The River Niger (film)
Encyclopedia
The River Niger is a 1976 film adaptation of the Joseph A. Walker
play of the same title
. The film was directed by Krishna Shah and starred James Earl Jones
, Cicely Tyson
, and Louis Gossett, Jr.
. The film took a limited commercial release in 1976 and has rarely been seen in later years.
) is a working painter and moonlighting want-to-be poet who is trying to keep up with life in the contemporary ghetto. Though he is trying to provide for his ill wife and almost stable family, times are hard. This film follows Johnny's struggle and a few who try to help, including his friend Dudley (Louis Gossett, Jr.
).
Joseph A. Walker (playwright)
Joseph Alexander Walker was an African American playwright and screenwriter, theater director, actor and professor. He is best known for writing the play The River Niger, a three-act play that was originally produced Off-Broadway in 1972 by the Negro Ensemble Company before being transferred to...
play of the same title
The River Niger
The River Niger is a play by American playwright, Joseph A. Walker, first performed by New York City's Negro Ensemble Company off-Broadway in 1972. The production made its Broadway debut with a transfer to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 27 March 1973 for a run of 162 performances.-Characters :*...
. The film was directed by Krishna Shah and starred James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson is an American actress. A successful stage actress, Tyson is also known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film Sounder and the television movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots....
, and Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. is an American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and Fiddler in the 1970s television miniseries Roots...
. The film took a limited commercial release in 1976 and has rarely been seen in later years.
Plot
Johnny Williams (James Earl JonesJames Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
) is a working painter and moonlighting want-to-be poet who is trying to keep up with life in the contemporary ghetto. Though he is trying to provide for his ill wife and almost stable family, times are hard. This film follows Johnny's struggle and a few who try to help, including his friend Dudley (Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. is an American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and Fiddler in the 1970s television miniseries Roots...
).