Young People's Specials (TV Series) Umbrella Jack (1984) User Reviews

The Message

[caspian1978 · 7/10 · 7 September 2015]

The majority of the ABC After School specials have been branded "cheesy" for today's standards. The moral that each of the movies are beyond mocked with the quality of the production value and the acting. Umbrella Jack sadly falls under this category when it shouldn't. Due to the modest budgets that many of these programs had, each production had to be produced in a short time frame. The movie stars child star Joey Lawrence, whom, during the mid 80's was a huge name. Alongside him is legendary actor John Carradine who portrays Umbrella Jack. Most if not everyone in the child audience would not know this. Now, over thirty years later, it is greatly appreciated. The moral of not judging a book my its cover is obvious by the end of the movie. Also, the treatment of war veterans is also a side subject matter that many in the audience would not have gotten. As I watch with adult eyes, I learned o appreciate the message that Umbrella Jack told. I would hope that time has done it justice.

John Carradine as a battered war veteran

[kevinolzak · 7/10 · 14 February 2022]

"Umbrella Jack" was an episode of YOUNG PEOPLE'S SPECIALS produced for HBO but often shown in Saturday morning time slots when younger viewers would catch it, location shooting in Louisville, Kentucky and French Lick, Indiana. Joey Lawrence was one of the top child stars at the time, with 78 year old John Carradine cast in the title role, a WW2 veteran still suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, carrying a battered umbrella around as it had belonged to his late mother, who died when he was still a young boy. The youngsters in this rural town join forces in taunting the 'weird' old man, until Joey's character Billy decides to find out more about the grizzled vet, even returning the Purple Heart that Jack earned as the only survivor of his regiment (too afraid to help a mortally wounded childhood friend). Loud thunder and firecrackers serve as a terrifying reminder of his cowardice, hardly the so-called hero that Billy envisions, bringing Jack cookies baked in his mother's kitchen, and going on fishing trips near his hut by the railroad tracks. His father decides to put his foot down in refusing to allow Billy to go near his elderly friend, but in sharing this with Jack the boy's foot gets caught in the path of an oncoming train, allowing a horrified Umbrella Jack to finally earn the Purple Heart after all. The two rarely saw each other again after that, but Billy lets us know how their friendship helped the lonely old man retain some of his lost humanity in his final days. Carradine's mostly silent performance was duly recognized with a Daytime Emmy, which he regarded as a gift for his seven decades in the service of acting, always a memorable screen presence despite his preference for the Shakespearean stage.

Umbrella Jack

[Captain_Couth · 5/10 · 2 March 2009]

Umbrella Jack (1984) was a t.v. special that I saw well over twenty years ago. It's a real cheesy and sappy tale about some young kid who along with his friends torment and harass some crazy looking old man that they call "Umbrella Jack" (John Carradine). He's a weird old dude who lives by the railroad tracks and always carrying a shabby old umbrella (hence his nickname). They kids even have a song they sing whenever they see him and chase him down the street. But the kid decides to befriend the old dude and the two become friends. After awhile they're close confusing his buddies. He learns about Umbrella Jack and his past as a war hero. Before the show ends he dies but not before the kid learns an important lesson about life.

A cheesy show that all taught us that everyone is not what they seem, I guess. I haven't seen it in awhile but the name Umbrella Jack brought back some memories.