The Old Settler

2001 "Harlem 1943. Roommates, Romance and Rumors."
8.1| 1h27m| en
Details

The Old Settler is the story of two middle-aged sisters, Elizabeth and Quilly, who share an apartment in Harlem in 1943. The sisters quarrel amiably, but they share a wounded history that becomes revealed as the tale unfolds. An earnest but unworldly young man named Husband travels up from the South to board with the sisters while he searches for his beloved Lou Bessie, who left their small town a few years back to find a new life. Husband would like to bring Lou Bessie back home, but she's enamored with the excitement of the city, and her plans are more complicated. In time, Elizabeth and Husband begin a courtship that may or may not overcome their considerable age difference, while Quilly reacts disapprovingly.

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Reviews

Cebalord Very best movie i ever watch
Artivels Undescribable Perfection
Greenes Please don't spend money on this.
Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
TxMike I found this movie on DVD at my local library. No surround sound and no extras, but a nice presentation anyway.The title needs to be understood first. Evidently an "old settler" was the slang used to describe a middle aged woman who was single and had no immediate prospects. Here Phylicia Rashad plays Elizabeth, an "old, old settler" in her early 50s but still looking good. But most of all is her personality, kind and gentle, the kind any good man would be attracted to.She shares her small apartment in WW II with her sister (and real life sister) Quilly (Debbie Allen), just a shade younger, but a whole lot more cynical. And most times hard to bear. She really gets charged up when she finds out that Elizabeth has corresponded with a man down south who is coming to Harlem and will rent their tiny extra room.Bumper Robinson plays Husband, a 20-something coming to town to find his girlfriend, Lou Bessy, from back home. She has gotten in with the wrong crowd, even has a small child being raised elsewhere by a relative. Husband (that's his name) finds her, but Lou Bessy isn't the girl he used to know. Meanwhile, he and Elizabeth, in spite of their age differences, begin to enjoy each other's company.SPOILERS. Husband and Elizabeth begin dating. They kiss. He tells her he has fallen in love with her. He wants to take her back home. He tells her he is finished with Lou Bessy who hangs out with the criminal element. He gives her a ring. But Quilly remains doubtful. She cautions her sister. Lou Bessy shows up, drunk, is disrespectful, Elizabeth throws her out of her apartment, slaps her, then Lou Bessy says as she is leaving, "I'm going to steal Husband from you just to show you I can." Elizabeth packs her things, waits for Husband, all night, he never shows up, Quilly was right, the movie ends with the two sisters once again holding onto each other, it may be all they have to depend on.
engalicia The Old Settler is now one of my favorite movies. I ran across it at Wal-Mart about a month ago and have watched it over and over. I picked it up half-heartedly and I'm so glad I did. I always loved Phylicia Rashad as Claire Huxtable and have hated that I haven't seen more of her on the "Big Screen". The Old Settler was fabulous from start to finish. I am very interested in film-making and tend to be very critical of movies, but I have no criticism for The Old Settler. In my opinion, every aspect of it was done incredibly well. The acting was superb, the set design and costuming were wonderful, the screenplay was fabulous, and of course Debbie Allen is absolutely THE BEST director around. I have told everyone how wonderful this movie is and can't wait for everybody I know to see it. I didn't like the ending, but that was only because it was so sad. Kudos to everyone involved in this fantastic work.
thedbdawg I've always liked Phylicia Rashad, and this was a pleasant surprise. It took about 30 seconds for me to be hooked. By the end, I was totally engrossed, and empathetic. We've all been stood up, or worse; left at the altar. Elisabeth was so confident and so trusting, and the viewer was right there with her. But in the end she was vulnerable and hurt. Great story, beautiful characterizations, powerful performances. Complex and bittersweet, just like the lives of most humans.
QueenUnique99 I happened to come across this movie quite by accident, and fell in love with the movie. Thank God that being single at 40 doesn't constitute being called an old settler, yet I really enjoyed the movie. I am also sad that they don't do more justice on this site about the movie.