MovieChat Forums > Family (1976) Discussion > Sada Thompson carries this show

Sada Thompson carries this show

posted 16 years ago by ethersmum
18 replies | jump to latest

Don't get me wrong: everyone is great, but I find myself absolutely riveted to every scene that Sada Thompson is in. I have owned the DVD of seasons 1 and 2 for two years now and have about 20 episodes from other seasons on VHS and I find myself fast-forwarding through scenes that don't include her. Yes, she's that good.

I particularly love the mother-son chemistry between Thompson and Gary Frank: you can just tell that these two actors got on like a house on fire off-set. Example: the scene in "Coming of Age" where Nancy leaves Kate a to-do list as long as her arm but then takes Kate's car without asking, thus leaving Kate stranded at home and unable to run Nancy's errands for her. Willie teases his mother by saying, "Hey Mom, how about if Dad drives me to work and you can have my motorcycle?" Kate says, very seriously, "Why didn't I think of that? Gee, thanks Willie." For a second, Willie looks stunned that his Patrician and lady-like mother would consider using his motorcycle. Then Kate pokes him in the belly and says, "Nearly got ya that time, didn't I?" This moment is so natural, you'd swear it was an ad-lib between actors.

And I love the quiet love demonstrated between Kate and Doug. It's not flashy, but they do exchange the odd "suggestive" comment from time to time. It's so refreshing and reassuring that they are still in love. Their "sexy" scenes, if you can call them that, make me giggle.

[–] sjbradford 16 years ago

I find Kate quite unlikable. Willie and Nancy and Annie too. If anyone carried the show, it was young Kristy McNichol, and she has the Emmys to prove it. Buddy was the only person in the cast that I would want to spent an hour a week with.

[–] ethersmum 16 years ago

I agree that Kristy McNichol was fantastic, especially for an untrained child actor. Sounds as though you didn't like the character Thompson was playing. I'm talking about her acting, and Ms. Thompson has won several Tony awards and at least two Emmys. Kristy McNichol starred in "The Pirate Movie" and had a sitcom role on "Empty Nest". I would suggest that McNichol's charm and acting ability faded a bit when the novelty of her youth wore out...

While I understand that it is sometimes difficult to separate the role from the actress, that is itself a testimony to Sada Thompson's fine acting ability. Perhaps McNichol pulled the audience in to "Family", but I feel Thompson and Broderick, like good parents, were the glued that held "Family" together.

[–] sjbradford 16 years ago

Sada Thompson is a fantastic actor - no argument there. But to me, for someone to "carry" a show means not only is that person a talented actor, but they are someone that the audience is tuning in specifically to see every week. Someone can be the best actor in the world, but if a significant number of people don't like the character they play, then that actor isn't really "carrying" the show. And Kate Lawrence was too unlikable to be characterized that way, IMHO.

[–] Wardman3 16 years ago

As a kid, this was my favorite show, partly because I had a massive crush on Kristy McNichol. Looking back at that age, I was 7 when it came out but a smart 7 year old, I thought Kate Lawrence was somewhat a mean mom. Flash foward 30 years later, I have viewed all episodes of seasons 1 and 2 and I find how wrong I was. I see her now as a loving, smart strong woman who loved her kids. I see tenderness, wit, and sensibilities now that I never saw 30 years ago. So.. hats off to Sada Thompson for adding such depth to a great chracter in a great show. She deserved that Emmy without a shred of doubt.

[–] lux7-578-527347 12 years ago

I ordered the first two seasons a while back, and every so often, I watch them and find some of the scenes so funny. Sada Thompson was a real hit for me, I wish we would have been my mother, such a loveable character. I loved each character, mostly, i only was able to relate to Buddy, since I was at her age when she filmed it, and could relate....

Did Willie and Salina ever get married? They were a cute couple...It's funny, even after all these years, when I watch a sad episode, I cry. It's so refreshing to have a show where there is no profanity, sex, or vulgar nuances as they have on today's sitcoms. Of course, in Hollywood, whatever is wholesome is ok for a while, but, get rid of it and put on crap for those who have a lesser intelligence.

I am really interested in the set design, since I am a child of the 70's, I would love to decorate my house the same way as the Lawrence's. I love the wallpaper, and the plants, and how they made everything so beautiful.

[–] taylorje 16 years ago

Nancy had it made with a mom like Kate! If I'd left my mother a list of errands to run, she'd have laughed and told me to run them myself!

[–] justinaames 8 years ago

Kate pretty much told Nancy to get over herself in that and every other episode throughout the run of the show. There was sex, but much more was left to the imagination, and vulgarity was off limits. I loved the other characters, but Kate was my favorite, and my main reason for watching.

[–] topkapi56 15 years ago

All of the acting on Family was top-notch but I agree that Sada Thompson was the anchor that held it all together. In the later years when the focus shifted too much to Buddy (a wonderful Kristy McNichol),the show was not as good. Not that Kristy was not her usual wonderful self as always but this show was all about that family and while they could go off and concentrate on one of the members now and then, when it veered too far off for too long it was weaker. The dynamic of those actors playing off each other was just about perfect. The guest cast members sometimes worked up the level of the regulars and sometimes not. And there should be a special mention for John Rubinstein who I think played Jeff very nicely.

[–] isisdawonder 15 years ago

I think of all of the characterS, aside from Willie, Kate was the most dynamic. She had a quiet force about her, strong, yet vulnerable. She was certainly the glue that held that family together, yet she wasn't so strong that she couldn't lean on her family, esp Doug when she needed it. She had a special relationship with each child, including Annie in the later years.

Many might think she was a mean mom, because she didn't take any BS from her kids, but THAT is what made her that much more likeable IMO. She believed in encouraging her kids to do right and think about the choices presented before them and the consequences for those choices. But she was also there to lead an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. She WAS NOT the PERFECT mother figure that we'd seen in the 50s and 60s (Donna Reed being the exception to that rule. Kate didn't always have the answers...and she didn't really TRY to have all the answers.

And how inspiring was it when Kate decided to go back to college and get her degree. For the 70s...for a middle aged woman...that was a BIG deal.

Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with.
Brian Walker to Tracy Chambers in Mahogany

[–] tigerbos 15 years ago

I think it's a great ensemble cast actually; however, I have to agree that Sada Thompson, the matriarch of the family is really the centerpiece of show.
I envy you having more episodes. I've only gotten to see one and two!

I think she's the saddest girl ever to hold a martini.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

I concur with the original poster. Sada Thompson kept that family together. My mother LOVES the show "Family". She kept us together during hard times.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] spike71 12 years ago

Sada Thompson was fantastic as Kate and I can't think of another actress who would do as good of a job.

I can only hope that with so many channels now showing the older shows (AntennaTV, Cozi TV, etc.) that one of them will pick up Family. I think it's obvious we aren't going to get any more DVD's, unfortunately.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Blueghost 12 years ago

whatever.

[–] rjmgreen 11 years ago

I never liked Sada Thompson. Even when she smiles she has that pained, constipated look on her face. Her voice is flat. I found Buddy and Nancy to be the most intriguing characters. Sada Thompson was too cookie cutter. She actually had to remember a British neighbor to have a cup of tea to settle down. Her character was not developed well, and she was grating. Carol Brady was more realistic.

[–] BugisStreetAnnie (1297) 7 years ago

I never liked Sada Thompson. Even when she smiles she has that pained, constipated look on her face.

LOL, I've been watching a few episodes on DVD, and that's so true. She always has that same pained, constipated look.