The Piano Lesson Movie Review 1994

The prized heirloom of the Charles family is an 80-year-old, ornately carved upright piano, jealously guarded by widowed Berniece (Woodard), and housed in the Pittsburgh home of Uncle Doaker (Gordon). When Berniece's brother Willie Boy (Dutton) visits from Mississippi, it's to persuade her to sell the piano in order to buy some land that their grandfather had worked as a slave. But the past, carved into the piano's panels, has a strong hold--one that Berniece refuses to give up. Set in 1936. Adaptation by Wilson of his 1990 Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Distribution

Lions Gate Entertainment, 2700 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404, Phone: (310)449-9200, Fax: (310)255-3870, URL: http://www.lgf.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 99 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Adapted from a Play, Hallmark Hall of Fame, African America, Great Depression, Family Drama, Pittsburgh

Screenplay

August Wilson

Cast

Alfre Woodard, Charles S. Dutton, Courtney B. Vance, Carl Gordon, Tommy Hollis, Zelda Harris, Lou Myers, Rosalyn Coleman, Tommy La Fitte

Director

Lloyd Richards

Music

Stephen James Taylor, Dwight Andrews

Producer

August Wilson, Craig Anderson, Richard Welsh, Inc. Signboard Hill Productions, Hallmark Entertainment