Separate But Equal

Although writer-director George Stevens Jr., the driving force behind this network-television mini-series about events that set in motion the desegregation of American public schools, confuses length with depth, expressive acting and the material's inherent historical importance make it mandatory viewing. 1950, South Carolina: The schools serving the African-American students of small town Clarendon suffer in comparison with those serving the area's white children. When School Superintendent Springer (Macon McCalman) refuses to give even a single, run-down bus to schoolteacher Reverend Delaine (Ed Hall), he persuades Mr. Briggs (Tommy Hollis), the father of one of hi...