This is a great TV movie adaption of Uncle Tom's Cabin (with Captain Sisko of DS9 portraying Tom majestically including several great vocal solos) that restores Uncle Tom to Harriet Beecher Stowe's character of a noble savior figure rather than the modern pejorative slur that came from later adaptions of the novel. A great film for a family movie night.

I remembered watching this movie in a high school English class and thought it was kind of inspirational and gripping, a story about black slave Tom and the people he encounters and his struggles for freedom. Slavery is one of the darkest chapters in American history, but this movie delicately captures the drama in one slave's life and how he strives to interact kindly and courageously with others despite his situation. It doesn't rely on overly violent and graphic scenes like many mainstream movies with slavery or war themes (12 Years A Slave coming to mind) to be entertaining. Instead, this movie relied on the drama, history, character development and the depiction of how precious freedom is to be captivating. I thought the acting wasn't bad and there were a few scenes that might give you a chuckle, like the scene where a slave owner gets punched and shoved into a puddle. There are some disturbing scenes as well, but not overly excessive. Lastly, the plot flow had some momentum to it, which made the film engaging mostly throughout. It was an educational and appreciated film and one I recalled where my high school class did enjoy sitting through.Grade B

Never having read the original work,I don't feel qualified to comment as to how closely this adaptation follows the story.Nonetheless,I feel compelled to comment as to some of the casting. Bruce Dern has always been known,especially during the 50s,60s,and 70s,for his portrayals of lunatics,psychotics,and psychopaths.His villains were the most vile and loathsome that could be imagined.Repulsive is perhaps too kind an adjective.In later years,he mellowed his image to a great extent,playing quirky,off-beat,and eccentric supporting roles.So why,in this film,does he portray the tender,loving,sensitive Mr. St. Clare-unless they really wished to cast him against type?if that's the case,they really did a great job. And Edward Woodward's image is that of a suave,polished,sophisticated gentleman and man of the world.Even as a villain,he wouldn't be rude or vulgar.And Legree is one of the archetypal American brutes.The coarseness of Richard Boone or Neville Brand is necessary for this character.Was the director out of his mind when casting this part?

This is what a TV movie should be...Uncle Tom's Cabin has a good story, it has a message that still resonates, and it has good actors.In truth the story has been chopped up and glued back together. I'm sure that there are better version out there, but for a TV movie this is one worth seeing.Basically, this is one of those 1980's TV movies that for the most part has been forgotten (along with a majority of the decade's movies). If you can find a copy for cheap I'd recommend adding it to your collection.Rating 6 of 10