The Piano Lesson (1995)

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. This is a glimpse of the conditions for ... See full summary »

Director:

Lloyd Richards

Writers:

August Wilson (play), August Wilson (teleplay)

Stars:

Charles S. Dutton, Alfre Woodard, Carl Gordon

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

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. This is a glimpse of the conditions for African-Americans as well as some of the attitudes and influences on their lives. But whether he is able to sell the piano so that he can get enough money to buy some property and "no longer have to work for someone else" involves the story (or lesson) that the piano has to show him.

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Plot Keywords:

piano | african american | 1930s | priest | argument | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Piano Lesson (#44.2)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Craig Anderson Productions, Signboard Hill Productions, Hearst Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

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.

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Connections

Featured in The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1995)

User Reviews

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.