The Piano Lesson (1995) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Lloyd Richards

Writers (WGA):

August Wilson (play)
August Wilson (teleplay)

Release Date:

5 February 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

To their family, it meant more than a piano... it was their legacy and their future.

Plot:

1930's Pittsburgh, a brother comes home to claim "my half of the piano", a family heirloom; but his sister is not wanting to part with it...

Plot Keywords:

Piano | African American | 1930s | Estranged Family Member | Elevator

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Charles S. Dutton	...	Boy Willie (as Charles Dutton)
Alfre Woodard	...	Berniece Charles
Carl Gordon	...	Doaker
Tommy Hollis	...	Avery
Lou Myers	...	Wining Boy
Courtney B. Vance	...	Lymon
Zelda Harris	...	Maretha
Rosalyn Coleman	...	Grace
Tommy Lafitte	...	Ace
Lynne Innerst	...	Miss Ophelia
Harold Surratt	...	Papa Willie Boy
Elva Branson	...	Mama Berniece
Tim Hartman	...	Sutter
Ben Tatar	...	Watermelon Man
Alice Eisner	...	Watermelon Lady (as Alice Gerber Eisner)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:PG

Company:

Craig Anderson Productions

Trivia:

The play "The Piano Lesson" won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1990.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Doaker, Wining Boy, Boy Willie and Lymon are sitting at the kitchen table drinking and singing, the level of alcohol rises in their glasses and the bottles between shots.

rate 7 this is above average PLAY

i emphasize Play because it seems that earlier commentators think Dutton over emotes. all the actors are convincing. this is not to say that all Afro-Americans always acted this way in the 30's. Indeed some act this way today when they feel comfortable . her uncle probably wouldn't be singing in the house except that he felt comfortable singing with these guys around a bottle of whiskey. to say this is merely a ghost story is to miss the point. this like A Raisen In The Sun where the man sees an opportunity to finally own a piece of the rock and a member of his family will not part with the means to acquire it. Also, there is quite a lot more going on here if you watch the play a second time, as i did.