A Lesson Before Dying (TV 1999)

In the 1940s South, an African-American man is wrongly accused of the killing of a white store owner. In his defense, his white attorney equates him with a lowly hog, to indicate that he ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writers:

Ernest J. Gaines (novel), Ann Peacock (teleplay)

Stars:

Don Cheadle, Cicely Tyson, Mekhi Phifer

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 10 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Cheadle	...	Grant Wiggins
Cicely Tyson	...	Tante Lou
Mekhi Phifer	...	Jefferson
Irma P. Hall	...	Miss Emma
Brent Jennings	...	Reverend Ambrose
Lisa Arrindell Anderson	...	Vivian Baptiste
Dana Ivey	...	Edna Guidry
Frank Hoyt Taylor	...	Sheriff Guidry
Stuart Culpepper	...	Henri Pichot
Patty Mack	...	Inez
Von Coulter	...	Farrell Jarreau
Elijah Kelley	...	Clarence
Wynton Yates	...	Louis Washington
Jameelah Nuriddin	...	Irene
Cierra Meche	...	Estelle

Storyline

In the 1940s South, an African-American man is wrongly accused of the killing of a white store owner. In his defense, his white attorney equates him with a lowly hog, to indicate that he didn't have the sense to know what he was doing. Nevertheless convicted, he is sentenced to die, but his godmother and the aunt of the local schoolteacher convince the schoolteacher to go to the convicted man's cell each day to try to reaffirm to him that he is not an animal but a man with dignity.

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | aunt | 1940s | african american | kitchen | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of violence, brief strong language and some sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Lesson before Dying - Zwischen Leben und Tod

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ellen M. Krass Productions, HBO NYC Productions, Spanky Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The poem Grant reads to the children before Farrell comes to class with news from Sheriff Guidry the 2nd time is Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee."

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Goofs

When Grant Wiggins spins the globe in the classroom, a student's finger lands on China, but she reads the name of the country as "Turkey." Her finger is clearly not on Turkey or anywhere near it.

User Reviews

A Jewel seldom found

This movie is a great work, and hopefully has made it's way into our history education here in the states. The only negative I can find concerning this movie, is that such events occur in our world. Like life, the happy ending is all to often, only a barely tolerable out come to an injustice. Most times it's not even that. I vote a full board on this one, from cast and crew, to content and style