A Lesson Before Dying (1999)
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- PG-13
- 1h 45min
- Drama
- 22 May 1999 (USA)
- TV Movie
In the 1940s South, an African-American man is wrongly accused of the killing of a white store owner. In his defense, his white attorney equates him with a lowly hog, to indicate that he didn't have the sense to know what he was doing....
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Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 10 wins & 19 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Don Cheadle | ... |
Grant Wiggins
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| Cicely Tyson | ... |
Tante Lou
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| Mekhi Phifer | ... |
Jefferson
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| Irma P. Hall | ... |
Miss Emma
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| Brent Jennings | ... |
Reverend Ambrose
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| Lisa Arrindell | ... |
Vivian Baptiste
(as Lisa Arrindell Anderson)
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| Dana Ivey | ... |
Edna Guidry
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Frank Hoyt Taylor | ... |
Sheriff Guidry
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Stuart Culpepper | ... |
Henri Pichot
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Patty Mack | ... |
Inez
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Von Coulter | ... |
Farrell Jarreau
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| Elijah Kelley | ... |
Clarence
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Wynton Yates | ... |
Louis Washington
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Jameelah Nuriddin | ... |
Irene
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Cierra Meche | ... |
Estelle
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| Sonny Shroyer | ... |
Defense Attorney
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Clay Chappell | ... |
Deputy Paul
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| Sahr Ngaujah | ... |
Brother
(as Michael Sahr Ngaujah)
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David Kote | ... |
Bear
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Danny Nelson | ... |
Mr. Grope
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Walter Breaux Jr. | ... |
Joe
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Carol Sutton | ... |
Thelma
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Julian Dalcour | ... |
Bricklayer #1
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| Anthony Michael Frederick | ... |
Bricklayer #2
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| Ronald McCall | ... |
Foreman
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Anthony Bean | ... |
Field Hand
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Larry McDonald | ... |
Old Field Hand
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Mark Rickard | ... |
Charlie (uncredited)
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| Terence Rosemore | ... |
Man in bar (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joseph Sargent | ||
Written by
| Ernest J. Gaines | ... | (novel) |
| Ann Peacock | ... | (teleplay) |
Produced by
| Robert Benedetti | ... | producer |
| Daniel Bernstein | ... | associate producer |
| Celia D. Costas | ... | co-producer |
| Rick Dallago | ... | supervising producer |
| Ted Demme | ... | executive producer |
| Tracy Falco | ... | associate producer |
| Ellen M. Krass | ... | executive producer (as Ellen Krass) |
| Joel Stillerman | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Ernest Troost | ||
Cinematography by
| Donald M. Morgan | ||
Editing by
| Michael Brown | ||
Editorial Department
| Diane LeDesma | ... | colorist |
| Kevin O'Connor | ... | colorist |
| Brett Weiner | ... | post-production assistant |
Casting By
| Robi Reed | ... | (as Robi Reed-Humes) |
Production Design by
| Charles C. Bennett | ||
Set Decoration by
| David Schlesinger | ||
Costume Design by
| Hope Hanafin | ||
Makeup Department
| Brian Badie | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Sterfon Demings | ... | hair designer |
| K-Bobby | ... | hair stylist |
| Douglas Noe | ... | makeup artist: Ms. Tyson |
Production Management
| Jane Nerlinger Evans | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Juanita Diana Feeney | ... | post-production supervisor (as Juanita F. Diana) |
| Patricia Serafina Madiedo | ... | production supervisor (as Patricia Madiedo) |
| Benjamin Benedetti | ... | post-supervisor (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Karen Estelle Collins | ... | second assistant director |
| Leonard Haggarty | ... | second assistant director |
| Catherine McCabe | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Gail Briant | ... | scenic |
| Scot Broadus | ... | set dresser |
| Andrew M. Casbon III | ... | scenic artist |
| Randall S. Coe | ... | construction coordinator |
| Tim Cohn | ... | on-set dresser |
| David Erwin | ... | on-set dresser |
| Kevin Harber | ... | prop maker |
| John Herbert | ... | painter |
| Dave Kelsey | ... | lead scenic |
| Vince LeBlanc | ... | set dresser (as Vince Le Blanc) |
| Daniel A. Maes | ... | set dresser |
| Michael S. Martin | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Gary Alexander | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Jimmy 'Coach' Armstrong | ... | cable person / second boom operator |
| Rick Ash | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Scott Ganary | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Kenneth L. Johnson | ... | sound effects editor |
| Shirley Libby | ... | production sound mixer |
| Eric A. Norris | ... | sound effects editor |
| Drew Ponder | ... | boom operator |
| Richard Taylor | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Noel Vought | ... | foley artist |
Special Effects by
| David K. Nami | ... | special effects foreman |
Stunts
| Chuck Jeffreys | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Tim Bourque | ... | crane operator |
| Ron Cooney | ... | key grip |
| Bob Greene | ... | still photographer |
| Erik Heinila | ... | still photographer |
| Larry Kaster | ... | gaffer |
| Jerry Lane | ... | camera operator |
| Russell McElhatton | ... | camera operator |
| Paul Olinde | ... | best boy electric |
| Ben Pekkanen | ... | electrician (as John B. Pekkanen) |
| Ronald Raschke | ... | assistant camera |
| Michael L. Smith | ... | grip |
| Michael Joseph Walsh | ... | assistant camera |
| Darrin Dickerson | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Shay Griffin | ... | location casting (as Shay Bentley-Griffin) |
| Yolanda D. Hunt | ... | casting associate |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Mitzi Haralson | ... | costumer |
Location Management
| Virginia McCollam | ... | location scout |
Music Department
| Bob Beecher | ... | assistant music editor |
| Rick Giovinazzo | ... | orchestrator / score supervisor |
| Chris Ledesma | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Benita Brazier | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Robert Brubaker | ... | transportation captain |
| Dale Combs | ... | driver: camera truck |
Additional Crew
| Nicole Barré | ... | production assistant |
| Erin Borel | ... | assistant coordinator |
| George Bott | ... | production assistant |
| James L. Fields | ... | production assistant |
| Ariana Garfinkel | ... | production assistant |
| Alan Grabelsky | ... | vice president production |
| Rankin Hickman | ... | production assistant |
| Alissa M. Kantrow | ... | production coordinator |
| Mark Miller | ... | payroll accountant |
| Stacia Peters | ... | development associate: Joel Stillerman: Tracy Falco |
| Terence Rosemore | ... | stand-in: Mr. Cheadle |
| Andrew Sears | ... | first assistant accountant |
| Jeff Steele | ... | assistant: Ms. Krass |
| Barbara-Ann Stein | ... | production accountant |
| Jerri Whiteman | ... | second assistant accountant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Future Film (2000) (Finland) (video)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (1999) (United States) (tv)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- WOWOW (2007) (Japan) (tv)
- mediacs AG (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Acey/Dcey Equipment Company (grip and lighting equipment)
- GEP Deluxe Digital Media (post-production)
- Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing (vintage clothing rentals)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the 1940s South, an African-American man is wrongly accused of the killing of a white store owner. In his defense, his white attorney equates him with a lowly hog, to indicate that he didn't have the sense to know what he was doing. Nevertheless convicted, he is sentenced to die, but his godmother and the aunt of the local schoolteacher convince the schoolteacher to go to the convicted man's cell each day to try to reaffirm to him that he is not an animal but a man with dignity.
Written by BOB STEBBINS |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The poem Grant reads to the children before Farrell comes to class with news from Sheriff Guidry the 2nd time is Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee." See more » |
| Goofs | Jefferson's execution date is right after Easter. Yet as the schoolchildren are going to the jail for a last visit with him, there are autumn leaves on the ground. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1999). See more » |