Sounder (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sounder |
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Original poster
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| Directed by | Martin Ritt |
| Produced by | Robert B. Radnitz |
| Screenplay by | Lonne Elder III |
| Starring | Cicely Tyson Paul Winfield Kevin Hooks Taj Mahal Janet MacLachlan |
| Music by | Taj Mahal |
| Cinematography | John A. Alonzo |
| Editing by | Sid Levin |
| Studio | Radnitz/Mattel Productions, Inc. |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | September 24, 1972 |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.9 million |
| Money made | $16.9 million |
Sounder is a movie from 1972. It's a drama film directed by Martin Ritt. The main actors are Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, and Kevin Hooks. The movie is based on a book called Sounder by William H. Armstrong. This book won the Newbery Medal in 1970.
The story is about an African-American family. They live in the Deep South during the Great Depression. The movie was very popular and well-liked by critics.
The Story of Sounder
The Morgan family lives in Louisiana in 1933. They are sharecroppers, meaning they farm land for a landlord. They grow sugar cane to earn a living. David Lee is the oldest son. He is smart and loves to hunt with his father, Nathan Lee. Their dog, Sounder, always joins them.
David Lee helps his mother, Rebecca, on the farm. Because of this, he can only go to school sometimes. One night, Nathan and David cannot catch a raccoon. This means the family has no meat for dinner. But the next morning, the children smell ham cooking. They are very happy to eat it.
After a baseball game, the sheriff comes to their home. He arrests Nathan for stealing the ham. It was taken from a nearby smokehouse. As Nathan is taken away, Sounder chases the wagon. A deputy shoots Sounder, who runs off. David looks for Sounder for days but cannot find him. With his father gone, David and his siblings must work hard on the farm. Rebecca tells David that Sounder is alive and will come home.
The family cannot visit Nathan in jail. Only David is allowed to see him. David brings a chocolate cake Rebecca baked. They share it, worried about where Nathan will go next. Mrs. Boatwright is a kind local woman. Rebecca washes clothes for her. Mrs. Boatwright often gives books to the children. She promises David she will find out where Nathan is sent.
The sheriff refuses to tell her. So, she looks through his files to find the information. She tells the Morgan family that Nathan is at Wishbone prison camp. She helps Rebecca find the camp on a map. Soon, Sounder returns home. He does not bark like before. David and Sounder then start a long walk to find Nathan.
David reaches the Wishbone camp. He cannot find Nathan and the guards ignore him. When he asks prisoners, a guard hits his hand. David is chased away from the camp. On his way home, he finds a school for Black students. The kind teacher, Miss Camille, helps him. She bandages his hand. David stays at her house and attends class for a few days. She shares books about important African-American figures with him.
After returning home, David dreams of going to that school. He almost gives up on the idea. Then, one day, Sounder barks happily. Nathan has returned home! He was released early because his leg was hurt. David sees his father is weak. He decides to stay and work the farm. But Nathan insists David go to school full-time.
Nathan tells David he wants his children to have a better life. He does not want them to be sharecroppers forever. The next day, Rebecca and the children wave goodbye. David and Nathan go to town to buy school supplies. Sounder walks happily beside them.
Cast
- Cicely Tyson as Rebecca Morgan
- Paul Winfield as Nathan Lee Morgan
- Kevin Hooks as David Lee Morgan
- Carmen Matthews as Mrs. Rita Boatwright
- Taj Mahal as Ike Phillips
- James Best as Sheriff Charlie Young
- Eric Hooks as Earl Morgan
- Yvonne Jarrell as Josie Mae Morgan
- Sylvia "Kuumba" Williams as Harriet
- Ted Airhart as Mr. Perkins
- Richard Durham as Perkins' Foreman
- Wendell Brumfield as Deputy #1
- Al Bankston as Deputy #2
- Myrl Sharkey (credited as Merle Sharkey) as Teacher
- Inez Durham as Court Clerk
- Judge William Thomas Bennett as Judge
- Reverend Thomas N. Phillips as Pastor
- Carl Bruser as Wagon Driver
- Jerry Leggio, Jr. as Guard #1
- Pete Goff as Guard #2
- Walker L. Chaney as Guard #3
- Roy Idom as Guard #4
- Randy Wilson as Convict #1
- Isaac Greggs as Convict #2
- Jackie Spears as Girl #1
- Porter Mathews as Boy #1
- Timothy Smith as Boy #2
- Spencer Bradford as Clarence
- Janet MacLachlan as Camille Johnson
Soundtrack
Taj Mahal created the music for the film. The soundtrack was released in 1972. It featured many sounds like hums, claps, and plucked music.
Sequel
A second movie, called Part 2, Sounder, came out in 1976.
Television Version
In 2003, a new TV movie of Sounder was made. It was part of ABC's Wonderful World of Disney. Kevin Hooks, who played the son in the original movie, directed it. Paul Winfield, who played the father, acted in it as the teacher. This TV version is available on DVD.
See also
In Spanish: Sounder (película de 1972) para niños
