Abc’s ‘No Children Here’ Avoids Routine Storytelling
Back in 1993, ABC gave viewers a rest from murder-of-the-week movies filled with poor-me sentiment with a socially relevant, engaging drama, “There Are No Children Here.”
Oprah Winfrey stars in the TV movie, repeated at 9, which portrays youths in an inner-city housing project coping with violence, crime, gangs and poverty.
Winfrey plays a single-mom welfare recipient pitted against gangs who use various ploys - seduction, violence and strong-arm tactics - to recruit new members.
The primary focus here is on a preteen named Lafeyette (Mark Lane). He’s trying to help himself and his family escape poverty by working odd jobs and excelling at school.
As you’ll see, he faces many difficult choices between honesty and crime when coping with an absentee boozing father, an imprisoned older brother and gangster friends who seem to live a glamorous and lucrative lifestyle.
Lafeyette’s existence is complicated. He lacks much hope and is filled with despair.
The movie responsibly depicts his tough life and the effect it has on his younger siblings.
You’ll want to applaud the young actors and Winfrey, who turn in believable, affecting performances. There are neither simple solutions nor saviors in this candidly told tale based on Alex Kotlowitz’s book.
You have to respect a movie that doesn’t fall into the trap of the tried-and-true formula of a happy ending following a string of melodramatic crises.
Highlights
“Summer Olympics,” NBC at 9 a.m. and 4:30 and 9:40 p.m.: Prime-time coverage features the finals of the women’s all-around gymnastics competition and swimming. Later, it’s men’s volleyball, women’s basketball and boxing.
“Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), CBS at 8: An Oscar-winner for Best Picture, this spirited, heartwarming tale recounts the 25-year relationship between a Southern matron (Jessica Tandy) and her black chauffeur (Morgan Freeman). It is a story of friendship set against the racial turmoil of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Dan Aykroyd, Patti LuPone and Esther Rolle co-star.
“High Incident,” ABC at 8: Marsh (David Keith) gets cute by recommending Bonner go undercover as a prostitute. That’s pretty crass, considering she’s already smacked him with a sexual-harassment complaint.
Also, Gayer and Joiner stop a haughty motorist who turns out to be an out-of-town cop. Repeat.
“New York Undercover,” FOX at 9: Assigned to infiltrate a Caribbean religious cult linked to a murder, Eddie (Michael DeLorenzo) has a bizarre vision of his own death. Musical guest: Chante Moore. Repeat.
“48 Hours,” CBS at 10: With NBC’s “ER” shut down by the Olympics, it’s a good time to repeat an hour on life in a real-life emergency room. It’s not as glamorous as the television series but is a place where life-and-death drama can unfold.
Cable Calls
“Warlock: The Armageddon” (1993), TNT at 5: Julian Sands reprises his role as Satan’s emissary. The original film burned with thrills and stomach-turning chills. The sequel is no prize, and it’s been watered down considerably for television.
TNT’s theme night continues at 7:05 with 1968’s spooky “Rosemary’s Baby,” followed at 10 by the tepid 1976 made-for-TV sequel, “Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby.” At midnight, it’s Tom Selleck and Barra Grant in 1972’s forgettable “Daughters of Satan.”
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: First-run “Geronimo: The Last Renegade” sheds light on the Native American who waged war on both the Mexican and U.S. armies. He twice escaped from government custody to continue his guerrilla raids and lives on as one of the great legends of the West.