The Piano Lesson (1995 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Piano Lesson | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | The Piano Lesson by August Wilson |
| Teleplay by | August Wilson |
| Directed by | Lloyd Richards |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Stephen James Taylor |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | August Wilson |
| Cinematography | Paul Elliott |
| Editor | Jim Oliver |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | February 5, 1995 |
The Piano Lesson is a 1995 American drama television film directed by Lloyd Richards and written by August Wilson, based on his 1987 play of the same name. The film stars Charles S. Dutton and Alfre Woodard,[1][2] and relies on most of its cast from the original Broadway production.[3] The film originally aired on CBS on February 5, 1995, as an episode of Hallmark Hall of Fame.
It received widespread critical acclaim, and won a 1995 Peabody Award. The film earned nine nominations at the 47th Primetime Emmy Awards, with Wilson earning multiple nominations including one for Outstanding Made for Television Movie. Dutton and Woodard also earned nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special and Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special, with Dutton also receiving a nomination at the 53rd Golden Globe Awards for his performance. Woodard was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie at the 2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards.
In 1936, Boy Willie and his friend Lymon travel from Mississippi to Pittsburgh, where he wishes his sister Berniece will give him the family's heirloom piano so that he can sell it to buy land from Mr. Sutter, a descendant of the family that once owned Willie's own ancestors as slaves. The piano itself had at one time belonged to the wife of the original Sutter, the white former owner of their family. Decades earlier, Berniece and Boy Willie's grandfather had, at the slave master's instructions, carved the black family's African tribal history and American slave history into the piano's surface.
When Boy Willie arrives, his Uncle Doaker tells Willie that Berniece won't part with the piano. Berniece's friend Avery had also tried to get her to sell the piano, but she refused to sell. As selling the piano would be like turning her back on their people and their past, Berniece continues to refuse.
Cast
- Charles S. Dutton as Boy Willie
- Alfre Woodard as Berniece Charles
- Carl Gordon as Doaker
- Tommy Hollis as Avery
- Lou Myers as Wining Boy
- Courtney B. Vance as Lymon
- Zelda Harris as Maretha
- Tim Hartman as Sutter
- Rosalyn Coleman as Grace
- Tommy Lafitte as Ace
- Lynne Innerst as Miss Ophelia
- Harold Surratt as Papa Willie Boy
- Elva Branson as Mama Berniece
- Ben Tatar as Watermelon Man
- Alice Eisner as Watermelon Lady
- Bob Tracey as Nolander
Production
Filming took place in Pittsburgh.[4]