The play was first published in 1973, and was adapted to the screen by Walker in the 1976 production starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones. Johnny's main pride and joy, his son Jeff (played by Glynn Turman) just returned from U.S. Air Force flight school, where he finally reveals that he flunked out, causing great disillusionment. Meanwhile, she faces... See full summary ». "The River Niger," a film about a series of crises in an American black family, has good intentions and several very well-acted scenes. Though he is trying to provide for his almost stable family, times are hard. … The River Niger, a loosely autobiographical play by Joseph A. Walker, was first performed by the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City in 1972. The trip changes their lives. The last segment runs through south-eastern Nigeria, known as the Niger Delta. The Niger River is very painterly, its beauty is captivating and eye-catchy. When Johnny's son kills a local gang member, and the gang shoots a police officer, the situation escalates to a standoff with the police and another shootout in Johnny's house. Regions of Niger Map. This 1970s drama film–related article is a stub. 8 of 9 people found this review helpful. MCU fans, here are some streaming picks to watch while you wait for the next episode of "The Falcon and the Winter Solider. Along its course it is known by several names. The play chosen that year was The River Niger … It is often assumed that it derives from the Latin word for "black", niger, but there is no evidence for this, and it would have been more likely for Portuguese explorers to have used their own word, negro, or preto as they did elsewhere in the world. The Niger River is obviously a relevant river among other west-African rivers. ", Title: The production made its Broadway debut with a transfer to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 27 March 1973 for a run of 162 performances. The River Niger, a film about a series of crises in an American black family, has good intentions and several very well-acted scenes. Ogbunike Cave. The Niger River is obviously a relevant river among other west-African rivers. She adds a bit of comic flair at times to the film and interacts especially well with Johnny. The film had a limited commercial release in 1976 and has rarely been seen in later years. His wife Mattie (Cicely Tyson) has cancer. But times are tough and the poverty-troubled streets are even tougher, and it takes every ounce of Johnny's love and courage for the couple to make it through their strife, finding redemption in the River Niger. The name is thus thought to be indigenous, but no convincing origin has been found among the 30 languages of the Niger delta and lower reaches of the ri… The River Niger is a 1976 film adaptation of the 1972 Joseph A. Walker play of the same title. Kaduna River, main tributary of the Niger River, in central Nigeria.It rises on the Jos Plateau 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Jos town near Vom and flows in a northwesterly direction to a bend 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Kaduna town. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? It takes the eleventh place among all world longest rivers and takes bronze among all rivers on the African continent. The River Niger (1976) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Glynn Turman’s Jeff also becomes Cory in Wilson’s play. His son Jeff (Glynn Turman) returns home from the Air Force and is contacted by his friends who want … Cicely Tyson plays the ever-supporting wife, Mattie, who loves her husband (despite his 'ways') and family more than anything in the world. Niger, Guinea, Cote de Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Benin, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria are the ten African countries that the river runs through. A troubled boy (Larry B. Scott) becomes addicted to heroin, and his mother (Cicely Tyson) and foster father (Paul Winfield) help him fight it. It is, however, a highway up which civilization has been able to advance, first by canoe and then by river steamer. The River Niger is a 1976 film adaptation of the 1972 Joseph A. Walker play of the same title. … Only by the Nile and the … Use the HTML below. View production, box office, & company info. This film follows Johnny's struggle and a few who try to help, including his physician friend Dr. Dudley Stanton (Louis Gossett, Jr.), who purchases Johnny's poems while treating his ailing wife Mattie (played by Cicely Tyson), whose cancer is recurring. But its direction is a mess, and its story falls victim to what might be called the Billy Jack Syndrome. With a length of 2,600 miles (4,200 km), it is the third longest river in Africa, after the Nile and the Congo. Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral. ‘The River Niger’ is such a clear inspiration for ‘Fences’. This FAQ is empty. Obi’s Palace. We will tell you the history of the River Niger and its secrets. Learning that Mungo Park discovered my very own river Niger, I was taken aback in awe at the super qualities of the white master. Niger River, principal river of western Africa. Up against the wall, she took heart from the suggestion of a friend, a blind woman who was a nurse: enter a foster ... See full summary ». An unhappy middle-aged banker agrees to a procedure that will fake his death and give him a completely new look and identity - one that comes with its own price. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. To get detailed background of one of the African symbols keep reading. The river niger THE RIVER NIGER The mighty Niger River is a source of food, water and drainage for five nations of West Africa. They are Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Zinder. Timothy WenzelA Coalescence of Dreams℗ 2012 Timothy WenzelReleased on: 2012-10-18Auto-generated by YouTube. Things start with Johnny who is a painter, a poet, and a drunk who can’t keep his money. The true story of the U.S. Government's 1932 Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, in which a group of black test subjects were allowed to die, despite a cure having been developed. For hundreds of years the tribes used the river at various points of its course. The mean annual flow is 6 100 m 3 s-1. The country also has a capital district called Niamey which … It’s here that Nigeria’s vast oil resources are located. Story of a black woman in the South who was born into slavery in the 1850s and lives to become a part of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. In any case the Niger is not a blackwater river (see Rio Negro). Onitsha. These are two buddies who really love each other, even though they rib on each other a lot. It follows the struggles of Johnny (James Earl Jones) and his family. This part of the Atlantic Ocean is called the Gulf of Guinea. Allen's film credits include Cotton Comes to Harlem, The Hotel New Hampshire, and The River Niger, for which she won an NAACP Image Award. Add the first question. Its major tributary is the Benue River which is itself 1400 km long. The film had a limited commercial release in 1976 and has rarely been seen in later years. But times are tough and the poverty-troubled streets are even tougher, and it takes every ounce of Johnny's love and courage for the couple to make it through their strife, finding redemption in the River Niger. Finally, it reaches the sea at a large delta, called the Niger Delta of the Oil Rivers. European colonization was not merely an occupation or exploitation. Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. A well made film, though it doesn't seem to be too well known. For instance, there's Roger E. Mosely (TC on Magnum PI) as Big Moe, an activist/leader & Glynn Turman (Cooley High & the TV show, A Different World) as Jeff, who has just come home from flight school and is trying to stay out of trouble, but yet at the same time help the cause and his friends. A privileged rich debutante and a cynical struggling entertainer share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years. Jenkins would take all of these ideas and beat his forebears to the Oscar, with ‘Moonlight’. Joseph A. Walker (playwright)-Wikipedia. Genii of the River Niger River of rivers River Niger The WWF/T A Bass WWF/John Newby Living Waters Conserving the source of life. odyssey The River Niger River of rivers The Niger River traverses four countries, though the whole basin covers nine countries of West Africa that together represent a kaleidoscope of cultures and landscapes. It is 4 200 km long with an esti-mated watershed area of 1 125 000 km2. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. The original name of the river “egerou n-igereou”, which … With this movie, we get to see James Earl Jones (Johnny) as a regular everyday working man, a house painter, who just happens to have a knack for some of the most beautiful poetry around. The play concerns a young African-American who returns to his home in Harlem from the Air Force and becomes involved with a group of young … For the more than 20 African tribes who rely on it, the Niger is a vital source of life. The River Niger book. The Niger River runs through West Africa and is the third-longest river on the continent (after the Nile and the Congo). Was this review helpful to you? The story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., stretching from his days as a Southern Baptist minister up to his assassination in Memphis in 1968. A film about the life and career of the African American abolitionist and slave escape leader, Harriet Tubman. Niamey, Niger – A group of teenage boys sits in the tall grass along the Niger River in Niamey, sipping tea, smoking cigarettes and laughing. Jonelle Allen-Wikipedia. It's also the title of the main character Johnny Williams' symbolic poem about the river. Niger has seven major administrative divisions called regions. Johnny Williams (James Earl Jones) is a working house painter and amateur poet who is trying to live in a contemporary ghetto in Watts, Los Angeles, California. The origin of the name Niger is unknown. The River Niger is typical of other great African waterways in this respect. Enjoy this worthwhile family drama! It has a crescent shape and it goes through Guinea, Mali, Niger, on the border with Benin and then through Nigeria. Jordan Roosevelt, at 65, found herself alone, destitute, and depressed. Walker's time in the Air Force is significant because the main character from The River Niger, Jeff Williams, was also discharged from the Air Force. The Niger River (/ ˈ n aɪ dʒ ər /; French: (le) fleuve Niger, pronounced [(lə) flœv niʒɛʁ]) is the principal river of West Africa, extending about 4,180 km (2,600 mi).Its drainage basin is 2,117,700 km 2 (817,600 sq mi) in area. I am worthless I thought; my people were mere barbarians who could not even see a river, nor follow its course. The nation’s economy will not be spared because the communities being discussed here share common boundaries with Okpai, where crude oil is regularly carried to Port … Eric Beauchemin tells a tale of money and powerful interests that threaten the millions of people who live in the lush, swampy delta. Though he has his own problems, he still tries the best way he knows how to support his family. The talented Lou Gossett is Johnny's best friend & confidante, who often has to bail him out. The film was directed by Krishna Shah, and starred James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, and Louis Gossett, Jr. But its direction is a mess. The Niger discharges into the Atlantic Ocean at an area known as t… Take a look ahead at all the major movie releases coming to theaters and streaming this season. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea.It runs in a crescent through Mali, Niger, on the border with Benin and then through Nigeria, discharging through a massive delta, known … Main market. The role of Anne was brilliantly done by Jonelle Allen as Jeff's fiancé.In this film, Johnny & his son, Jeff must ultimately choose between what is right & what is best for for the family. These two strong-willed, passionate men are more alike than they realize and Mattie often has to be the voice of reason & neutrality. A couple's seemingly solid marriage begins to crumble when the wife discovers that her husband intends to divorce her. River Niger was based upon a play. I feel that the ending, should have been more complete and given more of an "ending", so that the viewer wouldn't be left with any questions. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. The river flows from the Guinea Highlands located in southeastern Guinea. This film contains several well known actors in some different types of roles than the ones we are used to seeing them in. The River Niger is a play by American playwright Joseph A. Walker, first performed by New York City's Negro Ensemble Company off-Broadway in 1972. The length of the Niger River is around 4,100 kilometers, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), making it Africa’s third largest river after the Nile and Congo. The River Niger is a Tony Award-Winning Broadway Play Adapted for the Big Screen. This is the film adaptation of an off-Broadway play that garnered a Tony! James Earl Jones’ Johnny and Louis Gossett Jr’s Dr Dudley are the prototypes for Troy and Jim in ‘Fences’. The Niger River is the fourth most impor-tant river in Africa. The ‘poet philosopher’ is still alive and well. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. He constantly borrows from his friend Dr. Dudley Stanton (Louis Gossett Jr). The following year, the play made its Broadway debut, running for 162 performances. Little did I know that the opposite was the truth and that the liars were the only barbarians. The Niger River is very painterly, its beauty is captivating and eye-catchy. The park was getting rowdier now as he motioned us to come with him and we followed joyfully like we’ve just been set free from a house arrest. But its direction is a mess. The disquieting developments on that part of the Niger which will definitely affect other parts of the river has the potentials to stagnate the economic wellbeing of not only my people, but the entire communities of the River Niger. In West Africa, it’s the longest and largest river, and is nicknamed the "Boomerang River" due to its serpentine shape. An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. The film was directed by Krishna Shah, and starred James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, and Louis Gossett, Jr. John Bosco recited the plan exactly how he’d earlier listed them in the text he sent me. Niger is the principal river of Sub-Saharan Western Africa as well as one of the biggest countries in the west part of Saharan Africa that got its name after the river. The Niger River has one of the most unusual courses of any major river. The Niger River is the main river of western Africa. The grandmother, Geneva Wilhemnia Brown, is played by the lovely Hilda Haynes. The Niger River is the main river of the country and has the lowest point of the nation at 200 m. The Niger River basin and Lake Chad basin are the major drainage basins in Niger. It travers-es a variety of ecological areas shared by a number of countries in the West African Region: Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria for its main course; Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad and the Cameroon for its tributaries. It runs over 4000 kilometres before spilling out into the Gulf of Guinea. He is very proud of his son Jeff's accomplishments in flight school and wants more than anything to see him in his uniform. River Niger bridge. A black family from Detroit takes a two-week vacation in the South. An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. DVD Features: Digitally Mastered; Interactive Menus; Chapter Selections; Quiz Product details. The soundtrack is by War, including the theme song "River Niger". The River Niger, a three-act play written by the American playwright Joseph A. Walker, was first performed off-Broadway in 1972 by New York's Negro Ensemble Company. Written by The Niger is the third-longest river in Africa. This article is about the 1976 film. Jones was, I believe the first to play Troy, onstage, as well. Most of its course passes … River Bank. She tries to keep herself together even though she and her family are facing some very trying times. Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No; MPAA rating : s_medR R (Restricted) Product Dimensions : 7.5 x 5.75 x 0.25 inches; 5.6 Ounces; Item model number : PLAD30DVD; Director : Krishna Shah; Media Format : Multiple … (1976). The Niger is believed to have been named by the Greeks. It flows from its source in Guinea to its mouth at the Gulf of Guinea. The River Niger (Original, Play, Broadway) opened in New York City Mar 27, 1973 and played through Nov 25, 1973. The soundtrack is by War, including the theme song "River Niger". The Niger River Basin covers 7.5 percent of the African continent, and its main tri… An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. Roads and railways have been made in the wake of the river pioneers. It is over 4180 km (2500 miles) long. For the play, see, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_River_Niger_(film)&oldid=1013076826, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 March 2021, at 22:02. The River Niger To get detailed background of one of the African symbols keep reading. It then adopts a southwesterly and southerly course before completing its 340-mile (550-kilometre) flow to the Niger at Mureji (opposite Pategi). The Niger River is one of Africa’s great waterways. The Niger River is Africa’s third longest (after the Nile and the Congo) with a length of 2,600 miles. 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