Main Cast: Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Larry B. Scott, Helen Martin, Glynn E. Turman
Release Year: 1977
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
Plot
Adapted from Alice Childress' inspirational novel of the same name, director Ralph Nelson's sentimental addiction drama tells the story of an intelligent yet alienated ghetto youth seduced into the world of hard drugs. Unable to stand being in the same apartment as his gruff but caring foster-father Butler (Paul Winfield), inner-city high school student Benjie (Larry B. Scott) opts to pass the time smoking grass and drinking with his good friend Jimmy Lee (Kenneth Green) and small-time drug dealer Carwell (Erin Blunt). Before long Benjie is hooked, and hanging out with local pusher Tiger (Kevin Hooks) in order to get the hard stuff. Increasingly alienated from both his foster-father and his grandmother (Helen Martin), young Benjie must rely on the assistance of a caring social worker (Claire Brennan) in order to stay clean and get back on his feet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
David Groh - Cohen; Kevin Hooks - Tiger; Kenneth Green - Jimmy Lee; Harold Sylvester - Doctor; Erin Blunt - Carwell; Claire Brennan - Social Worker; Arthur French - Guard; Bill Cobbs - Bartender; Sheila Wills - Admission Clerk; Arnold Johnson - Patient; Barbara Alston - Girl Friend; Keny Long - Male Nurse; Hartwell Simms - Minister
Credit
Nedra Watt - Costume Designer, Reuben Watt - First Assistant Director, Ralph Nelson - Director, Fred A. Chulack - Editor, Tom McIntosh - Composer (Music Score), Walter Scott Herndon - Production Designer, Frank Stanley - Cinematographer, Robert B. Radnitz - Producer, Hal De Windt - Producer, Cheryal Kearney - Set Designer, Wiliam L. McCaughey - Sound/Sound Designer, Alice Childress - Screenwriter, Alice Childress - Book Author
