I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (film)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | |
---|---|
Genre | Biography Drama |
Written by | Maya Angelou |
Directed by | Fielder Cook |
Starring | Esther Rolle |
Music by | Peter Matz |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producer | Thomas W. Moore |
Producer | |
Cinematography | Ralph Woolsey |
Editor | Frank J. Urioste |
Running time | 96 minutes |
Production company | |
Distributor | CBS |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Original release |
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an American television film based on the autobiography of the same name by Maya Angelou, first aired April 28, 1979 on CBS. Angelou and Leonora Thuna wrote the screenplay, and the movie was directed by Fielder Cook. Constance Good played the young Maya Angelou. Also appearing were Esther Rolle, Roger E. Mosley, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, and Madge Sinclair. Filming took place in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The movie traces Maya's life from when she and her brother move in with their grandmother to the trauma of being raped as a young girl by one of her mother's boyfriends and the several years of silence that came after the attack.
Two scenes in the movie differed from events described in the book. Angelou added a scene between Maya and Uncle Willie after the Joe Louis fight. In it, he expresses his feelings of redemption after Louis defeats a white opponent. Angelou also presents her eighth-grade graduation differently in the film. In the book, Henry Reed delivers the valedictory speech and leads the black audience in the Negro national anthem. In the movie, Maya conducts these activities.
Cast[]
(in credits order)
- Paul Benjamin ... Freeman
- Diahann Carroll ... Vivian
- Ruby Dee ... Grandmother Baxter
- Roger E. Mosley ... Bailey Sr.
- Esther Rolle ... Momma
- Madge Sinclair ... Miss Flowers
- ... Maya
- ... Bailey Jr. (as John M. Driver II)
- ... Uncle Willie
- Art Evans ... Principal
- J. Don Ferguson ... Mr. Donleavy
- Georgia Allen ... Mrs. Gurney
- ... 1st Girl
- ... Tommy Valdon (as Darryl Williams)
- Tonea Stewart ... Lillie (as Tommie Stewart)
- ... Policeman
- ... Julie
- ... 2nd Mrs. Fletcher
- ... Parmenian (as Richard Salassi)
- ... Tommy
- ... Ira
- ... Tutti
- ... Preacher
- ... Red
- George Cummins ... Sheriff Rogers
- ... Teacher
- ... Tall Girl
- ... 1st Mrs. Fletcher
- ... Mr. Peters
- Angela Brown ... Kitty
- ... Mary
- Johnny Lewis ... 1st Picker
- ... Man
- ... 2nd Man
- ... 3rd Man
- Shirley Perkins ... Woman
- ... White Man
- ... Small Girl
- ... Black Man
External links[]
- 1979 television films
- 1979 films
- 1970s biographical drama films
- American films
- CBS network films
- Films based on biographies
- Films directed by Fielder Cook
- African-American biographical dramas
- 1970s English-language films