The Secret Path (TV 1999)

A drama about a young, neglected white girl in the rural South who, with the help of an unlikely couple, finds the solace and nurturing needed to transform her downtrodden life.

Director:

Bruce Pittman

Writers:

Rose Mary Evans (book), Bill C. Davis (teleplay),

Stars:

Della Reese, Crystal Bernard, Madeline Zima

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Della Reese	...	Honey
Crystal Bernard	...	Marie Foley
Madeline Zima	...	Jo Ann Foley (age 14)
Yvonne Zima	...	Jo Ann (age 7)
Ron White	...	Hank Foley
Yolanda King	...	Ms. Evelyn
Ossie Davis	...	Too Tall
Brenda Bazinet	...	Grandma Foley
William Greenblatt	...	Bobby Foley (child)
Lynda Mason Green	...	JoAnn age 40 (as Lyn Mason Green)
David Roemmele	...	Bobby age 15
Zachary Bennett	...	Young Paul
Johnie Chase	...	Dr. Joe
Aimée Castle	...	Lydia (as Aimee Castle)
Vince Corazza	...	Karl

Storyline

The young daughter of an abusive grandfather finds happiness when she is with an older black couple. Her mother tries to overcome the family's problems, but is constantly beat back by her controlling father.

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Plot Keywords:

based on book

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 April 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chasing Secrets

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Greenwald Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Wonderful family movie. I loved it!

This was a wonderful movie. I loved it & yes it did make me cry. The movie is set in rural Tennessee. It's about a poor, unloved & unwanted little white girl & her black neighbors, who are older & very loving & nurturing to her. The story is being told by the girl, who is now grown up, to her daughter. Her story begins with her birth on a stormy rainy night during the depression. The girls grandfather is a no good, drunk who takes the baby as soon as she is born and drives off with her & leaves he beside the road in the rain. But to his surprise someone brings the baby back & leaves her on the front porch of their house. The grandfather is very mean to the girl through out her childhood & even beats her & tries to get her involved in prostitution when she is only 14 (to support the family), but the girls refuses & fights back. It is her neighbors who take her in & lovingly care for her, but they must bring her back because she is white & they are black. The old black woman (Della Reese) lets the no good grandfather know that she is the one who brought the girl back when she was a baby & she won't stand for him beating her. I won't give it all away, but this is one you really will enjoy watching. I'd never heard of it before, but it is the best movie I've seen in a long time. I highly recommend it. A great family movie. Della Reese was superb! I give it a 10!