Sounder - DVD

 

 

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Koch Vision present "SOUNDER" (1972) (105 mins/Color) (Dolby Digital) --- This is a sublime film that is quietly powerful and perfect for everyone --- it's the name of the family dog --- the plot and script is choice with a close, reverent, African-American family --- and this one is extraordinary because it was a 1972 release, breaking ground when it was nominated at that year's Academy Awards for Best Actor (Paul Winfield), Best Actress (Cicely Tyson), Best Adapted Screenplay (Lonne Elder III), and Best Picture (Robert B. Radnitz) --- Only director Martin Ritt was not nominated, which was a travesty, but the Academy is historically famous for not to bright decisions --- At any rate, it's nice to see a film which shows true family support- even in the event of the father's absence --- Won't reveal what happens, but it's only temporary and his third act return staged against a long stretch of open farm field and spotlighting a barefoot Tyson and limping Winfield running into each other's arms is a bewitching, magical, sequence in the film --- Can guarantee there won't be a dry eye in the house --- Entire cast is a standout, including Kevin Hooks as the preteen who needs to grow up overnight and to Carmen Matthews as the neighbor Mrs Boatwright who quietly helps the family --- A must to be watched film that will absolutely leave you with memories to cherish.

Under the production staff of:
Martin Ritt - Director
Robert B. Radnitz - Producer
William H. Armstrong - Book Author
Lonne Elder III - Screenwriter
John A. Alonzo - Cinematographer
Taj Mahal - Composer (Music Score) / Songwriter
Sid Levin - Editor
Walter Scott Herndon - Production Designer
Peter W. Wooley - Production Designer
Nedra Watt - Costume Designer
Tom Overton - Sound/Sound Designer
Charles C. Washburn - First Assistant Director

SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
1 Cicely Tyson
Date of Birth: 19 December 1933 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

2. Paul Winfield
Date of Birth: 22 May 1939 - Los Angeles, California
Date of Death: 7 March 2004 - Los Angeles, California

the cast includes
Cicely Tyson ... Rebecca Morgan
Paul Winfield ... Nathan Lee Morgan
Kevin Hooks ... David Lee Morgan
Carmen Mathews ... Mrs. Boatwright
Taj Mahal ... Ike
James Best ... Sheriff Young
Eric Hooks ... Earl Morgan
Yvonne Jarrell ... Josie Mae Morgan
Sylvia Kuumba Williams ... Harriet
Teddy Airhart ... Mr. Perkins
Richard Durham ... Perkins' Foreman
Myrl Sharkey ... Teacher (as Merle Sharkey)
Inez Durham ... Court Clerk
William T. Bennett ... Judge (as Judge William Thomas Bennett)
Rev. Thomas N. Phillips ... Pastor
Jerry Leggio ... Guard
Spencer Bradford ... Clarence
Janet MacLachlan ... Camille

Great job by Koch Vision and their staff, the digital transfers with a clean, clear and crisp print --- looking forward to more high quality releases from them--- if you enjoyed this film, why not check out Koch Vision where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector.

Total Time: 105 mins on DVD ~ Koch Vision ~ (11/25/2008)

"Sounder" is a film of sublime beauty- one of the most powerful films for anyone to see. Even though the title made no immediate sense to me (it's the name of the family dog), the plot and script is choice and proves what I've always believed regarding most scripts: less is more. Films which feature close, reverent African-American families are still rare in the 21st century, and this was a *1972* release- which broke ground when it was nominated at that year's Academy Awards for lead actor (Paul Winfield), lead actress (Cicely Tyson), screenplay (Lonne Elder III), and best picture. Only director Martin Ritt was not nominated- which was a travesty, but the Academy is historically famous for bonehead decisions. At any rate, I was happy to see a film which shows family supporting each other- even in the event of the father's absence. (I won't say how or why that happens, but it's only temporary, and his return in the film- staged against a long stretch of open farm field, with Oscar spotlights on Tyson and Winfield- is a bewitching, almost magical, sequence in the film.) Everyone is a standout, including Kevin Hooks's pre-teen who needs to grow up overnight and to Carmen Matthews as the neighbor who supports and tries to help the family. Even more amazing is that this is a G-rated film; your whole family- black, white, or brown- will absolutely cherish it. Nice to have in any recording, it needs to be released to DVD.

This heartwarming movie is one you'll never forget. Sounder is certainly one of Martin Kitt's(Director) best. Both children and adults will feel elated after seeing this movie. Based on the best-selling book, by William Armstrong, this film will blow you away.
When Nathan Lee Morgan, played by Paul Winfield, has to steal food from a local neighbor for his family, and gets arrested, the whole family has to pull through life, and survive without the man of the house. The Morgans are black sharecroppers during the depression. The family consists of the oldest son, David Lee(Kevin Hooks), the father Nathan Lee, the mother Rebecca(Cicely Tyson), David's brother and sister, and of course, Sounder the family huntin' dog. This story portrays how horrible life for blacks was. In this great dramatic and adventurous story, you will learn about what blacks had to go through just to feel equal.
The actors and actresses were wisely picked for this movie. The whole Morgan Family 'walks the walk and talks the talk'. By this, I mean that the actors/actresses had the perfect southern accent, and the perfect southern hospitality. Whether it was dramatic or funny, the actors did a phenomenal job portraying their character.
The moral to this story, I think, is that all people should be treated equally, no matter what race or color of skin. Back in the early 1930s, blacks were treated very unequally. They weren't allowed to go to the same church, and were accused of many things that they never even did. This movie explains all of this, and shows how the Morgan Family survives these everyday rules.
The setting of this story is in Louisiana in 1933. As sharecroppers, the Morgan's don't own much but their own clothes and some food. Their house is owned by the man that owns the land they farm. Being sharecroppers means that they grow cotton and other goods on someone else's land, and then the owner sells the goods. A small profit from the goods is given to the sharecroppers. That is their only pay, except for having housing.
The background music in this movie is fit for it. All the music is very southern like. It is also all sung by African Americans. If the music was anything different, I don't think it would have been right. The visual effects on the other hand, weren't very realistic. Though there weren't many, the few that there were weren't very good.
This movie has its ups and downs. Though there are more ups than downs. This movie is rated G and is about 105 minutes. I would certainly recommend you and your family to see this great historical video. It is a family classic.

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5.0 out of 5 stars ...a beautiful film...
...just a small gem with beautiful performances from a stellar cast...

Published on Nov 21 2001 by nataliesnumber1fan

5.0 out of 5 stars Sounder VHS
After reading Sounder with my students I decided to let them watch the movie. This movie is wonderfully done and my students loved seeing the book come to life. Read more

Published on Sep 19 2001 by Claire O. Gudewich

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
I saw this film on sale for about $3 at West Coast Video and had to pick it up, even though I only saw a few minutes on TBS one morning. Read more

Published on July 1 2000 by Josh

5.0 out of 5 stars a timeless film
this film still has strong quality and values in times of need.Cicely Tyson does a wonderful job at holding her family together.this is one of the best family films ever. Read more

Published on Feb 2 2000 by A customer

4.0 out of 5 stars A Family Pulls Together
This is a great film - rich in texture, tremendous performances. The Morgan family is poor but they have each other, community and love that money can't buy. Read more

Published on Dec 20 1999 by Onalee McGraw

5.0 out of 5 stars A GIANT OF A MOVIE. REACHES DEEP INTO YOUR HEART.
THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH THE MOVIE "SOUNDER" IS THAT (IF MEMORY SERVES) IT CAME OUT THE SAME YEAR AS "THE GODFATHER" AND CONSEQUENTLY DIDN'T GARNER DESERVED... Read more

Published on April 8 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars A GIANT OF A MOVIE. REACHES DEEP INTO YOUR HEART.
THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH THE MOVIE "SOUNDER" IS THAT (IF MEMORY SERVES) IT CAME OUT THE SAME YEAR AS "THE GODFATHER" AND CONSEQUENTLY DIDN'T GARNER DESERVED... Read more

Published on April 7 1999

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