Themes: Musician's Life, Social Injustice, Class Differences
Main Cast: Roger E. Mosley, Paul Benjamin, Madge Sinclair, Alan Manson, Albert Hall, Art Evans
Release Year: 1976
Country: US
Run Time: 126 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This biographical picture explores the troubled life of blues singer and master guitarist Leadbelly, who developed his style and wrote many of his songs during his frequent stints in prison. Featured performances are "&Rock Island Line" and "&Goodnight Irene". ~ All Movie Guide
John Henry Faulk - Governor Neff; Vivian Bonnell - Old Lady; Dana Manno - Margaret Judd; Timothy Pickard - Gray Man; Lynn Hamilton - Sally Ledbetter; Loretta Greene - Lethe; Valerie Odell - Amy; Rozaa Jean - Sugar Tit; James Brodhead - John Lomax; Pete Seeger
Credit
Sandra Stewart - Costume Designer, Reuben Watt - First Assistant Director, Gordon Parks - Director, Harry Howard - Editor, David Frost - Executive Producer, Fred Karlin - Composer (Music Score), Robert F. Boyle - Production Designer, Bruce Surtees - Cinematographer, Jack Grossberg - Producer, Marc Merson - Producer, John Kuri - Set Designer, Gene S. Cantamessa - Sound/Sound Designer, Doc Wilkinson - Sound/Sound Designer, Ernest Kinoy - Screenwriter
Leadbelly is a 1976 film chronicling the life of folk singerHuddie William Ledbetter (better known as "Leadbelly"). The film was directed by Gordon Parks, and starred Roger E. Mosley in the title role. The film focuses on the troubles of Leadbelly's youth in the segregatedSouth including his time in prison, and his efforts to use his music to gain release. Before their massive 2002 breakdown, AMC would occasionally air the movie. It has not yet been released on home video.
