The Sky Is Gray
Synopsis
From Ernest J. Gaines, author of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," comes a deceptively simple, yet emotionally complex tale of a young boy's discovery of what it's like to be black in Louisiana during the 1940's. James, the boy in question, has a raging toothache that necessitates a trip to the dentist. His mother (played by Emmy-winner Olivia Cole), accompanies James to town on an eye-opening odyssey where the boy gains valuable insights into poverty, racism - and his own sense of pride. With an exciting musical score by Webster Lewis, this multi-award winning film explores a child's discovery that the world is a complicated place... where things are never truly black or white... only shades of gray.
Top Cast
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Olivia Cole
Octavia
James Bond III
James
Margaret Avery
Rosemary
Cleavon Little
Monsieur Bayonne
Chez Lister
Ty
Susan French
Helena
Clinton Derricks-Carroll
Student
Hal Williams
Preacher
Roberta Jean Williams
Young Lady
Hilda Haynes
Woman
Lynn Arden
Nurse
Reuben Collins
Pimp
Beverly Johnson
John Lee's Mother
Kenneth Johnson
John Lee Williams
Macon McCalman
Ernest
Melvina Smedley
Waitress
Julie Vails
Girl on Bus
Les Williams
Man in Dentist Office
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Stan Lathan
- Screenplay & Story
- Ernest J. Gaines, Charles Fuller
- Original Score
- Webster Lewis
- Original Title
- The Sky Is Gray
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 46m
- Production Studios
- Learning in Focus
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Stan Lathan
Ernest J. Gaines, Charles Fuller
Webster Lewis
Larry Pizer
Barbara Pokras
Robert Geller, Whitney Green
Department Leadership Roster
Whitney Green
Producer
Larry Pizer
Director of Photography
Barbara Pokras
Editor
Marianna Åström-De Fina
Costume Design
Stan Lathan
Director
Webster Lewis
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Sky Is Gray.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sky Is Gray
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Sky Is Gray about?
From Ernest J. Gaines, author of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," comes a deceptively simple, yet emotionally complex tale of a young boy's discovery of what it's like to be black in Louisiana during the 1940's. James, the boy in question, has a raging toothache that necessitates a trip to the dentist. His mother (played by Emmy-winner Olivia Cole), accompanies James to town on an eye-opening odyssey where the boy gains valuable insights into poverty, racism - and his own sense of pride. With an exciting musical score by Webster Lewis, this multi-award winning film explores a child's discovery that the world is a complicated place... where things are never truly black or white... only shades of gray.
Who directed The Sky Is Gray?
The Sky Is Gray was directed by Stan Lathan.
Who stars in The Sky Is Gray?
The principal cast of The Sky Is Gray includes Olivia Cole, James Bond III, Margaret Avery, Cleavon Little, Chez Lister.
When was The Sky Is Gray released and how long is it?
The Sky Is Gray was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 46m.
Who composed the musical score for The Sky Is Gray?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Sky Is Gray was composed by Webster Lewis.