An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. But ...
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Title: The River Niger (1976)
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Cast
| Cast overview: | |||
| Cicely Tyson | ... | Mattie Williams | |
| James Earl Jones | ... | Johnny Williams | |
| Louis Gossett Jr. | ... | Dr. Dudley Stanton (as Lou Gossett) | |
| Glynn Turman | ... | Jeff Williams | |
| Jonelle Allen | ... | Ann Vanderguild | |
| Roger E. Mosley | ... | Big Moe Hayes | |
 |
Ralph Wilcox | ... | Al |
| Teddy Wilson | ... | Chips | |
| Charles Weldon | ... | Skeeter | |
| Shirley Jo Finney | ... | Gail | |
|
|
Hilda Haynes | ... | Wilhelmina Geneva Brown |
| Zakes Mokae | |||
|
|
Ed Crick | ... | White Police Lieutenant |
| Tony Burton | ... | Black Policeman | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. But times are tough and the poverty-troubled streets are even tougher, and it takes every ounce of Johnny's love and courage for the couple to make it through their strife, finding redemption in the River Niger. Written by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Taglines:
Some rivers can't be dammed...some people won't be broken.Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 April 1976 (USA) See more »Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The Broadway production of "The River Niger" opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in New York City on March 27, 1973, and ran for one hundred sixty-two performances. Joseph A. Walker wrote the play and the screenplay for this filmed production. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Over the years I missed viewing this film and was extremely surprised at the great acting by the entire cast. I remembered that this film was created from a Tony Award winning off Broadway hit play and its deep look into the African American community in the 1970's. James Earl Jones,(Johnny Williams) is a house painter and has an extra hobby writing poetry. Cicely Tyson,(Mattie Williams) plays the wife of Johnny and tries to do her very best to work and keep the family from going down under during rough times and poverty all around them. Louis Gossett,Jr., (Dr. Dudley Stanton), is a very good friend to Johnny and helps him out financially when he spends all his income on booze and can't make the house payments. Super stars, Lou Gossett and Earl Jones make this a classic film and worth every minute of your time to view this film.