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IMDbPro

Buck and the Preacher

  • 19721972
  • GPGP
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
AdventureDramaWestern
A wagon master and a con-man preacher help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.A wagon master and a con-man preacher help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.A wagon master and a con-man preacher help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Joseph Sargent(uncredited)
    • Ernest Kinoy(screenplay)
    • Drake Walker(story)
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Harry Belafonte
    • Ruby Dee
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Joseph Sargent(uncredited)
    • Ernest Kinoy(screenplay)
    • Drake Walker(story)
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Harry Belafonte
    • Ruby Dee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Buck and the Preacher
    Trailer 2:46
    Watch Buck and the Preacher

    Photos97

    Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Harry Belafonte in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier in Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Buck and the Preacher (1972)
    Buck and the Preacher (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sidney Poitier
    Sidney Poitier
    • Buck
    Harry Belafonte
    Harry Belafonte
    • Preacher
    Ruby Dee
    Ruby Dee
    • Ruth
    Cameron Mitchell
    Cameron Mitchell
    • Deshay
    Denny Miller
    Denny Miller
    • Floyd
    Nita Talbot
    Nita Talbot
    • Madam Esther
    John Kelly
    • Sheriff
    Tony Brubaker
    Tony Brubaker
    • Headman
    Bobby Johnson
    • Man Who is Shot
    James McEachin
    James McEachin
    • Kingston
    Clarence Muse
    Clarence Muse
    • Cudjo
    Lynn Hamilton
    Lynn Hamilton
    • Sarah
    Doug Johnson
    • Sam
    Errol John
    Errol John
    • Joshua
    Kenneth Menard
    • Little Henry
    • (as Ken Menard)
    Pamela Jones
    • Delilah
    Drake Walker
    • Elder
    Dennis Hines
    • Little Toby
      • Sidney Poitier
      • Joseph Sargent(uncredited)
      • Ernest Kinoy(screenplay) (story)
      • Drake Walker(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On the advice of his future wife Joanna Shimkus, Sidney Poitier took over directorial duties from Joseph Sargent when he became dissatisfied with the film's point of view. As a result, this turned out to be Poitier's debut behind the camera and he would go on to direct eight more pictures.
    • Goofs
      When Buck ate part of Belafonte's rabbit, the meat was white. Wild rabbits don't have white meat, only dark.
    • Quotes

      Buck: Which way are you ridin', Preacher?

      The Preacher: Well, that's not exactly settled in my mind yet.

      Buck: Well, you got three possibilities.

      The Preacher: Oh?

      Buck: North, south or east.

      The Preacher: What happened to west?

      Buck: We're going west.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: The Civil War was over and by law the slaves were freed. But when the promise of land and freedom was not honored, many ex-slaves journeyed out of the land of bondage in search of new frontiers where they could be free at last.

      They placed their hopes in the hands of the few black wagonmasters that knew the territories of the West.

      None of this came easy, for for not only did they have to overcome a hostile wilderness, but nightriders and bounty hunters were hired by persons unknown to hunt them down and turn them back to the fields.

      This picture is dedicated to those men, women and children who lie in graves as unmarked as their place in history.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Dick Cavett Show: Episode dated 1 May 1972 (1972)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    A lively and good Western concerning a wagon train chased by bandits, being well played and directed by Poitier
    It regards a trail guide and a con preacher join forces to help a wagon train of former slaves who are escaping from cutthroats and seeking to homestead out the West . The civil war was over and by law the slaves were freed . But when the promise of land and freedom was not honored , many ex-slaves journeyed out of the land of bondage in search of new frontiers where they could be free at last . They placed their hopes in the hands of the few black wagonmasters that knew the territories of the west . None of this came easy , for not only did they have to overcome hostile wilderness , but nightriders and bounty hunters were hired by persons unknown to hunt them down and turn them back to the Southern fields . This picture is dedicated to those men , women and children who lie in graves as unmarked as their place in history . This movie deals with a hard , long travel throughout the wilderness of a group of negroes and slaves freed after the end Civil War , being led by an intrepid wagonmaster (Sidney Poitier) along with a roguish preacher (showy acting by Harry Belafonte) wielding a peculiar Holy Bible . And being harassed by marauding white nightriders (led by Cameron Mitchell) all the way down .

    Sidney Poitier performed and shot this picture , delivering it all the traditional ingredients of amusement : Riding pursuits , spectacular battles , croosfire , bank assaults , ambushes , fights with Indians , and many other things . While at the same time inserting a thought-provoking issue of accusatory coment on the ill-treatment of the ancient slaves whose graves are as unmarked as their place place in history . It has an interesting subject which is rather reminiscent of John Ford's Wagonmaster played by Ben Johnson in similar role to Poitier . Nice , though , the idea of having Indians riding and coming to rescue of the wagon train besieged by bandits , it is a gem , instead of the ordinary Union cavalry . Harry Belafonte steals the show giving an overacting and Poitier the player seems content to stand back and let the limelight falls on Harry . It is agreeable , enjoyable , and pleasant enough , but somewhat it never quite clicks , despite awesome interpretations from Belafonte and Poitier . Ruby Dee also provides a decent playing , she interprets the attractive spouse of Sidney .

    The motion picture was professionally directed by Sidney Poitier . Being his fiilm debut that he took over the job from Joseph Sargent who left the filmmaking . Poitier is a fine actor and filmmaker . Poitier's talent, conscience, integrity, and inherent likability placed him on equal footing with the white stars of the day. He took on directing and producing chores in the Seventies, achieving success in both arenas . Sidney directed a few pictures , and most of them were comedies . As Poitier made : Ghost dad , Fast forward , Hanky panky , Stir Crazy , Piece of action , Let's do again , Uptown Saturday night , and this Buck and the preacher . Rating : 6/10 , passable and aceptable Western movie
    helpful•4
    0
    • ma-cortes
    • Nov 7, 2018

    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 17, 1972 (West Germany)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Durango, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • E & R Productions Corp.
      • Belafonte Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 42 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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