Lonne Elder III Movies
Though more playwright than screenwriter, Lonne Elder III won an Oscar nomination for his intelligent and sensitive adaptation of the classic children's story Sounder. In the theater world, Elder had a reputation for bringing classic African-American literature by such authors as Langston Hughes and Douglas Turner to life on the stage. A native of Americus, GA, but raised in Jersey City, NJ, Elder started out as an actor. He took his first Broadway vows in plays like A Raisin in the Sun. While pursuing his acting career, Elder also functioned as the leader of the playwrights' unit of the Negro Ensemble Corporation. Elder's first produced play was done through the NEC and performed in 1969 to good reviews. For a time, Elder studied filmmaking at Yale and then moved west to write the screenplay for Sounder (1972). Four years later, Elder wrote the sequel. Elder is known for focusing on subjects that reflect the American blacks' fight for equality in films such as his award-winning screenplay A Woman Called Moses (1978), an adaptation of the true-life story. After suffering from a chronic illness, Elder passed away in Los Angeles on June 11, 1996; he was 69. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1982
In this drama, an attorney tries to prove that his incarcerated client is indeed innocent of murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
It's The African Queen meets Richard Pryor in this schmaltzy and salty attempt by Pryor to appeal to the family crowd. Pryor plays Joe Braxton, an inept burglar whose parole officer Donald (Robert Christian) wants to help out. Knowing that Joe is an excellent mechanic, he refers him to Vivian Perry (Cicely Tyson), the director of a school for emotionally disturbed children. The school is about to close for lack of funds, and Vivian wants to flee Philadelphia with eight of her charges and get to a farm in Washington State where the children can grow up in the fresh air and away from the urban environment. Joe is enlisted to drive the bus, which continually breaks down en route, permitting Joe plenty of time to interact with the kids -- taking them fishing, teaching them strip poker, and convincing a Vietnamese girl not to sell her body. The prim and proper Vivian holds up her nose at the vulgar and sloppy Joe, so it is inevitable that at journey's end the two will find true romance. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, Cicely Tyson, (more)
- 1976
Part 2, Sounder was the sequel to the 1973 filmization of William H. Armstrong's novel Sounder, with the same scenarist (Lonnie Elder III) but with a different director (Graham) and releasing company (Gamma III). Still set amongst Depression-era black sharecroppers in Louisiana, Part 2 features Harold Sylvester and Ebony Wright stepping into the roles originated in first film by Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson. They're still struggling against poverty and prejudice, but have now been given a ray of hope by activist teacher Anzanette Chase (taking over from first film's Janet McLachlan). Her school is closed down by the white landowners, who don't want the "coloreds" to get too "uppity." The sharecroppers band together to build their own school, so that their children can learn to create a better world. Musician Taj Mahal is back from the first film, doubling in a supporting role and providing the musical score. Originally designed as a made-for-TV movie, Part 2: Sounder was redirected to theatres instead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harold Sylvester, Ebony Wright, (more)
- 1972
- R
In this blaxploitation flick, a supercool deejay, stuck on himself, decides to get revenge after his girl friend is slaughtered in his apartment. He enlists the help of a friend to investigate the death. He then finds a tape that shows that implicates a mobster in the murder of a union leader. His girl died because she had the tape. Violence and martial arts action ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Martin Ritt's big-screen adaptation of William H. Armstrong's Newberry Award winning novel, Sounder stars Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, and Kevin Hooks as a black family struggling through life in depression-era Louisiana. The Morgan family is poor, but close. Young son David (Hooks) enjoys hunting with his father Nathan (Paul Winfield) and his trusted dog Sounder. Eventually, they fall on such rough times that Nathan steals a loaf of bread to feed his family, but he is arrested and sentenced to a work camp. Mother Rebecca (Tyson) realizes that David is now responsible for taking care of the family. He sets out to locate where his father is being held, and becomes involved in a school for black children where he learns facts that give him a new level of self-esteem. Sounder was nominated for a variety of Academy Awards, including Best Picture. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, (more)
