Main Cast: Ruby Dee, Denny Miller, Cameron Mitchell, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte
Release Year: 1972
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Sidney Poitier makes his directorial debut with the 1972 Western Buck and the Preacher, set during the end of the Civil War. Poitier stars as Buck, an ex-Army soldier who is scouting sites for the former slaves that want to settle out West. The villainous Deshay (Cameron Mitchell) rounds up his gang to try to stop Buck because he wants to keep the slaves working down in Louisiana. Buck meets up with the Preacher (Poitier's real-life good friend Harry Belafonte), who is really a con man in disguise. Although they don't get along at first, they eventually team up against Deshay and his murderous gang of outlaws. Also starring Ruby Dee. Jazz bandleader Benny Carter composed the soundtrack. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Ruby Dee - Ruth; Lynn Hamilton - Sarah; Dennis Hines - Little Toby; Errol John - Joshua; Bobby Johnson - Man Who Is Shot; Doug Johnson - Sam; Pamela Jones - Delilah; Enrique Lucero - Indian Chief; James McEachin - Kingston; Cameron Mitchell - Deshay; Clarence Muse - Cudjo; Julie Robinson - Sinsie; José Carlos Ruiz - Brave; Bill Shannon - Tom; Nita Talbot - Madam Esther; Jerry Gatlin - Deputy; Ken Maynard - Little Henry; Fred Waugh - Mizoo; Phil Adams - Frank; Denny Miller - Floyd; Walter Scott - Earl; John Kennedy - Bank Teller; Tony Brubaker - Headman; John Howard - George; John Kelly - Sheriff; Ivan Scott - Express Agent; Drake Walker - Elder
Credit
Guy Berhille - Costume Designer, Sheldon Schrager - First Assistant Director, Jesus Marin - First Assistant Director, Sidney Poitier - Director, Chuck Hayward - Second Unit Director, Pembroke J. Herring - Editor, Douglas Lackey - Composer (Music Score), Benny Carter - Composer (Music Score), Brownie McGee - Songwriter, Sonny Terry - Songwriter, Sydney Z. Litwack - Production Designer, Alex Phillips, Jr. - Cinematographer, Harry Belafonte - Producer, Joel Glickman - Producer, Leon Ortega - Special Effects, Drake Walker - Screen Story, Ernest Kinoy - Screenwriter
This is the first film Sidney Poitier directed. Vincent Canby of The New York Times said Poitier "showed a talent for easy, unguarded, rambunctious humor missing from his more stately movies".[2]
