MovieChat Forums > The Temptations (1998) Discussion > Mama Rose sued?

Mama Rose sued?

posted 15 years ago by stevsmit
13 replies | jump to latest

Man, I love this movie. And my favorite character is Mama Rose, the sweet lady who was always looking after her son and having the boys over for dinner, etc. I was shocked when I read that Mama Rose, along with Otis' ex and David Ruffin's family, sued for defamation of character! I can understand Ruffin's family - he looked pretty bad as a great performer self destructing. But how could they have made Mama Rose any better? She was a real sweetheart in the film. And the suit was appealed and it held up. Wikipedia says Otis wrote the book, and claimed he had no control over the movie. So I ordered the book. I'd love to learn the real story. But it's still a great movie. I bought my own copy.

[–] adac-1 15 years ago

The movie was great because the music was fantastic and their story compelling, yet sad. I can't help when watching this though that this story is so slanted by Otis and nobody in the band alive to really refute it. Otis was the least talented member and I hope it truly is a case of Holywood distorting the truth. However I fear Otis took way too many liberties.

If you get through the book soon and remember, drop by and let us know how the book told "their" story.

One thing that always bothered me was that Paul did not get recognized in the film as one of the great voices of the Temptations. Also, yes Paul did have drinking problems but the movie totally overlooked that he also was suffering from sickle cell.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks!!!

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

I thought it was interesting how close Mama Rose and Otis were shown to be. Wasn't she the mother of Melvin or "Blue"?

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] Sparky48 14 years ago

I agree. Although I understand why relatives of Ruff sued for defamation of character (since Ruffin forfeiting his car for dope or his dead body being dropped off in front of a hospital were instances that were never confirmed), I could never understand why Mama Rose or Otis' wife would have filed a lawsuit over thier respective portrayals. At no point of the movie were either of the two ever portrayed in a disparging manner.

When you finish reading the book, please let us know if there was anything deragotory written about either one.

[–] LadyLovie 14 years ago

whatever for? the movie makes her, haze ,otis,& blue look like saints.

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I like your show,I admire your style, but your pays so cheap, I won't be back for a while.

[–] euronymous781 14 years ago

I'm sure Mama Rose sued because they inaccurately told how Melvin Franklin actually died. He didn't die in his mom's house, he actually died in a hospital bed of various complications (according to Wikipedia at least....)

Plus that scene with Melvin at the hospital, insisting on that shot of Cortisone..... may have alluded to something perhaps...false?

[–] glassrose385 14 years ago

^I also read the same thing on Wikipedia. I can see understand why Mama Rose would be mad about Melvin's death was portrayed in the movie.

I agree with the other poster on how Paul was portrayed.

[–] Qxdub11 14 years ago

It was either his death, or because of how he was portrayed as a follower who didnt stand up for himself

"Why do you live?" "Because i have something worth living for"

[–] b-touch 12 years ago

That's exactly why Mama Rose sued - Melvin's death is shown in a fictionalized version - but it isn't as if the people at Motown didn't know how Melvin died. With him having just passed, they decided not to show how Melvin actually died (his constant use of cortisone shots to combat arthritis weakened his imune system. He contracted necrotizing fasciitis - the "flesh-eating disease" - and it ravaged his system).

It's probably better for TV to show him dying in a happy place (the kitchen0 than in a hospital missing flesh on one of his limbs.

She lost the case. Well, everyone lost their case. It's a fictionalization of historical event, and apparently everyone sold their full rights to representation to Motown. At least they got off better than Ike Turner did when he sold his rights to Disney and Disney made "What's Love Got to Do with It".

[–] Kariann1 12 years ago

I saw the Temptations in Auburn Hills, MI with Dennis Edwards included. Mel was not seen on stage, but was to the left behind the stage curtain. He was in a wheel chair and yet was there to sing his well-known parts to the songs. There were just four of the guys on stage. At that point in time, we didn't know he would die from that horrible disease. You could hear him loud and clear. Just thinking about that brings tears to my eyes.

We really don't know that some high class lawyer convinced Mama Rose to file the lawsuit. The movie was excellent and worthy of multiple viewings.

[–] queencity86 13 years ago

I didn't know Otis's ex, Josephine was still living. She probably sued because of how her character was portrayed after he found out he was cheating with Flo from The Supremes.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

Otis Williams' ex-wife Josephine Miles, Melvin Franklin's mother Rose Franklin, Johnnie Mae Matthews, and on David Ruffin's behalf, the Ruffin family, filed suit against Williams, Shelly Berger, David V. Picker, Motown, De Passe Entertainment, Hallmark Entertainment, and NBC for use of their likenesses in the film, defamation of character, and emotional distress because of the inaccurate depictions of events. They also alleged that the miniseries misportrayed them and/or their relatives and twisted facts. The judges ruled in favor of the defendants, and the ruling was upheld when the plaintiffs appealed in 2001. Otis Williams later claimed that while his book was the source material for the film, he did not have a great deal of control over how the material was presented.

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

Actress Jennifer Lewis looked beautiful as "Mama Rose" Franklin. I think referring to mature adult friends as Mama or Papa followed by their first name is popular in the American South. I like it. It sounds much warmer than Mr. or Mrs and is still polite. I think all of the original and/or classic lineup Temptations had Southern roots.

"The Temptations" miniseries was filmed in the spring of 1998. Jennifer Lewis was born January 25, 1957 so that made her 41 years old at the time. In real life she looked younger. I have no idea what the real Mama Rose looked like but she was very young when she gave birth to Melvin so in that respect it was good casting. I wonder how Lewis felt at that point in her career about playing a matronly role. It wasn't the first time she played a much older character. In 1993 she played Tina Turner’s mother in the biopic "What's Love Got to Do With It". She had originally auditioned to play Tina Turner. Lewis is only one year older than Angela Bassett, who was cast as Tina.