The Learning Tree
Encyclopedia
The Learning Tree is a 1969
drama film
which tells the story of a young African American
growing up in rural Kansas during the late 1920s and early 1930s, when racial discrimination was a social norm, legally sanctioned in parts of the United States. Written and directed by Gordon Parks
, the film is based upon his 1964 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. It is the first Hollywood studio film to be directed by an African American.
In 1989, The Learning Tree was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
by the Library of Congress
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
) is an African American teenager living in rural Kansas in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He generally confronts the prejudices of the era with pride and an even temper, unlike his hot-headed friend Marcus Savage (Alex Clarke). As circumstances slowly pull Newt and Marcus further apart, Newt witnesses a murder – one committed by Marcus' father Booker (Richard Ward
).
When Newt's decision to come forward leads to Booker's death, Marcus confronts him with a gun – resulting in a vicious fight. Newt wins the fight but spares Marcus' life, only to watch helplessly as he is shot and killed by a racist sheriff (Dana Elcar
).
. They would offset the appearance of blaxploitation
movies that flooded theaters at that time. The screenplay that Parks wrote was registered and placed in the records of the Library of Congress
in Washington, D.C.
1969 in film
The year 1969 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Last year for prize giving at the Venice Film Festival until it is revived in 1980...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
which tells the story of a young African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
growing up in rural Kansas during the late 1920s and early 1930s, when racial discrimination was a social norm, legally sanctioned in parts of the United States. Written and directed by Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks
Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist and film director...
, the film is based upon his 1964 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. It is the first Hollywood studio film to be directed by an African American.
In 1989, The Learning Tree was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Plot summary
Newt Winger (Kyle JohnsonKyle Johnson (actor)
Kyle Johnson is an American actor, most notable from the film The Learning Tree.He is the son of actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Lt. Uhura in the classic Star Trek series and her husband Foster Johnson. Kyle began his acting career when he accompanied his mother, as a form of punishment,...
) is an African American teenager living in rural Kansas in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He generally confronts the prejudices of the era with pride and an even temper, unlike his hot-headed friend Marcus Savage (Alex Clarke). As circumstances slowly pull Newt and Marcus further apart, Newt witnesses a murder – one committed by Marcus' father Booker (Richard Ward
Richard Ward (American actor)
Richard Ward, was a gravel-voiced African American actor in films and television and the stage from the late 1950s onwards until his death. He made three guest appearances on Good Times as James's dad Henry , who had walked out on James' mom and siblings when he was younger...
).
When Newt's decision to come forward leads to Booker's death, Marcus confronts him with a gun – resulting in a vicious fight. Newt wins the fight but spares Marcus' life, only to watch helplessly as he is shot and killed by a racist sheriff (Dana Elcar
Dana Elcar
Dana Elcar was an American television and movie character actor. Although he appeared in about 40 films, his most memorable role was on the 1980s and 1990s television series MacGyver as Peter Thornton, an administrator working for the Phoenix Foundation...
).
Cast
- Kyle JohnsonKyle Johnson (actor)Kyle Johnson is an American actor, most notable from the film The Learning Tree.He is the son of actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Lt. Uhura in the classic Star Trek series and her husband Foster Johnson. Kyle began his acting career when he accompanied his mother, as a form of punishment,...
– Newt Winger - Alex Clarke – Marcus Savage
- Estelle EvansEstelle EvansEstelle Evans was a Bahamian actress.She was born in Rolle Town in the Bahamas. After playing Calpurnia in the 1962 version of To Kill a Mockingbird she went on act in several other movies and television shows until her death in 1985.She was the sister of actresses Esther Rolle and Rosanna...
– Sarah Winger - Dana ElcarDana ElcarDana Elcar was an American television and movie character actor. Although he appeared in about 40 films, his most memorable role was on the 1980s and 1990s television series MacGyver as Peter Thornton, an administrator working for the Phoenix Foundation...
– Sheriff Kirky - Mira Waters – Arcella Jefferson
- Joel Fluellen – Uncle Rob
- Malcolm AtterburyMalcolm AtterburyMalcolm Atterbury was a stage and vaudeville actor who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is probably most well known as Bixby in Wagon Train and Lee Reinhard in Dragnet...
– Silas Newhall - Richard WardRichard Ward (American actor)Richard Ward, was a gravel-voiced African American actor in films and television and the stage from the late 1950s onwards until his death. He made three guest appearances on Good Times as James's dad Henry , who had walked out on James' mom and siblings when he was younger...
– Booker Savage
Response
The film was well received by critics, and was liked for what it was, a good movie made for the first time about black people made by a black director. Parks was applauded for the story, actors and the cinematography he worked on. It would lead to other serious films made by black filmmakers, while a few white filmmakers followed along with more tales about black Americans; among the more serious numbers made were Black Girl and SounderSounder (film)
Sounder is a 1972 film starring Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Carmen Mathews, Taj Mahal, Eric Hooks and Janet MacLachlan. It was adapted by Lonne Elder III and directed by Martin Ritt from the 1970 Newbery Medal-winning novel Sounder by William H...
. They would offset the appearance of blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
movies that flooded theaters at that time. The screenplay that Parks wrote was registered and placed in the records of the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in Washington, D.C.