The River Niger
“Some rivers can't be dammed...some people won't be broken.”
Synopsis
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. 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.
Top Cast
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James Earl Jones
Johnny Williams
Cicely Tyson
Mattie Williams
Louis Gossett Jr.
Dr. Dudley Stanton
Glynn Turman
Jeff Williams
Jonelle Allen
Ann Vanderguild
Roger E. Mosley
Big Moe Hayes
Ralph Wilcox
Al
Teddy Wilson
Chips
Charles Weldon
Skeeter
Shirley Jo Finney
Gail
Hilda Haynes
Wilhelmina Geneva Brow
Ed Crick
White Police Lieutenant
Tony Burton
Black Policeman
Zakes Mokae
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 14, 1976
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Krishna Shah
- Screenplay & Story
- Joseph A. Walker
- Original Title
- The River Niger
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- River Niger Company, Asanti Productions Inc., Gossett Enterprises
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Krishna Shah
Joseph A. Walker
Michael D. Margulies
Irving Lerner
Sidney Beckerman, Ike Jones
Department Leadership Roster
Krishna Shah
Director
Irving Lerner
Editor
Sidney Beckerman
Producer
Michael D. Margulies
Director of Photography
Seymour Klate
Production Design
Ike Jones
Producer
Joseph A. Walker
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The River Niger.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The River Niger.
Seasonal: Civil Rights & Justice Films
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Black movies
Seasonal: Civil Rights & Justice Films
Auto-managed by seasonal classifier. Do not edit manually.
My collection so far
Love the forgotten films. Also I enjoy a good bad movies, well bathed in pig fat.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The River Niger
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The River Niger about?
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. 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.
Who directed The River Niger?
The River Niger was directed by Krishna Shah.
Who stars in The River Niger?
The principal cast of The River Niger includes James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr., Glynn Turman, Jonelle Allen.
When was The River Niger released and how long is it?
The River Niger was released in 1976 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The River Niger?
The River Niger holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).