I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (film)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an American television film based on the autobiography of the same name by Maya Angelou, first aired April 28, 1979 on CBS. Angelou and Leonora Thuna wrote the screenplay, and the movie was directed by Fielder Cook. Constance Good played the young Maya Angelou. Also appearing were Esther Rolle, Roger E. Mosley, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, and Madge Sinclair. Filming took place in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
| I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | |
|---|---|
 VHS Cover | |
| Genre | Biography Drama |
| Written by | Maya Angelou |
| Directed by | Fielder Cook |
| Starring | Constance Good Esther Rolle |
| Music by | Peter Matz |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Thomas W. Moore |
| Producer | Jean Moore Edwards |
| Cinematography | Ralph Woolsey |
| Editor | Frank J. Urioste |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Production company | Tomorrow Entertainment |
| Distributor | CBS |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release |
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The movie traces Maya's life from when she and her brother move in with their grandmother to the trauma of being raped as a young girl by one of her mother's boyfriends and the several years of silence that came after the attack.
Two scenes in the movie differed from events described in the book. Angelou added a scene between Maya and Uncle Willie after the Joe Louis fight. In it, he expresses his feelings of redemption after Louis defeats a white opponent. Angelou also presents her eighth-grade graduation differently in the film. In the book, Henry Reed delivers the valedictory speech and leads the black audience in the Negro national anthem. In the movie, Maya conducts these activities.
Cast
(in credits order)
- Paul Benjamin ... Freeman
- Diahann Carroll ... Vivian
- Ruby Dee ... Grandmother Baxter
- Roger E. Mosley ... Bailey Sr.
- Esther Rolle ... Momma
- Madge Sinclair ... Miss Flowers
- Constance Good ... Maya
- John Driver ... Bailey Jr. (as John M. Driver II)
- Sonny Jim Gaines ... Uncle Willie
- Art Evans ... Principal
- J. Don Ferguson ... Mr. Donleavy
- Georgia Allen ... Mrs. Gurney
- Darleen Taylor ... 1st Girl
- Darryl Antony Williams ... Tommy Valdon (as Darryl Williams)
- Tonea Stewart ... Lillie (as Tommie Stewart)
- Shaunery Stevens ... Policeman
- Monica Kyles ... Julie
- Frankie Mitchell ... 2nd Mrs. Fletcher
- Rick Salassi ... Parmenian (as Richard Salassi)
- Lewis Liddell ... Tommy
- Sammy Liddell ... Ira
- Sylvester Spann ... Tutti
- Hosie Phillips ... Preacher
- Myra Jo Arvin ... Red
- George Cummins ... Sheriff Rogers
- Torain ... Teacher
- Laurie Waters ... Tall Girl
- Mose Lee Williams ... 1st Mrs. Fletcher
- M.L. Breeland ... Mr. Peters
- Angela Brown ... Kitty
- Abbie Burns ... Mary
- Johnny Lewis ... 1st Picker
- John L. Patterson ... Man
- James Peters ... 2nd Man
- Melvin Kennerly ... 3rd Man
- Shirley Perkins ... Woman
- John C. Roper Jr. ... White Man
- Terri Ann Ross ... Small Girl
- I.D. Thompson ... Black Man