Scottsboro: An American Tragedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scottsboro: An American Tragedy |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Daniel Anker Barak Goodman |
| Written by | Barak Goodman |
| Music by | Edward Bilous |
| Distributed by | Cowboy Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 19, 2001 |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $6,123 |
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy is a 2001 American documentary film. It was directed by Daniel Anker and Barak Goodman. This film tells the story of a very important and difficult time in American history. It focuses on nine African-American teenagers who were wrongly accused in Alabama.
The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The National Endowment for the Humanities helped pay for the movie.
Contents
The Scottsboro Boys' Story
This film is about the true story of the Scottsboro Boys. On March 25, 1931, a train was traveling through Alabama. It was carrying many people, including some who were homeless. A fight started on the train between white men and a group of African-American teenagers.
When the train stopped in Paint Rock, Alabama, two white women made a serious accusation. They claimed that the nine African-American teenagers had harmed them. Even though there was no real proof, the case went to court. The Scottsboro Boys were quickly found guilty and sentenced to death.
Courtroom Battles
The case became very famous and got a lot of attention. A group called the International Labor Defense helped the boys. The Supreme Court of the United States actually overturned Alabama's decision two times. This means the Supreme Court said the trials were not fair.
After the case went to trial a third time, charges against four of the boys were dropped. However, the other five boys still received long prison sentences.
Life After Prison
In 1943, the state of Alabama began to let the five men leave prison. They were released one by one, if they promised to behave well. The documentary also shares how their lives were affected after they left prison.
Making the Film
Directors Daniel Anker and Barak Goodman were inspired to make this documentary. They read a book from 1994 called "Stories of Scottsboro." They knew their film would bring up old, painful memories for many people.
Researching the Past
Before filming, they spent five years doing a lot of research. They looked for information about the court case. Anker and Goodman found people who had seen the events happen. They also found old court photos, trial records, and news videos. The PBS series American Experience helped fund this research.
Some people think the film's title was inspired by a 1969 history book. That book was called "Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South."
Voices in the Film
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy is narrated by Andre Braugher. The film uses actual trial records and newspaper articles. These parts are voiced by actors like Frances McDormand, Stanley Tucci, Harris Yulin, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Daver Morrison.
The film was made by American Experience and Social Media Productions. Cowboy Pictures distributed it.
When the Film Was Released
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy first appeared in movie theaters on January 19, 2001. It was also shown at several film festivals. These included the New York International Documentary Festival and the Urbanworld Film Festival. It also competed at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2000.
