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[[caption]] the real Marva Collins and Cicely Tyson [[/caption]]

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[[caption]] CBS Press Corp entertained press representatives from N.Y. at a reception in the 21 Club to meet Cicely Tyson and Morgan Freeman the stars of the Marva Collins Story. [[/caption]]

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[[caption]] Tyson, Reiss, Producer, Al Freeman [[/caption]]

CICELY TYSON STARRED IN "THE MARVA COLLINS STORY" ON THE "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME."
Moving Drama of Remarkable Chicago Schoolteacher Was Inspired By "60 Minutes" Report of Her Success Outside the System

Cicely Tyson starred as the inspiring Chicago schoolteacher who gained national recognition when she abandoned the traditional school system and worked teaching miracles with students labelled "unteachable," in "The Marva Collins Story," a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation that was broadcast TUESDAY, DEC. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.

The special marked the 31st season of innovative, entertaining and prestigious "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentations on network television.

Edward Asner, star of "Lou Grant," on the Network, introduced the special and summarizes Mrs. Collins' stunning achievements with black children in a Chicago ghetto.

In 1979, CBS News' "60 Minutes" produced a segment on Mrs. Collins, a teacher then working in one of Chicago's toughest neighborhoods who, after 14 years in the public school system, became disillusioned, quit, and opened her own school. With her charismatic teaching style, great intelligence and dedication to excellence, Mrs. Collins transformed her students, many of whom lived in poverty and had been labelled "unteachable" by public school authorities, into young scholars thirsty for knowledge.

The "60 Minutes" report stimulated the largest volume of mail the braodcast had received to that date, and this response in turn helped to spur production of the motion picture.

Miss Tyson plays the title role in the inspirational dramatization of Mrs. Collins' struggle against insurmountable odds to provide her students with a quality education. Morgan Freeman stars as Marva's devoted and supportive husband, Clarence, who stood behind his wife when she dreamed of creating her own school.

When Marva Collins decided to start her school, she and Clarence used their savings and Marva's retirement fund to turn their two-story family home into a classroom. Fighting red tape, ever-mounting bills and even the reluctance of some parents, Marva opened her class with six pupils, including two of her own children. Through love, understanding, rigorous teaching drills and unflagging energy, she inspired her students to rise above the pejorative labels society had placed on them and to overcome the overwhelming obstacles of ghetto life to become scholars.

With the role of  Marva Collins, Cicely Tyson adds to the list of inspiring performances that have highlighted her career. The actress won two Emmy Awards for playing the title role in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," seen on the Network. She also won an Emmy nomination for the mini-series "Roots" and an Oscar nomination for the theatrical motion picture "Sounder." She has starred in the television special "A Woman Called Moses," the mini-series "King," and in the feature films "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and "A Man Called Adam."

Morgan Freeman received a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award for his performance on Broadway in "The Mighty Gents." A regular for five years on the children's series "The Electric Company," Freeman's motion picture-for-television credits include "Attica," "Roll of Thunder, Hear Me Cry" and "The Hollow Image." He has appeared in the feature films "Brubaker" and "The Janitor."

Executive Producer Marian Ree's production credits include the motion pictures-for-television "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," "One in a Million," "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom."

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