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A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story

  • TV Movie
  • 1989
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
129
YOUR RATING
A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (1989)
BiographyDramaSport

Mary Thomas is a single mother with nine children in a rough Chicago neighborhood. She struggles through poverty, resisting gangsters, violence and drugs while battling an indifferent city b... Read allMary Thomas is a single mother with nine children in a rough Chicago neighborhood. She struggles through poverty, resisting gangsters, violence and drugs while battling an indifferent city bureaucracy. Her children thrive under her protection, despite the dangers and temptations ... Read allMary Thomas is a single mother with nine children in a rough Chicago neighborhood. She struggles through poverty, resisting gangsters, violence and drugs while battling an indifferent city bureaucracy. Her children thrive under her protection, despite the dangers and temptations of their neighborhood. Mary's youngest son, Isiah Thomas, grows up to be one of the greate... Read all

  • Director
    • John Patterson
  • Writer
    • Jason Miller
  • Stars
    • Alfre Woodard
    • A.J. Johnson
    • Leon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    129
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Patterson
    • Writer
      • Jason Miller
    • Stars
      • Alfre Woodard
      • A.J. Johnson
      • Leon
    • 3User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos

    Top cast34

    Edit
    Alfre Woodard
    Alfre Woodard
    • Mary Thomas
    A.J. Johnson
    A.J. Johnson
    • Ruby Thomas
    Leon
    Leon
    • Michael Thomas
    Garland Spencer
    • Isiah Thomas - Middle School
    Chick Vennera
    Chick Vennera
    • Coach Gene Pingatore
    Larry O. Williams Jr.
    • Isiah Thomas - High School
    Jamey Sheridan
    Jamey Sheridan
    • Brother Ted
    Harry Lennix
    Harry Lennix
    • Nero
    Wanda Christine
    • Sara
    • (as Wandachristine)
    Shamon Ricks
    • Jojo
    Lanei Chapman
    Lanei Chapman
    • Mary (16 years)
    Barbara E. Robertson
    Barbara E. Robertson
    • Miss Day
    • (as Barbara Robertson)
    Marty Higginbotham
    • Mr. Davis
    Ed Grennan
    • Mayor Daley
    Moon Hi Hanson
    • Dr. Kim
    Bernard Mixon
    • Mary's Father
    Rengin Altay
    • M.J.
    Bob Kohut
    • LoBianco
    • Director
      • John Patterson
    • Writer
      • Jason Miller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    6.9129
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    Featured reviews

    parky-3

    It's a wonderful (true) life

    The story of a devoted mother's efforts to keep her children on the straight and narrow, despite the many temptations facing them on the streets of their squalid neighbourhood. Dramatisation of real events, as they say.
    8ripplinbuckethead

    A bit more info about this excellent film.

    This is the story of Mary Thomas, mother of basketball superstar Isaiah Thomas, and the things she did to ensure a good life for her children. It chronicles their family's life in the projects and the struggles they went through, such as lack of money, health issues and even violence (one of her sons being involved with a vigilante group and also the drive-by shooting of a friend of Isaiah's are dealt with). It shows how strong Mary Thomas' love for her children is and follows, to some extent, the life of Isaiah as he progressed through high school and on through graduation at college. This is a thoroughly enjoyable movie and I hope to see it again some day!

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Featured in The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1990)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 3, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mut einer Mutter
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Interscope Communications
      • Walt Disney Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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