Main Cast: Billy Dee Williams, Clifton Davis, Margaret Avery, Eubie Blake, Godfrey Cambridge
Release Year: 1977
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
Plot
Billy Dee Williams stars as legendary ragtime pianist/composer Scott Joplin in this 1977 biopic. Despite his brilliance, Joplin (1868-1917) was confined by the color of his skin to the dregs of show business in the late 19th century. While competing in a musical contest, Joplin introduces his most famous composition, "The Maple Leaf Rag", thereby commanding the attention of a white music publisher. Offered a ridiculously low price for the song, Joplin nevertheless agrees to sell his composition, figuring that he has a better chance at fame and fortune once he's published. Before long, Ragtime music has become a national craze, and Joplin is rich beyond his wildest dreams. But the composer realizes that his brand of music is not considered respectable, and yearns to write something of more lasting value--a concerto, perhaps, or even an opera. Alas, Joplin's talents begin failing him, and by age 49 he is on the brink of death, a victim of syphilis. Originally made for television by Motown Films, Scott Joplin was released theatrically by Universal Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Seymour Cassel - Dr. Jaelki; DeWayne Jessie - John The Baptist; Mabel King - Madam Amy; Taj Mahal - Poor Alfred; Spo-De-Odee - Left Hand Of God; Art Carney - John Stark; Delos V. Smith, Jr.; Marcus J. Grapes; Denise Gordy - Prostitute; Rita Ross; The Commodores; Leon Charles; David Healy; Samuel Fuller - Theater Impresario; David Hubbard; Fred Pinkard; Delos V. Smith
Credit
Michael Peters - Choreography, Bernard Johnson - Costume Designer, Jeremy Kagan - Director, Patrick Kennedy - Editor, Dick Hyman - Composer (Music Score), Harold Johnson - Composer (Music Score), Dick Hyman - Musical Direction/Supervision, Harold Johnson - Songwriter, Michael Hancock - Makeup, David M. Walsh - Cinematographer, Rob Cohen - Producer, Stan Hough - Producer, James W. Payne - Set Designer, David Ronne - Sound/Sound Designer, Robert L. Hoyt - Sound/Sound Designer, Christopher Knopf - Screenwriter, Stephen A. Hope - Music Editor, Scott Joplin - Featured Music
