Sounder

19721972
GG
1h 45m

Cicely Tyson, Kevin Hooks, and Paul Winfield in Sounder (1972)

Theatrical Trailer from 20th Century Fox

Play trailer1:41

The oldest son of a loving and strong family of black sharecroppers comes of age in the Depression-era South after his father is imprisoned for stealing food.The oldest son of a loving and strong family of black sharecroppers comes of age in the Depression-era South after his father is imprisoned for stealing food.The oldest son of a loving and strong family of black sharecroppers comes of age in the Depression-era South after his father is imprisoned for stealing food.

Director
- Martin Ritt
Writers
- Lonne Elder III(screenplay)
- William H. Armstrong(novel)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 4 wins & 12 nominations total

Videos2

Sounder

Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26

Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26

Cicely Tyson, Kevin Hooks, Paul Winfield, and Swampy in Sounder (1972)

Kevin Hooks, Paul Winfield, and Swampy in Sounder (1972)

Cicely Tyson, Eric Hooks, Kevin Hooks, Yvonne Jarrell, and Paul Winfield in Sounder (1972)

Kevin Hooks, Paul Winfield, and Swampy in Sounder (1972)

Kevin Hooks, Paul Winfield, and Swampy in Sounder (1972)

Sounder (1972)

Cicely Tyson in Sounder (1972)

Swampy in Sounder (1972)

Cicely Tyson, Kevin Hooks, and Yvonne Jarrell in Sounder (1972)

Sounder (1972)

Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield in Sounder (1972)

Sounder (1972)

Rebeccaas Rebecca

Nathan Leeas Nathan Lee

David Leeas David Lee

Mrs. Boatwrightas Mrs. Boatwright

Ikeas Ike

Sheriff Youngas Sheriff Young

Earlas Earl

Josie Maeas Josie Mae

Sylvia Kuumba Williams

Harrietas Harriet
(as Sylvia 'Kuumba' Williams)

Mr. Perkinsas Mr. Perkins
(as Ted Airhart)

Perkins' Foremanas Perkins' Foreman

Wendell Brumfield

Deputy #1as Deputy #1

Deputy #2as Deputy #2

Teacheras Teacher
(as Merle Sharkey)

Court Clerkas Court Clerk

William T. Bennett

Judgeas Judge
(as Judge William Thomas Bennett)

Thomas N. Phillips

Pastoras Pastor
(as Reverend Thomas N. Phillips)

Wagon Driveras Wagon Driver

Director
- Martin Ritt
Writers
- Lonne Elder III(screenplay)
- William H. Armstrong(novel)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

The Morgans, a loving and strong family of Black sharecroppers in Louisiana in 1933, face a serious family crisis when the husband and father, Nathan Lee Morgan, is convicted of a petty crime and sent to a prison camp. After some weeks or months, the wife and mother, Rebecca Morgan, sends the oldest son, who is about 11 years old, to visit his father at the camp. The journey becomes something of an odyssey for the boy. During the journey, he stays a little while with a dedicated Black schoolteacher. —Ed Cannon <ecannon@mail.utexas.edu>

coming of age human dog relationship animal name in title boy and dog boy and his dog 87 more

Trivia
Cicely Tyson commented in a TCM interview that director Martin Ritt's cinematographer (principal cameraman), while shooting the famous "homecoming sequence" with Tyson and co-star Paul Winfield, was so moved by their performances that he was certain he missed framing the action properly in the shots and respectfully asked them to do the difficult scene again. They obliged, but later examination of daily rushes revealed that they got shot and acting perfect the first time, and the first take was a print.

Goofs
When Mama is fastening David Lee's coverall snap, it appears that she does it until he turns around and it is still undone. When the camera angle switches and he takes off running, they are actually fastened at that time.

Quotes
David Lee: Miss Johnson? Don't you teach in your school about folk who ain't dead?
Camille: Sure! Here's one about a man who's very much alive. Dr. William E.B. DuBois.
David Lee: What does he talk about?
Camille: Here, I'll read something he said:
[reading from "Of the Training of Black Men"]
Camille: "The longing of black men must have respect."
[pauses to explain to David Lee]
Camille: Which means a man and a woman are human and must be treated that way.
[continues reading]
Camille: "The rich and bitter depth of their experience, the unknown treasures of their inner life, the strange rendings of nature they have seen, may give the world new points of view and make their loving, living, and doing precious to all human hearts. And to themselves in these days that try their souls, the chance to soar in the dim blue air above smoke is to their finer spirits boon and guerdon for what they lose on earth by being black."
David Lee: You're a nice lady, Miss Johnson.

Connections
Edited into Afro Promo (1997)

Soundtracks
Needed Time (Theme from Sounder)
Written by Taj Mahal
Performed by Lightnin Hopkins
Courtesy of Kent Records and special thanks to John Williams

Top review

You Learn What You Are Made of When Life Throws Those Curve Balls.

1933 Depression-era Louisiana is seen through the eyes of an adolescent African-American boy (Kevin Hooks) in this methodical and smartly realized cinematic drama. Poverty and near starvation almost become tragedy when Hooks' father (Oscar nominee Paul Winfield) is arrested for stealing a hog and butchering it. Immediately he is sentenced to one year in jail (probably dodging much worse punishment) and it is up to wife Cicely Tyson (in her Oscar-nominated role) and her three young children to make the money needed to survive as Winfield is shipped from prison to prison. And through it all Hooks dreams of a better life via an education. The film's title refers to the family dog/game hunter who gets injured early on and yet finds a way to persevere much like his family (this is a great element of symbolism found within the movie). A brilliant screenplay by Lonne Elder III (who received an Oscar nomination as well) and intelligent direction by the always good Martin Ritt make "Sounder" one of the lesser-known gems of the 1970s. 4 stars out of 5.

helpful•12

2

tfrizzell
May 12, 2004

The name of the school where the boy attended was painted on the school, and ended in the letters B.C. It could not have been British Columbia, so what did those letters mean?

Release date
- April 26, 1973 (Argentina)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Saunder ili pasji zivot
Filming locations
- East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, USA
Production companies
- Radnitz/Mattel Productions
- Rainbow Group
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross US & Canada
- $3,100,601

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 45 minutes
Color
- Color
Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1

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Cicely Tyson, Kevin Hooks, and Paul Winfield in Sounder (1972)

Top Gap

By what name was Sounder (1972) officially released in Canada in English?

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