperforms even herself with this heartfelt speech encouraging younger people to fight for a better future.

Of course, it may well seem that I gave it all away--but rest assured I didn't. There are cameo roles for Butterfly McQueen and Stepin Fetchit that help to make the movie truly special. Moreover, questions still remain. Will Waters be able to win running on a totally clean platform? Will the political establishment try to block Waters even after they are exposed as crooks--and, if so, how will they fight back at Welton Waters? What about Grace and her buddy Forthwith Wilson? Will they ever become more than just friends? Watch the movie and find out!

The cinematography could have been better in a couple of scenes; at one point Forthwith is dancing in Grace's living room and his head is partially cut off the top of the screen! The choreography works well, however, in crowd scenes including the scene in which Grace gives her speech encouraging younger people to make a better world.

Hey, this may have been a low budget film but I scarcely noticed and I really didn't care. People watch this film because they want so much to see the wonderful performances of Moms Mabley, Slappy White, James Karen as an aide to the corrupt white establishment, Butterfly McQueen--and Stepin Fetchit in a role that WASN'T demeaning to African Americans.

I highly recommend this film for fans of the stars in this movie; and if you want light hearted comedy with a touch of social commentary then this is the movie for you!

Great job, everyone! Thank you so much!

This movie is a true hidden gem. The footage justs takes you back and makes you feel as if you were back in '75. Definate feel good movie.

Moms Mabley steals the show. From the beginning to the end, this movie will keep you laughing. It is funny, heartwarming, and amazing! Of course, by todays' standard of moviemaking, this would be considered a flop, but considering the year in which it was produced and released, this is a delightful movie.

Boy they don't make them like this any more! Not one single curse word through the whole film. And this was during the time when foul mouthed black comedians like Richard Pryor & Redd Foxx enjoyed their greatest success ever. Grace Teasdale Grimes (Moms Mabley) is returning home to Baltimore after a long visit with her grandchildren. Upon arriving home she & her friend Forthwith (Slappy White) discover that Grace has a new neighbor Welton J.Waters (Moses Gunn). It seems Mr. Waters is running for mayor of Baltimore. Grace is suspicious of things right away & she spies on Waters activities. She learns that the political race is rigged & that Welton is just being used. To make matters worse Welton's alcoholic wife (Rosalind Cash) has a real knack of making more trouble for Welton. One day Grace confronts Welton with the truth. She makes him see the error of his ways & even helps him win the election honestly. This was my first time seeing Moms in a movie or on tv. She didn't let me down! A good old fashioned comedy that everyone can enjoy! Watch for a cameo by Stepin Fetchit at the beginning of the movie. Later on he can be heard singing ''Hey Big Dancing Boy'' in voiceover(off camera). The only extra feature on the dvd is the trailer for Amazing Grace. This movie is promoted as Moms' film debut. Actually Jackie ''Moms'' Mabley had made her original screen debut in the early 1930's doing guest cameos in a couple of films starring Paul Robeson. Robeson was a fine black actor during his time. Amazing Grace was Moms new screen debut in 1975. It was also her final screen role. Moms suffered a heart attack halfway through shooting & she wore a pacemaker to finish the job. The results are clearly evident. The first half shows Moms as lively & energetic as ever. But by the last 20 minutes Moms' energy has been drained dry & she's fighting to stay alive let alone make a movie. For me the funniest & best part is Moms' speech to the students at Morgan State College. And that's just what Welton J. Waters needs to win the election. After the movie was completed Moms Mabley passed away. This was director Stan Lathan's first feature assignment. He deserves a huge round of cheers for keeping things moving under what must have been very hard working conditions. Also Amazing Grace could've gone downhill were it not for the supporting cast. Slappy White's tap dancing & comedy singing kept me in stitches as much so as Moms' antics! I wonder did the producers use Slappy's routines from his years with Redd Foxx? Anyway I hope you enjoy Amazing Grace. Once you start laughing you won't stop!

if it wasn't for the supporting actors this movie would've sucked. Ms mabley is a horrible actress.