Before Women Had Wings
Encyclopedia
Before Women Had Wings is a 1997 television film, based on the story by Connie May Fowler
about a mother whose abusive husband commits suicide, and she starts to violently abuse her two daughters. It is only then that a kindly woman becomes good friends with her youngest daughter, who therefore escapes the harsh realities of life.
) and her sister Phoebe (Julia Stiles
), constantly putting up with their parents arguments. Their father, Billy (John Savage
) is always beating their mother Glory Marie (Ellen Barkin
) and every time things seem to go right between Glory Marie and Billy, yet another argument begins. Unable to put up with it any longer Glory Marie tells Billy she's taking the girls and leaving him, he punches her and knocks her teeth out, then drives off in the car. Later that evening a policeman shows up at the door to tell them that Billy has killed himself.
Set on starting a new life Glory Marie takes her daughters and moves to a motel in Florida, where she get a job as a bookkeeper in the motel office run by Louis Ippolito (Burt Young
). They move into an old trailer because there are no rooms. Bird becomes friends with a kind black woman named Zora Williams (Oprah Winfrey
) who Glory Marie warns her to stay away from. Glory Marie begins to drink heavily, and beats Phoebe with a brush for staying out late with Louis' son L.J (Louis Cragnali). She later hits Bird on the head with a mug for asking for a bike for Christmas. Glory Marie's estranged son Hank (William Lee Scott
) comes to visit for Christmas, as he left home because of his parents and there is still some friction between them. Bird spends more and more time with Zora, behind Glory Marie's back, she feels better about being with her because she know there can be a better life for her. Phoebe finally stands up to Glory Marie when she calls Phoebe a tramp for the way she's dressed and slaps her, Phoebe slaps her back.
Glory Marie eventually discovers that Bird has been visiting Zora and violently beats her with a belt and leaves. Phoebe takes her to Zora. When Glory Marie returns the next morning she barges into Zora's and demands her daughters come back with her but Zora has a word with her and tells her she understands. When her husband died she ignored her daughter, but she never hit her, and she is going to see her daughter again, but she is not going anywhere until she knows the girls are safe. Glory Marie makes the hardest decision of her life when she decides to send her daughters away with Zora. On their last day together, Glory Marie makes them dinner, washes folds, and packs all their clothes and she brushes Bird's hair, with the same brush she used to beat Phoebe. When the girls leave with Zora, Bird is unsure if she will ever see her mother again.
as Glory Marie Jackson
Oprah Winfrey
as Zora Williams
Tina Majorino
as Avocet Abigale 'Bird' Jackson
Julia Stiles
as Phoebe Jackson
John Savage
as Billy Jackson
Burt Young
as Louis Ippolito
William Lee Scott
as Hank Jackson
Louis Crugnali as L.J. Ippolito
David Hart
as the sherrif
Connie May Fowler
Connie May Fowler is an American novelist, essayist, memoirist, screenwriter, and poet. Her semi-autobiographical novel, Before Women had Wings, received the 1996 Southern Book Critics Circle Award and the Francis Buck Award...
about a mother whose abusive husband commits suicide, and she starts to violently abuse her two daughters. It is only then that a kindly woman becomes good friends with her youngest daughter, who therefore escapes the harsh realities of life.
Plot
Life is hard for Avocet Abigale 'Bird' Jackson (Tina MajorinoTina Majorino
Tina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld...
) and her sister Phoebe (Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles
Julia O'Hara Stiles is an American actress.After beginning her career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet...
), constantly putting up with their parents arguments. Their father, Billy (John Savage
John Savage (actor)
John Savage is an American film actor, producer, production manager, and composer.- Acting career :...
) is always beating their mother Glory Marie (Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
) and every time things seem to go right between Glory Marie and Billy, yet another argument begins. Unable to put up with it any longer Glory Marie tells Billy she's taking the girls and leaving him, he punches her and knocks her teeth out, then drives off in the car. Later that evening a policeman shows up at the door to tell them that Billy has killed himself.
Set on starting a new life Glory Marie takes her daughters and moves to a motel in Florida, where she get a job as a bookkeeper in the motel office run by Louis Ippolito (Burt Young
Burt Young
Burt Young is an American actor, painter and author. He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role as Sylvester Stallone's brother-in-law and friend Paulie in the Rocky film series.-Personal life:...
). They move into an old trailer because there are no rooms. Bird becomes friends with a kind black woman named Zora Williams (Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
) who Glory Marie warns her to stay away from. Glory Marie begins to drink heavily, and beats Phoebe with a brush for staying out late with Louis' son L.J (Louis Cragnali). She later hits Bird on the head with a mug for asking for a bike for Christmas. Glory Marie's estranged son Hank (William Lee Scott
William Lee Scott
William Lee Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of dim-witted high school student Stanley "Bullethead" Kuznocki on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show...
) comes to visit for Christmas, as he left home because of his parents and there is still some friction between them. Bird spends more and more time with Zora, behind Glory Marie's back, she feels better about being with her because she know there can be a better life for her. Phoebe finally stands up to Glory Marie when she calls Phoebe a tramp for the way she's dressed and slaps her, Phoebe slaps her back.
Glory Marie eventually discovers that Bird has been visiting Zora and violently beats her with a belt and leaves. Phoebe takes her to Zora. When Glory Marie returns the next morning she barges into Zora's and demands her daughters come back with her but Zora has a word with her and tells her she understands. When her husband died she ignored her daughter, but she never hit her, and she is going to see her daughter again, but she is not going anywhere until she knows the girls are safe. Glory Marie makes the hardest decision of her life when she decides to send her daughters away with Zora. On their last day together, Glory Marie makes them dinner, washes folds, and packs all their clothes and she brushes Bird's hair, with the same brush she used to beat Phoebe. When the girls leave with Zora, Bird is unsure if she will ever see her mother again.
Cast
Ellen BarkinEllen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
as Glory Marie Jackson
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
as Zora Williams
Tina Majorino
Tina Majorino
Tina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld...
as Avocet Abigale 'Bird' Jackson
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles
Julia O'Hara Stiles is an American actress.After beginning her career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet...
as Phoebe Jackson
John Savage
John Savage (actor)
John Savage is an American film actor, producer, production manager, and composer.- Acting career :...
as Billy Jackson
Burt Young
Burt Young
Burt Young is an American actor, painter and author. He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role as Sylvester Stallone's brother-in-law and friend Paulie in the Rocky film series.-Personal life:...
as Louis Ippolito
William Lee Scott
William Lee Scott
William Lee Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of dim-witted high school student Stanley "Bullethead" Kuznocki on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show...
as Hank Jackson
Louis Crugnali as L.J. Ippolito
David Hart
David Hart
David Hart may refer to:* David Berry Hart , Scottish surgeon and professor* David Hart , American actor* David Hart , Australian rules footballer...
as the sherrif
Awards
| Year | Result | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Aritos | Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week - Francine Maisler | |
| 1998 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or a Movie - Ellen Barkin Ellen Barkin Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman... |
|
| 1998 | Golden Globe | Best Perfoemance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV - Ellen Barkin Ellen Barkin Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman... |
|
| 1998 | Golden Satellite Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Ellen Barkin Ellen Barkin Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman... |
|
| 1998 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series/Made-for-TV Movie - Tina Majorino Tina Majorino Tina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld... |
|
| 1998 | YoungStar Award | Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Mini-Series/Made-for-TV Movie - Tina Majorino Tina Majorino Tina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld... |
External links
- Before Women Had Wings at the internet movie database