Roots: The Gift
Synopsis
On Christmas Eve 1770, a young African warrior, who three years prior had been captured and sold into slavery in America, leads a desperate group of runaway slaves as they attempt to reach freedom in the North.
Top Cast
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LeVar Burton
Kunta Kinte
Louis Gossett Jr.
Fiddler
Avery Brooks
Cletus Moyer
Kate Mulgrew
Hattie Carraway
Shaun Cassidy
Edmund Parker, Jr.
John McMartin
Edmund Parker, Sr.
Jerry Hardin
William Reynolds
Annabella Price
Sarah Parker
Michael Learned
Amelia Parker
Fran Bennett
May
Tim Russ
Marcellus
Jimmie F. Skaggs
Scarvie
Brandy Brown
Arabella
Ernest Harden Jr.
Nick
Maria Bryant
Lilly
James McIntire
Jubal
Lawrence Mandley
Boatman
John Sherrod
Driver #1
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 11, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Kevin Hooks
- Screenplay & Story
- David Eyre
- Original Score
- Gerald Fried
- Original Title
- Roots: The Gift
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- David L. Wolper Productions, Warner Bros. Television
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kevin Hooks
David Eyre
Gerald Fried
John A. Alonzo
Stanford C. Allen
Bernard Sofronski, David L. Wolper, Mark Wolper
Department Leadership Roster
Kevin Hooks
Director
Mark Wolper
Producer
Gerald Fried
Original Music Composer
Stanford C. Allen
Editor
John A. Alonzo
Director of Photography
David Eyre
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Roots: The Gift.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Roots: The Gift
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Roots: The Gift about?
On Christmas Eve 1770, a young African warrior, who three years prior had been captured and sold into slavery in America, leads a desperate group of runaway slaves as they attempt to reach freedom in the North.
Who directed Roots: The Gift?
Roots: The Gift was directed by Kevin Hooks.
Who stars in Roots: The Gift?
The principal cast of Roots: The Gift includes LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr., Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Shaun Cassidy.
When was Roots: The Gift released and how long is it?
Roots: The Gift was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for Roots: The Gift?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Roots: The Gift was composed by Gerald Fried.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Roots: The Gift?
Roots: The Gift holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).