JOHNNIE MAE GIBSON

US, 1987, 96 minutes, Colour.
Lynn Whitfield, Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Directed by Bill Duke.

Johnnie Mae Gibson is an American telemovie about an FBI agent, a young black woman played by Lyn Whitfield (Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Eve's Bayou).

The film shows her upbringing in a poor but proud family in Georgia. She becomes a police officer, is recruited by the FBI, goes through the training, proves her worth in an arrest and then agrees to go undercover. The film shows the dangers of undercover work, especially psychologically, the effect of personal relationships and lies and betrayal for the sake of arrests and justice. Howard Rollins Jnr portrays her partner.

The film has expected sequences of FBI work, but, with the acting, it is particularly strong in showing the effect of undercover work on the participants. The film was directed by Bill Duke, who went on to direct Deep Cover, A Rage in Harlem, Sister Act II, as well as perform in such films as Payback.

1. The impact of the telemovie as a police and FBI thriller? Psychological drama? Race drama?

2. The Georgia locations, Miami, San Francisco and the Bay area? Washington and Virginia and the training? An authentic atmosphere?

3. The introduction to the family, Johnnie Mae as young, her mother's illness and the crisis, the work her father did in mending chairs, his refusal to take the turkey and to take charity? Her determination to take the turkey, the clash with her father? Her going to college?

4. Her motivation and drive? A determined woman? Wanting to get out of the poverty she grew up in? The fascination of work, study, a cause? The fascination of the affluent world?

5. Her roommate at college, seeing Marvin, falling in love, marrying him? The birth of Tiffany? Their love for each other? Her decision to join the police?

6. Her police work, the experience of racism, the domestic violence? Her being recruited? The clash with Marvin? Her going to Virginia, the meeting with the officials, the details of the training and its stress on her - especially the huge man and his humiliating her? Her graduation and the family being present? Marvin absent?

7. Friendship with Gina, the contrast between the two? Her letters to Marvin? Her wanting Gina to make her look attractive?

8. Phil Barnes and her work in Miami, his disdain for her? Her desk work? The suggestion that she go with him to find the criminal, the arrest?

9. Meeting with T.C., her decision to go underground? The arrest in the voodoo temple? The dangers? Her fearful reaction afterwards? The build-up to the case against Prentice and the gunrunners? Her decision to go undercover, the psychologists and the supervisor? The warnings? Her determination? The clashes with Marvin, his not wanting to leave home, coming to visit the daughter? The daughter wanting her mother to come home? The telephone calls?

10. Befriending Adam Prentice, on the yacht, her slip about the watch and the time? The other criminals? The affluent way of life, the hotels, nightclubs? Prentice falling in love with her? Her having to handle the situation?

11. T.C., his undercover work, her attraction towards him? Their working together, being a couple? His inability to tell her about his family? Taking her home to meet his wife and children? His acting as a mentor to her? His concern, the dangers, the psychologists and wondering whether she would cross over?

12. The build-up to the confrontation, Adam's proposal to her, taking her to the arms, her seeing the demonstration of the weapons? Phone calls to T.C? The danger, the criminals investigating her background? The set-up and the stakeout? The exchange of fire with the criminals getting the weapons? The confrontation with Adam and the bosses? Johnnie and her quick thinking, saving Adam? The FBI telling him to run - setting him up, then arresting him?

13. Johnnie's talking with Adam in the prison? Her coming to herself? His gratitude that she had kept him alive?

14. The resolution of the problems, discussions with T.C., her finding herself, reuniting with the family, her skills in her work, her supervision work in Washington?

15. Portrait of an enterprising woman? Women's issues? Men's issues? Race issues? Police work and its toll?