Grand Avenue (1996) (TV)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Daniel Sackheim

Writers (WGA):

Greg Sarris (book)
Greg Sarris (teleplay)

Release Date:

30 June 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Around every corner in America there's a story waiting to be told.

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Native American | Based On Book

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Irene Bedard	...	Reyna
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Nellie
Eloy Casados	...	Albert
Alexis Cruz	...	Raymond
Deeny Dakota	...	Justine
Diane Debassige	...	Alice
Jenny Gago	...	Anna
Cody Lightning	...	Sheldon
A Martinez	...	Steven
Simi Mehta	...	Jeanne
August Schellenberg	...	Sherman
Sheila Tousey	...	Mollie
Sam Vlahos	...	Henry
Carmen Ahern	...	Evangeline
Quala Anderson	...	Gang Girl #2

Runtime:

167 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Santa Rosa, California, USA

Company:

Elsboy Entertainment

Quotes:

Nellie: You know the spider, she taught us to weave. There was a girl one time and her grandma was real sick. That old woman couldn't even make it to the creek and she needed water. And that girl started crying. And the spider heard her. She said 'I'll teach you to weave...

Whatever Happened To Deeny Dakota?

The promo reads "Around Every Corner in America There's a Story Waiting To Be Told." The story here is about native Americans. One family in particular.

Mollie moves her two teenage daughters, and her young son, to a new neighborhood when they are expelled from their Indian Reservation after the death of her husband.

With no where else to go she goes to her cousin Anna, who lives on Grand Avenue.

Mollie has a drinking problem, can't hold down a job and has demons from her past.

The oldest daughter, Justine (portrayed perfectly by the beautiful and talented Deeny Dakota,) is an angry and rebellious girl. However, she has redeeming qualities. She is vulnerable and right from the start it is apparent she is hiding this behind her toughness, sexuality and her edge.

Her sister, Alice, is more reserved and responsible. She's the one that looks after little brother, Sheldon.

It's about a rough neighborhood, and the different races there, Blacks and Latinos, too. The Black gang thinks the native Americans are Latino. The black girl gang want to cut Justine, because she was messin with one of their men. This is the new "West Side Story."

It's also a soap opera in many ways. Past secrets etc.

This story is excellent. Superbly written, if you can get past the F-word (but hey folks, that's the way they really talk.)

Originally this was a two part mini-series on HBO. It can be bought or rented in a two video set.

Filmed on location in Santa Rosa, CA and Produced by Robert Redford. Yes, the Robert Redford. It co-stars A. Martinez, most recently of "General Hospital," and Alexis Cruz of "Touched By An Angel."

But the real star of the show is Deeny Dakota. This is her character's story. And Miss Dakota is as fine an actress as there has ever been.