From Ernest J. Gaines, author of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," comes a deceptively simple, yet emotionally complex tale of a young boy's discovery of what it's like to be black in Louisiana during the 1940's. James, the boy in question, has a raging toothache that necessitates a trip to the dentist. His mother (played by Emmy-winner Olivia Cole), accompanies James to town on an eye-opening odyssey where the boy gains valuable insights into poverty, racism - and his own sense of pride. With an exciting musical score by Webster Lewis, this multi-award winning film explores a child's discovery that the world is a complicated place... where things are never truly black or white... only shades of gray.
Cast
Olivia Cole
Octavia
James Bond III
James
Margaret Avery
Rosemary
Cleavon Little
Monsieur Bayonne
Chez Lister
Ty
Susan French
Helena
Clinton Derricks-Carroll
Student
Hal Williams
Preacher
Roberta Jean Williams
Young Lady
Hilda Haynes
Woman
Lynn Arden
Nurse
Reuben Collins
Pimp
Beverly Johnson
John Lee's Mother
Kenneth Johnson
John Lee Williams
Macon McCalman
Ernest
Melvina Smedley
Waitress
Julie Vails
Girl on Bus
Les Williams
Man in Dentist Office
Henry Fonda
Self - Series Host (uncredited)
Crew
Stan Lathan
Director
Charles Fuller
Teleplay
Ernest J. Gaines
Short Story
Barbara Pokras
Editor
Larry Pizer
Director of Photography
Robert Geller
Executive Producer
Whitney Green
Producer
Reuben Cannon
Casting
Marianna Åström-De Fina
Costume Design, Makeup Artist
Henry Shernoff
Hairdresser
Loretta Smallwood
Hairdresser
Webster Lewis
Original Music Composer
Don De Fina
Art Direction
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