She explains that his real mother died while giving birth to him. The skills and ingratiating screen presences of stars robert duvall and james earl jones give a family thing a lift that its script, huffing and puffing, fails to match. He is best known for his leading role in both the broadway and the film version of the great white hope. Movie, a family thing movie, a family thing trailer,a family thing 1996, richard pearce,grace zabriskie, james earl jones, michael beach, robert duvall, irma p. Mar 29, 1996 richly and atmospherically shot near memphis and in chicago, and played to perfection by a remarkable cast including robert duvall, james earl jones and the picturestealing 60yearold chicago.
This was the fictional home of ray murdock james earl jones in the film. A family thing filming location ray murdocks home in. A family thing is a 1996 film starring robert duvall, james earl jones and irma p. Earl goes to chicago to seek out his real family and must deal with his own racism, as well as staying with raymond, his son virgil michael beech. A middleaged southerners world turns upside down after his. A man named earl who lives in arkansas discovers a lot of things when his mother passes away.
In a family thing, both actors were true to form in a heartwarming, touching and funny film. Details about 1996 press photo actors james earl jones robert duvall rrv50463. Aunt t irma p hall ties the movie together with her love for a dead sisters child deep enough to bridge any racial barrier. Oscarar winner robert duvall stars with the legendary james earl jones in this powerful yet tender film from director richard pearce leap of faith and. Oscar r winner robert duvall stars with the legendary james earl jones in this powerful yet tender film from director richard pearce leap of faith and cowriters billy bob thornton academy award r winner for sling blade and tom epperson. Family thing by richard pearce richard pearce, robert.
His father, the actor robert earl jones, left his family before james earl jones was born, and the youth was raised largely by his grandparents in michigan. Prejudice and family secrets are far more complex than can be shown in two hours, but a family thing at least provides a little understanding into how important family relationships are to all of us. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. Duvall plays a southerner who learns from his mother, that he actually has a brother he never knew about, and she wishes him to. Duvalls character, metaphoric of white hatred towards blacks. Robert duvall plays a farmer with some racist underlinings to his personality that accompany his stubborness.
His real mother was a black woman who had died giving birth to him. An arkansas redneck robert duvall learns his mother was black and that he has a halfbrother james earl jones in chicago. A family thing the 1996 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. A family thing 1996 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. When earl pilchers mother passes on she leaves behind a letter revealing a secret that she could not take to her grave. Fresh and thoughtprovoking rex reed, this touching story is steeped in lifeaffirming insights and downtoearth sincerity. It was written by billy bob thornton and tom epperson and directed by. Rather he was the result of a forced encounter between his father and the black help. Read the a family thing movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on movies. This is one of james earl jones and robert duvalls best movies. In this family drama, a white southerner discovers that his family history isnt what he thought it was with the fact that hes halfblack only one of his many surprises. A family thing 1996 is a comedy, drama movie starring robert duvall and james earl jones. With robert duvall, james earl jones, michael beach, irma p. A family thing is a beautifully acted and simply told story of an older mans search for his identity.
Robert duvall, james earl jones, michael beach, irma p. Its an acting thing by desson howe washington post staff writer march 29, 1996 there are few finer pleasures than watching robert duvall in action. Apr 09, 2014 robert duvall and james earl jones portray longlost brothers in this compelling and poignant family drama about a white southerner whose identity is shaken after he learns that his natural mother. James earl jones is a legendary american actor with his acting career spanning over more than 60 years. A letter she wrote near the end reveals that his real mother was a woman named willa mae. Robert duvall and james earl jones were perfect in this. She reveals that earls biological mother was a black american maid named willa mae, who was raped by earls white father and that she died while giving birth to earl. Please keep in mind that this is a private residence. Read the a family thing movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. Thats the setup for a family thing, which is part fantasy, part comedy, part drama, part truth.
A cantankerous, racist man from arkansas named earl pilchard, played by robert duvall, finds out he is half black, so he goes to chicago to find his fully black half brother, virgil, played by james earl jones. In order to keep a promise duvall sets off to find his halfbrother earljones. Robert duvall and james earl jones portray longlost brothers in this compelling and poignant family drama about a white southerner whose identity is shaken after he learns that his natural mother. Raymond lee murdock james earl jones, now a chicago cop in his sixties. Robert duvall james earl jones michael beach 1996 an arkansas redneck.
This location was used quite a bit throughout the films production. A family thing this film features the wonderfully understated duet of robert duvall and james earl jones, two old pros who know just how to stay out of each others way while offering superb support. Earl robert duvall gasses up his pickup, makes a few excuses to his family, and drives up to chicago, where he finds that ray james earl jones is a veteran policeman assigned to the mayors office. A family thing is a drama about a southen man duvall whos mother reveals on her deathbed that he was not her child.
Thing 1996 robert duvall and james earl jones in a family thing 1996 robert duvall. Rent, buy or watch a family thing movie now family video. When he learns that he has an africanamerican halfbrother living in chicago, earl heads north on a journey that will take him closer to home than he ever could have imagined. He also learns that he has a halfbrother named ray murdock. Terrific movie about 2 brothers from different family with same father. Family thing, a oscara winner robert duvall stars with the legendary james earl jones in a powerful yet tender film from director richard pearce leap of faith and cowriters billy bob thornton academy awarda winner for sling blade and tom epperson. Following the death of the white woman he thought was his mother, a shocked earl pilcher jr.
Hall, michael beach, regina taylor, grace zabriskie. His mother leaves a letter explaining that his father raped someone and that his real mother was an african american maid. Every time earl, the white southerner, gets a disdainful look from a savvy. Robert duvall and james earl jones portray longlost brothers in this compelling and poignant family drama about a white southerner whose identity is shaken after he learns that his natural mother was black. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing a family thing near you.
His father, the actor robert earl jones, left his family before james earl jones was born. Earl pilcher duvall, owner of an equipment rental company in a small town in arkansas, receives a shocking letter from his mother upon her death. Duvall plays a southerner who learns from his mother, that he actually has a brother he never knew about, and she wishes him to seek him out. The film starred, robert duvall, james earl jones and michael beach.
When he learns that he has an africanamerican halfbrother living in chicago, earl heads north on a journey that will take him closer to. James earl jones, born january 17, 1931, arkabutla, mississippi, u. See more ideas about robert duvall, actor and movie stars. A family thing robert duvall plays earl pilcher jr. A family thing 1996 video detective movie trailers. A family thing is a story about an aging southern white man who learns at his mothers deathbed that not only was he adopted, but that his birth mother was black.
It was written by billy bob thornton and tom epperson and directed by richard pearce. The powerful performances of both james earl jones and robert duvall make this such an incredible and special movie that i just have to revisit often. Robert duvall and james earl jones portray longlost brothers in this compelling and poignant family drama about a white southerner whose. Shaken to the core by this revelation of decades of lies, an impassioned pilcher travels to chicago to find his biological family and meets roy. In a family thing, a dewyeyed, but adroitly written saga, he lays down some of his most breathtaking work. Earl robert duvall, front and ray james earl jones share a moment as brothers and friends. See who they starred with and what they are working on now. Ray, who knows something about earl s birth and other family, is not pleased to see earl. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more.
Watch a family thing 1996 full movie free online streaming. Its a family thing, and we dont understand arts the. Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at movies. This robert duvall james earl jones pairing is superb. Filming location used in the 1996 comedydrama a family thing. Nov 21, 2016 explore prudhomecs board robert duvall. Richly and atmospherically shot near memphis and in chicago, and played to perfection by a remarkable cast including robert duvall, james earl jones and the picturestealing 60. It speaks of bigotry, fear, the way things were and the way things are. I thought this movie was family oriented, funny at times, and could very well be a true story. The following is the filmography for actor and director robert duvall.
Some white americans will not be comfortable with this movie. While a lesser film would find a way to sentimentalize their. Ray, who knows something about earls birth and other family, is not pleased to see earl. James earl jones plays a cop who has similar traits to his half brother. A family thing begins in arkansas, with the death of the woman earl has always considered his mother. Ray james earl jones, left and earl robert duvall are brothers who learn that although their lives have been distanced by more than just miles, the bonds of family are.
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