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Take a Giant Step

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After African-American teenager Spence Scott (Johnny Nash) gets expelled from his private school for arguing with a teacher, he turns to his grandmother (Estelle Hemsley) for advice. Spence, who lives in a genteel white area and has mostly white friends, feels like an outsider. He visits a bar in a black neighborhood, where he meets a few prostitutes, which doesn't help. Eventually, Spence starts a friendship with the housekeeper, Christine (Ruby Dee), who tells him her own difficult story.
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Take a Giant Step

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 04/02/2011
B-
A sensitive, well-acted coming-of-age melodrama about a black teenager living in a white neighborhood, played by Johnny nash (later a famous singer). Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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steve d 07/20/2020 Well done and important for its time. See more 03/14/2008 I really liked this movie. I really liked Johnny Nash. More people should see this movie, because it's a good one. See more 08/13/2007 Interesting civil-rights piece follows svelte young Spencer and his frustrations about being black. From his uppity grandmother, his spineless parents, and his fair-weather white friends, this film is interesting if not a little strange. See more Read all reviews
Take a Giant Step

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Cast & Crew

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Philip Leacock

Director

Johnny Nash

Spencer "Spence" Scott

Estelle Hemsley

Grandma "Gram" Martin

Ruby Dee

Christine

Frederick O'Neal

Lem "Daddy" Scott

Ellen Holly

Carol
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Take a Giant Step

Take a Giant Step (1959) Take a Giant Step (1959) Take a Giant Step (1959) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After African-American teenager Spence Scott (Johnny Nash) gets expelled from his private school for arguing with a teacher, he turns to his grandmother (Estelle Hemsley) for advice. Spence, who lives in a genteel white area and has mostly white friends, feels like an outsider. He visits a bar in a black neighborhood, where he meets a few prostitutes, which doesn't help. Eventually, Spence starts a friendship with the housekeeper, Christine (Ruby Dee), who tells him her own difficult story.
Director
Philip Leacock
Producer
Julius J. Epstein
Production Co
Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 2, 2020
Runtime
1h 40m
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