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Solomon Northup's Odyssey

  • Episode aired Dec 10, 1984
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
268
YOUR RATING
Solomon Northup's Odyssey (1984)
ComedyDramaRomance
This is based on a true story. Solomon Northrop is a black man in the mid 19th century before slavery was abolished. He's a born freeman who works as a carpenter and is also a part time musi... Read allThis is based on a true story. Solomon Northrop is a black man in the mid 19th century before slavery was abolished. He's a born freeman who works as a carpenter and is also a part time musician. One day he is approached by some men who want him to play for them. However, that is... Read allThis is based on a true story. Solomon Northrop is a black man in the mid 19th century before slavery was abolished. He's a born freeman who works as a carpenter and is also a part time musician. One day he is approached by some men who want him to play for them. However, that is not their intention; they have kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. Now he has to end... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
268
YOUR RATING
    • Gordon Parks
    • Solomon Northup(book "Twelve Years A Slave")
    • Lou Potter(teleplay)
    • Samm-Art Williams(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rhetta Greene
    • Mason Adams
    • Gordon Parks
    • Solomon Northup(book "Twelve Years A Slave")
    • Lou Potter(teleplay)
    • Samm-Art Williams(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rhetta Greene
    • Mason Adams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos

    Solomon Northup's Odyssey (1984)
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    Top cast

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    Avery Brooks
    Avery Brooks
    • Solomon Northup
    Rhetta Greene
    • Jenny
    Mason Adams
    Mason Adams
    • Ford
    Emory Beasley
    • Alonzo
    Ken Broadhurst
    • Bass
    Lee Bryant
    Lee Bryant
    • Mrs. Epps
    Charles Darden
    • Robert
    Tony Dreyspool
    • Senator Soule
    Anthony Edenfield
    • Ned
    Art Evans
    Art Evans
    • Walton
    J. Don Ferguson
    J. Don Ferguson
    • Freeman
    Ralph Flanders
    • Captain
    Tanzia Franks
    • Elizabeth
    Harry George
    • Sherriff
    Ann Pearl Gray
    • Kelsey
    Janet League
    • Eliza
    Charles McGhee
    • Luke
    Jay McMillan
    • Harry
      • Gordon Parks
      • Solomon Northup(book "Twelve Years A Slave")
      • Lou Potter(teleplay)
      • Samm-Art Williams(teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Jenny's Song
      Performed by Mandy Gaines

    User reviews6

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A very entertaining film
    I had never heard of "Solomon Northup's Odyssey" so I didn't expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this film was. The story is about the title character, a free black man struggling to make a living in the state of New York during the late 1840's. He's kidnapped by two white men who sell him into slavery. Almost all of the movie focuses on his life as a slave and his strong determination never to accept that he's owned by another.

    The performances are generally good all around. Avery Brooks, admittedly not one of my favorite actors due to his tendency to overact, occasionally does so, but not enough to spoil the film (but enough to just slightly lower how many stars I gave it overall). Another wise approach to the film is that the white characters are not all portrayed as stereotypical foaming at the mouth racists; some are good, some are bad, some are both.

    You'll find yourself totally engrossed in the life of Solomon Northup, feeling his pain as he tries to maintain his dignity as a free man forced into slavery.
    helpful•12
    2
    • KMeister1
    • Jun 13, 2005

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 10, 1984 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Savannah, Georgia, USA
    • Production company
      • Past America
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 55 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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