The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970)

Steve and Nella Mundine arrive in Somerton, Tennessee, where Steve is to join the law firm of uncle Oman Hedgepath... See full synopsis »

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Jesse Hill Ford (novel), Jesse Hill Ford (screenplay),

Stars:

Lee J. Cobb, Anthony Zerbe, Roscoe Lee Browne

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee J. Cobb	...	Oman Hedgepath
Anthony Zerbe	...	Willie Joe Worth
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	L.B. Jones
Lola Falana	...	Emma Jones
Lee Majors	...	Steve Mundine
Barbara Hershey	...	Nella Mundine
Yaphet Kotto	...	Sonny Boy Mosby
Arch Johnson	...	Stanley Bumpas
Chill Wills	...	Mr. Ike
Zara Cully	...	Mama Lavorn
Fayard Nicholas	...	Benny
Joseph Attles	...	Henry (as Joe Attles)
Lauren Jones	...	Erleen
Dub Taylor	...	Mayor
Brenda Sykes	...	Jelly

Storyline

Steve and Nella Mundine arrive in Somerton, Tennessee, where Steve is to join the law firm of uncle Oman Hedgepath... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | undertaker | african american | tennessee | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

Killing a marriage is one thing. Killing the husband is something else.

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Genres:

Drama | Crime

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 July 1970 (France)

Also Known As:

The Liberation of Lord Byron Jones

Filming Locations:

Tennessee, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Liberation Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of director William Wyler.

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Quotes

Emma Jones: It going be something. I can't let nobody rob my baby and I can't let my baby enter this world without a dime!

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Connections

Version of The Liberation of Honeydoll Jones (1977)

User Reviews

A symphony of thunder and lightning

Sometimes I have to scratch my head and wonder why the hell a film isn't more acclaimed and/or remembered. William Wyler's last film The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970) is one of these. A nail biting inferno of racial hate and discomfort.

Don't read the tagline and stay away from certain posters, it might spoil it! But even though I knew part of the outcome parts of this film stopped me from breathing, and I'm still filled with this heavy indescribable feeling.

It's essentially the tale of when the people discriminated against stops being afraid. It's also an exploration of the small towns of a bygone age, and their despicable sentiments.

The Liberation of L.B. Jones would fit perfectly in the company of films in In the Heat of the Night. Perhaps it was just a tad late, or perhaps it was a bit too bleak, but this is surely a film I will remember. A wonderful way to go out for the legendary Mr. Wyler. One of the best directors who ever lived! 8.5/10