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IMDbPro

Lackawanna Blues

  • TV Movie
  • 20052005
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
11,982
2,733
Lackawanna Blues (2005)
DramaMusic
In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
11,982
2,733
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • George C. Wolfe
    • Writer
      • Ruben Santiago-Hudson(play)
    • Stars
      • S. Epatha Merkerson
      • Marcus Carl Franklin
      • Yasiin Bey
    Top credits
    • Director
      • George C. Wolfe
    • Writer
      • Ruben Santiago-Hudson(play)
    • Stars
      • S. Epatha Merkerson
      • Marcus Carl Franklin
      • Yasiin Bey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 30 wins & 41 nominations total

    Photos10

    George C. Wolfe at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    John Kassir at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    Kerr Smith at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    S. Epatha Merkerson, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and George C. Wolfe at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    S. Epatha Merkerson at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    Taraji P. Henson at an event for Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    Lackawanna Blues (2005)
    Lackawanna Blues (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    • Rachel "Nanny" Crosby
    Marcus Carl Franklin
    Marcus Carl Franklin
    • Ruben Santiago Jr.
    • (as Marcus Franklin)
    Yasiin Bey
    Yasiin Bey
    • The Bandleader
    • (as Mos Def)
    Carmen Ejogo
    Carmen Ejogo
    • Alean
    Bill Simms Jr.
    • Self
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Ol'lem Taylor
    Macy Gray
    Macy Gray
    • Pauline
    Terrence Howard
    Terrence Howard
    • Bill Crosby
    • (as Terrance Dashon Howard)
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Dick Barrymore
    Delroy Lindo
    Delroy Lindo
    • Mr. Lucious
    Rosie Perez
    Rosie Perez
    • Bertha
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    • Freddie Cobbs
    Liev Schreiber
    Liev Schreiber
    • Ulysses Ford
    Jimmy Smits
    Jimmy Smits
    • Ruben Santiago Sr.
    Patricia Wettig
    Patricia Wettig
    • Laura's Mother
    Charlayne Woodard
    Charlayne Woodard
    • Bill's Woman
    Jeffrey Wright
    Jeffrey Wright
    • Mr. Paul
    Omar Benjamin
    • Ruben, Jr. - toddler
    • Director
      • George C. Wolfe
    • Writer
      • Ruben Santiago-Hudson(play) (teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ruben Santiago-Hudson insisted his daughter Lily be cast in a cameo as Laura's daughter. But his son Trey, a twin with Lily, wanted to appear in the movie as well, which Ruben accepted. In real life, the character of the abused Laura only had a daughter, not a twin daughter and son. The scene where Laura comes to Nanny's house in the middle of the night with her son and daughter after leaving her abusive husband is accurately re-created word-for-word as Ruben remembered from that night.
    • Goofs
      When Rachel is getting $20 bills pinned on her, there are pinned bills on her right side including her arm, when they return to that scene, the bills are gone.
    • Quotes

      Bertha: Did you see all those negroes shouting "black power, black power"? Hair as nappy as can be!

      Rachel "Nanny" Crosby: The black panthers?

      Bertha: Yeah. I have all the "black power" they need right in my hot comb.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Hide and Seek/Rory O'Shea Was Here/Lackawanna Blues/Bride and Prejudice/Aliens of the Deep (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Caldonia
      Composed by Fleecie Moore

      Performed by Yasiin Bey

      Produced by Bruce Robb & Evyen Klean

      Recorded, Arranged, Engineered & Mixed by Bruce Robb at Cherokee Studios

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    Lackawanna Blues
    This is a wonderful film, and is very nostalgic to those of us who remember the years. The editing is exceptional. The music and soundtrack is worthy of a Grammy. The fashions and furnishings were correct to the most minute detail. It brought back memories of family and neighbors and how the politics of the 50's and 60's truly affected black communities, both personally and as the cultural group that the attention was focused on. Mos Def has once again added to what we know of his talent. Now he will also known as a singer and an entertainer, as well as a talented actor and rap artist. My only disappointment is that IMDb did not list HILL HARPER in the credits. He is one of the most talented actors in the business and played a major part in Lackawanna Blues. How could you forget him?
    helpful•12
    1
    • Dianne1
    • Feb 23, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 12, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • HBO (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Giai điệu Lackawanna buồn
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO Films
      • Good Shepherd Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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