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Perfect Harmony

 
Movies:

Perfect Harmony

  • Director: Will MacKenzie
  • AMG Rating: starstarstarstar
  • Genre: Drama
  • Movie Type: Message Movie, Teen Movie
  • Themes: Teachers and Students, Race Relations
  • Release Year: 1993
  • Country: US
  • Run Time: 93 minutes

Plot

Music bridges a gap between two cultures in this made-for-TV drama. In 1957, Derek Sanders (Peter Scolari) is hired to teach music and direct the choir at Blanton Academy, a private school in South Carolina. Integration has not yet come to Blanton, and a number of students display an open hostility towards African-American in the community, most notably Taylor Bradshaw (Justin Whalin), one of the school bullies who makes no secret of his dislike of people of color. As Sanders tries to impress a more open-minded attitude upon the boys in his choir, he introduces a new vocalist to the group -- Landy Allen (Eugene Byrd), the teenaged son of Zeke (Moses Gunn), the school's black caretaker. Despite his initial enmity, Bradshaw strikes up a friendship with Allen based on their shared love for music, and as Allen teaches Bradshaw about the blues, he also finds himself learning about a people and a community he previously know almost nothing about. Noted folk-blues Richie Havens also appears in the film's supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast

Sky Berdahl - Marc; Dan Biggers - Doctor; Eugene Byrd - Landy Allen; Jeff B. Cohen - Ward; Casey Ellison - Orville; David Faustino - Paul; Moses Gunn; Richie Havens - Scrapper Johnson; Cleavon Little; Devin Ratray - Shelby; Mary Nell Santacroce - Miss Stoddard; Peter Scolari - Derek Sanders; Catherine Stewart - Miss Hobbs; Justin Whalin - Taylor Bradshaw; Darren McGavin - Mr. Hobbs

Credit

Tim D'Arcy - Costume Designer, Will MacKenzie - Director, Sidney Wolinsky - Editor, Todd Black - Executive Producer, Joe Wizan - Executive Producer, Billy Goldenberg - Composer (Music Score), Ladislav Wilheim - Production Designer, Robert Yeoman - Cinematographer, Jean Higgins - Producer, David Obst - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

The Lords of Discipline; School Ties; Taps; Remember the Titans; Radio; To Kill a Mockingbird; Mr. Holland's Opus
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Wikipedia: Perfect Harmony
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Perfect Harmony
Directed by Will Mackenzie
Written by David Obst
Music by Billy Goldenberg
Cinematography Robert D. Yeoman
Release date(s) 31 March 1991
Running time 93 minutes
Country  United States
Language English

Perfect Harmony is a Disney movie which was released on March 31, 1991 set in the during the US Civil Rights era. The story highlights the racial tensions of the Black and White populations within a South Carolina town and its private school. The production was filmed at Berry College, and is noted for its soundtrack which featured classical choir pieces. It was released on VHS.

Contents

Plot

In 1959, Mr Sanders, is the new choirmaster for the prestigious but all white, South Carolina private school Blanton Academy. Mr. Sanders tries to reduce some of the prejudice and hostility of some of the students in his choir. Paul, a bully who feels he should be lead boy, is the worst offender. Taylor Bradshaw on the other hand is impressed by the music of Landy, a black boy, grandson of Zeke, the school caretaker. Zeke joins in some of the activities of the black community known as River Town. Sanders is also impressed by Landy's abilities and attempts to get him involved with the choir. A tragedy in the community brings the race issue to a head. When a new teacher named Mr. Sanders begins to teach at Blanton Academy, a private school in the south, it stirs thoughts in the mind of one boy, Taylor Bradshaw, while stirring prejudice in most of the other students. After meeting Landy Allen, a black boy his age, Taylor begins to explore the music and lives of the African-American people who live in Rivertown despite knowing that it could get him expelled or rejected. Landy and Taylor teach each other his own style of music as they try to get others to see past the racial barriers. A tragedy leads to a great awakening in the minds of those who still remained prejudiced at the school.

Cast

Soundtrack

The films soundtrack includes the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah, Franz Schubert's Ständchen in D Major and Schwanengesang, and Mozart's Laudate Dominum.

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