The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (film)
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is a 1974 American television film based on the novel of the same name by Ernest J. Gaines. The film was broadcast on CBS.
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman | |
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DVD cover | |
Genre | Drama |
Based on | The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines |
Screenplay by | Tracy Keenan Wynn |
Directed by | John Korty |
Starring | Cicely Tyson Richard Dysart Odetta Michael Murphy Rod Perry Arnold Wilkerson |
Theme music composer | Fred Karlin |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producers | Robert W. Christiansen Rick Rosenberg |
Production locations | Natchez, Mississippi Woodville, Mississippi Ashland-Belle Helene Plantation - State Highway 75, Geismer, Louisiana Ryan Airport - 9430 Jackie Cochran Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana The Cottage Plantation - 10528 Cottage Lane, St. Francisville, Louisiana |
Cinematography | James Crabe |
Editor | Sidney Levin |
Running time | 110 minutes |
Production company | Tomorrow Entertainment |
Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution (on behalf of DreamWorks Classics) |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Original release |
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The film was directed by John Korty; the screenplay was written by Tracy Keenan Wynn and executive produced by Roger Gimbel.[1][2] It stars Cicely Tyson in the lead role, as well as Michael Murphy, Richard Dysart, Katherine Helmond, and Odetta. The film was shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana[3] and was notable for its use of very realistic special effects makeup by Stan Winston and Rick Baker for the lead character, who is shown from ages 23 to 110.[4] The film is distributed through Classic Media.
Synopsis
The time is the early 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Jane, a former slave, is celebrating her 110th birthday. Two men tell her that a little girl is going to a segregated water fountain; she gets arrested because she's black. The next day Jane is interviewed by a journalist and she tells the story of her life. The climax of the story shows Jane going to the water fountain to desegregate it; her lifespan has bridged the time of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.
Cast
- Cicely Tyson as Jane Pittman
- Richard Dysart as Master Bryant
- Odetta as Big Laura
- Michael Murphy as Quentin Lerner
- Rod Perry as Joe Pittman
- Arnold Wilkerson as Jimmy
- Will Hare as Albert Cluveau
Awards
- Directors Guild of America Award
- Nine Emmy Awards[5]
- Actress of the Year (Cicely Tyson)
- Best Directing in Drama
- Best Lead Actress in a Drama
- Best Music Composition for a Special Program (Fred Karlin)
- Best Writing in Drama (Tracy Keenan Wynn)
- Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design (Bruce Walkup and Sandra Stewart)
- Outstanding Achievement in Makeup (Stan Winston and Rick Baker)
- Outstanding Special - Comedy or Drama
- Outstanding Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts (Lynda Gurasich, hairstylist)
- Nominated for a BAFTA award
See also
- Mama Flora's Family, 1998 historical fiction film in which Tyson also leads the cast
References
- "Passings: Roger Gimbel, 86, producer of made-for-TV movies; John Cossette, 54, longtime Grammy Awards' executive producer; W. Barclay Kamb, 79, Caltech professor specialized in glacial sciences". Los Angeles Times. April 29, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
- "Roger Gimbel, Emmy-winning TV producer, dies at 86; worked with Bing Crosby, Sophia Loren". Associated Press. Newser. April 28, 2011. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, New York Times.
- Timpone, Anthony (1996). Men, makeup, and monsters: Hollywood's masters of illusion and FX. Macmillan. p. 40. ISBN 0-312-14678-7.
- IMDB Awards