Sounder
Synopsis
The oldest son of a loving and strong family of black sharecroppers comes of age in the Depression-era South after his father is imprisoned for stealing food.
Part of the Sounder Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Word of Mouth: Cinematographers William Fraker and John Alonzo discuss SOUNDER ('72)Official
Type: Featurette • Published 2021-10-01
Top Cast
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Cicely Tyson
Rebecca Morgan
Paul Winfield
Nathan Lee Morgan
Kevin Hooks
David Lee Morgan
Taj Mahal
Ike
Janet MacLachlan
Camille Johnson
Carmen Mathews
Mrs. Boatwright
James Best
Sheriff Charlie Young
Eric Hooks
Earl Morgan
Yvonne Jarrell
Josie Mae Morgan
Sylvia Kuumba Williams
Harriet
Teddy Airhart
Mr. Perkins
Richard Durham
Perkins' Foreman
Wendell Brumfield
Deputy #1
Al Bankston
Deputy #2
Myrl Sharkey
Teacher
Inez Durham
Court Clerk
William T. Bennett
Judge
Thomas N. Phillips
Pastor
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 24, 1972
Wide Cinema Exhibition
July 7, 2006
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Martin Ritt
- Screenplay & Story
- Lonne Elder III
- Original Score
- Taj Mahal
- Original Title
- Sounder
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Radnitz/Mattel Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Martin Ritt
Lonne Elder III, William H. Armstrong
Taj Mahal
John A. Alonzo
Sidney Levin
Robert B. Radnitz
Department Leadership Roster
Martin Ritt
Director
Lonne Elder III
Screenplay
John A. Alonzo
Director of Photography
Robert B. Radnitz
Producer
Taj Mahal
Original Music Composer
Sidney Levin
Editor
Walter Scott Herndon
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sounder.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sounder
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sounder about?
The oldest son of a loving and strong family of black sharecroppers comes of age in the Depression-era South after his father is imprisoned for stealing food.
Who directed Sounder?
Sounder was directed by Martin Ritt.
Who stars in Sounder?
The principal cast of Sounder includes Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Taj Mahal, Janet MacLachlan.
When was Sounder released and how long is it?
Sounder was released in 1972 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for Sounder?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sounder was composed by Taj Mahal.
Is Sounder based on a book or true story?
Sounder is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "William H. Armstrong".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sounder?
Sounder holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).