The River Niger (1976) User Reviews

Once you get past the metaphorical darkness, you reach a powerful story with some incredible characters.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 20 July 2022]

Certainly there's going to be no sympathy for the majority of characters outside of the Williams family. It's a hard road to life for everyone here, living in the rough Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, and a good majority of the younger characters have turned to the gangs and what little stability they can find from them. But it's not 100% black and white, and through the Williams family, this film version of the successful Broadway play finds its shades of gray. There's a loving marriage between painter and poet James Earl Jones and his wise wife, Cicely Tyson, proud of the fact that their son (Glynn Thurman) is coming home on leave from the air force, presumably on his way to officer's training school. But Thurman isn't exactly returning with the news that they want to hear, and Tyson gets news of her own that the family will have a hard time hearing as well.

Then there are the younger members of the community, old friends of Thurman's, planning violence for a race riot and wanting Thurman to join in with them. But as much as he appreciates their struggles and reasoning, he wants no part of that, and that results in him becoming their enemy. Already you have seen the shadiness of these characters when they stormed into the Williams home and refuse to leave, causing Jones to pull out a shotgun on them for their toxic behavior. One of the gang scores drugs for a junkie friend, then looks on him in disgust as the drugs take effect. Some very dramatic twists and turns involve the family with Thurman taking drastic action that won't have a pretty conclusion.

Fabulous supporting performances by Louis Gossett Jr. As the African born doctor friend of Jones who has diagnosed Tyson for cancer, Hilda Haynes as the wisecracking grandmother (pretending to sleepwalk so she can grab a sip of whiskey), Jonelle Allen as Thurman's girlfriend, and Roger E. Mosley and Charles Weldon as members of the local gang. Tyson has a fabulous monologue revealing her fate, and Jones gets a great breakdown sequence as he finds out about his wife's illness, coming out right after the disappointing news of his son's dismissal from the air force. The subject matter is very disturbing, but it goes past the usual dramatic situations in plays like this, with a moving poem recited by Jones using the title as a metaphor for everything going on.

I Wanted To See Jones and Tyson

[view_and_review · 7/10 · 10 December 2019]

This movie starred some heavy-hitter actors, Black or otherwise: James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr., Glynn Turman, and a couple of other familiar faces. There is a lot going on in the movie without there being a clear direction toward any one thing.

Johnny Williams (James Earl Jones) was a hopeless alcoholic whose sole source of pride was his military son, Jeff (Glynn Turman).

Jeff was like many young Black men in the 70's, he wanted more than what the world was willing to give him, but most of all he wanted to be his own man.

The movie had some erudite moments from both Johnny and Jeff, but at other times it seems to wander hoping to survive on poignant rhetoric. Unfortunately, I was watching a bad dub because the sound would drag and the picture quality was bad even for 1975--and this was an Amazon Prime video!

But, I'd never hold video or sound quality against a low budget drama. The overall product wasn't that great, but it had its moments and considering the budget was probably barely enough to cover bus fare to and from shoots, I'll give it a pass.

First Rate Cast can't help weak script!

[Sylviastel · 6/10 · 19 February 2009]

I love James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson as a couple. They live in the ghetto or slums of Los Angeles, California in the 1970s. The rest of the cast includes the under-used Hilda Haynes and Louis Gosset Jr. The story of Johnny Williams as a poet and his ill wife played by Tyson is not so bad and their surroundings are undesirable as they battle crime, gangs, violence, and living in a tough part of the city. Jones and Tyson are a formidable pair and strong together on screen and they are worth watching the film alone even if it's not that great on paper. JOnes's performance elevates the role into a complex character of JOhnny Williams and there are familiar actors and actresses also in this film. The River Niger might not be that great but it's not that bad and Tyson and Jones are so strong together that you can see them at odds as well. Johnny loves his wife, Mattie, and strives as a poet but the scene where he reads to Mattie is heartbreaking, emotional, and worth watching. I didn't care for the other scenes involving the gangs, violence, and crime. I just loved watching Tyson and JOnes as a couple.

james earl jones in the same role he always does

[AskewNerd · 9 December 2004]

This film was a definite "okay". It didn't have the impact that many films would have with such a topic. But, the general idea was there and that's what was so important. The vast difference between James Earl Jones being a drunk bum, to a philosophical poet speaking of something as beautiful as the Niger River. He was brilliant of course. Not as well as "Finder's Fee", but that really can't be beat. Big nods to the other actors and writers trying their hardest to make a serious film during the famous black exploitation era. You have to appreciate that aspect of the film. Krishan Shan does deserve credit but, not fantastic.........................................the end

Heavy-handed drama...

[dwpollar · 5/10 · 2 October 2022]

1st watched 9/30/2022 - (Dir-Krishna Shah): Heavy-handed drama about a son returning from his stint in the airforce to try and have a normal life. The movie starts by introducing the family & friends of the man, played by Glynn Turman. His dad, played by James Earl Jones, is a drunk with a heart for poetry and his family. His dad's best friend and family doctor, played by Lou Gossett. The mother, played by Cicely Tyson, and a new entry; the son's fiancee, arrives at the house and is welcomed by the group. These festivities are abruptly interrupted by the arrival of the gang that the soldier was associated with before he went into the air force. The rock of the group, the mother, gets ill and it puts a damper on the family and the returning son, Jeff --- who wants to become a lawyer, but the in-ability to get work pulls him back into helping the gang with their revolution against the white world. This movie shows the reality of black life during the time, but has so many storylines that never get resolved. I guess it may be the point of the story, based on a tony-award winning play - but not showing the audience any real answers doesn't help the movie. Cicely's character keeps a positive spin up to the end, but we really don't know why, and an abrupt non-positive non-climatic ending doesn't help it's cause either. A historic movie in the sense that it's based on an all African-American play but just doesn't sit well, for the most part.

Different but Good

[MarilynCH · 10/10 · 18 June 2005]

This film contains several well known actors in some different types of roles than the ones we are used to seeing them in. For instance, there's Roger E. Mosely (TC on Magnum PI) as Big Moe, an activist/leader & Glynn Turman (Cooley High & the TV show, A Different World) as Jeff, who has just come home from flight school and is trying to stay out of trouble, but yet at the same time help the cause and his friends. With this movie, we get to see James Earl Jones (Johnny) as a regular everyday working man, a house painter, who just happens to have a knack for some of the most beautiful poetry around. Though he has his own problems, he still tries the best way he knows how to support his family. He is very proud of his son Jeff's accomplishments in flight school and wants more than anything to see him in his uniform. Cicely Tyson plays the ever-supporting wife, Mattie, who loves her husband (despite his 'ways') and family more than anything in the world. She tries to keep herself together even though she and her family are facing some very trying times. The grandmother, Geneva Wilhemnia Brown, is played by the lovely Hilda Haynes. She adds a bit of comic flair at times to the film and interacts especially well with Johnny. The talented Lou Gossett is Johnny's best friend & confidante, who often has to bail him out. These are two buddies who really love each other, even though they rib on each other a lot. The role of Anne was brilliantly done by Jonelle Allen as Jeff's fiancé.

In this film, Johnny & his son, Jeff must ultimately choose between what is right & what is best for for the family. These two strong-willed, passionate men are more alike than they realize and Mattie often has to be the voice of reason & neutrality. I feel that the ending, should have been more complete and given more of an "ending", so that the viewer wouldn't be left with any questions.

A well made film, though it doesn't seem to be too well known. This is the film adaptation of an off-Broadway play that garnered a Tony! Enjoy this worthwhile family drama!

The River Niger

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 25 November 2023]

Directed by Krishna Shah and written by Joseph A. Walker, this has an incredible soundtrack by the band War. It's based on Walker's 1972 play.

Johnny Williams (James Earl Jones) is a house painter and poet who has raised his family in Watts. His son Jeff (Glynn Turman) is home after failing out of the U. S. Air Force flight school and his wife wife Mattie (Cicely Tyson) is dying, but Johnny tries to remain positive. Yet when Jeff kills a rival gang member and a police officer gets killed, there's a standoff with the cops that doesn't end well for anyone.

The cast also includes Roger E. Mosley as Big Moe Hayes and Louis Gossett Jr. As Dr. Dudley Stanton.

This is shot in an all over the place style, somethimes in striking POV shots, other times in your face African masks dominating the entire shot. There seems to be so much crammed into this movie - Vietnam, alcoholism, racism, dealing with loss, Afrocentrism, the militarism of the Black Panthers - that it doesn't have a solid focus, but these are the kinds of movies that had to be made and stories that had to be told.

Outstanding Film & Actors

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 11 July 2006]

Over the years I missed viewing this film and was extremely surprised at the great acting by the entire cast. I remembered that this film was created from a Tony Award winning off Broadway hit play and its deep look into the African American community in the 1970's. James Earl Jones,(Johnny Williams) is a house painter and has an extra hobby writing poetry. Cicely Tyson,(Mattie Williams) plays the wife of Johnny and tries to do her very best to work and keep the family from going down under during rough times and poverty all around them. Louis Gossett,Jr., (Dr. Dudley Stanton), is a very good friend to Johnny and helps him out financially when he spends all his income on booze and can't make the house payments. Super stars, Lou Gossett and Earl Jones make this a classic film and worth every minute of your time to view this film.

Never too young to understand

[aa4353 · 8/10 · 3 February 2007]

There are several things to understand about this movie. 1. The actors and actresses are African American and at the time of the movie were not necessarily appreciated for their outstanding talents that have been showcased in later years. 2. Comments that the "gang" members were hokey perhaps come from those who have never been residents in the Watts area of LA, the south side of Chicago or the east side of Detroit in the early 1970's. (3) I find that the use of the"n" word brings about discussion with today's students of communication and film who are products of the rap culture's influences. All in all the film's adaptation from the original play is a good one.

Work of Art

[dionnemperson314 · 10/10 · 19 July 2006]

This is a must see film.This movie is poetry in itself. Thumbs up to this work!!! The unconditional love between Tyson's character and Jones' character exuded the power of 'Black Love'. The very fact that through out the entire movie, you were constantly reminded of God's power and creativity, was captivating, especially the poetry. Turman's character's awakening to the sleeping giant within, to fight the oppressive system that has held back the African American race for generations, decision to fight back with intelligence instead of violence was a move in the right direction to solid change. Violence is only a temporary solution to a life long problem. To not spoil the end, Jones' character, what can I say, selfless hero! This movie should be viewed by all young African American men and women. This will remain a classic!

I feel like dancing through the valley of the shadow of death.

[SteveSkafte · 8/10 · 3 April 2010]

"The River Niger" is very much a time capsule of the mid-1970s. There's a lot of good acting, some bad acting, and some pretty much middle of the road direction. The director, Krishna Shah, is probably the main thing which keeps this good film from being great. He just doesn't have a real vision for this sort of thing. As you might expect from a stage adaptation, Joseph A. Walker's script is why this is worth watching. He writes excellent dialogue, characters, and best of all - poetry. Then again, there's a bit too much emphasis on the self-conscious black identity stuff, even for 1976.

James Earl Jones, who plays the poet, is the best thing about "The River Niger". He is very compelling, intense, and instantly likable. His performance, along with that of Louis Gossett Jr. (credited here as Lou Gossett), makes one wish there was a better made film to frame it. Definitely worth seeing, though.

On the whole I'd rather swim in the Nile.

[craigula · 12 May 2002]

You don't have to be black to fully appreciate this film but..... What am I saying, of course you do! This film may be based on an award winning off Broadway hit play, but that does not prevent it from being a dated piece of boring black angst. James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett & Cicely Tyson give very credible performances, but the actors playing the younger roles were so hokey, the overall film becomes unwatchable. The young actress made up to be the grandmother was particularly inept. As much as I admire James Earl Jones, I must admit that I could not sit through the whole thing, so I do not know how it ends.

"Put the glasses on"... Ops wrong movie "Put on the Uniform!!"

[ThunderKing6 · 10/10 · 21 November 2021]

Tons of notable legends or so-called legends in this production.

A movie about dealing with self and life. It features a drunk father who speaks words, a sick mama a rebel son and a world divided by skin-colourism. Haha!

After that horrid Shang Chi I needed a movie to wash the movie out of my system and TRN did its job. It's such a poetic, strong, thoughtful movie. It's a movie with soul, heart and energy.

Such a beautiful movie. Its almost 2 hours long and the movie even though lack action the movie went by fast. Sweet movie.

Mr. Jones always plays the notable father figure. He does a great performance once again... and he dies in the end... again...

🎵Down by the River🎵