• "Polly" is one of the few movies to be directed by an African-American woman. Debbie Allen is well-known for her talent as a choreographer, but what is not commonly known about her is that she is a gifted movie director, too. Debbie Allen has been directing movies and television programs since the early 1980s.
• The director of "Polly", Debbie Allen and one of the stars of the film, Phylicia Rashad, are sisters.
• "Polly" was the last movie appearance for actress Butterfly McQueen. Butterfly McQueen had been acting since the 1930s, when positive roles for African-American women in movies were scarce. Her most notable Top 100 Black Classic Movie screen appearances are in "Gone With the Wind" and "Cabin in the Sky."
• "Polly" is actually based on the 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter named "Pollyanna." The book was first made into a silent film in 1920 and starred Mary Pickford. Then, in 1960, Walt Disney made another movie based on this book starring Hayley Mills and named it "Pollyanna." In 1989 the story was them transformed into this all-Black cast version which received rave reviews.
• The sequel to "Polly" is "Polly Comin' Home" was also directed by Debbie Allen and stars Phylicia Rashad and Keisha Knight Pulliam.
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