The Piano Lesson

Rating:
Summary: Hallmark censorship
Review: An already posted review claims that this TV version is true to August Wilson's play. Only partly--and the differences are almost certainly attributable to Hallmark. Wilson adapted his own original stage script, but this version is shorter than the original (which may be a good thing--Wilson does like to let his characters gab) and the language is very different. For example, the nice, politically correct folks who want to sell greeting cards at Hallmark no doubt forced Wilson to remove the numerous instances of the word "ni____" from his play. Some other "rough" language (which can now be heard on the evening news, much less TV fiction) also failed to pass Hallmark's censors.
The TV production also "opens" the play from its original setting in Doaker's living room and kitchen and adds a silent, visual accompaniment to Doaker's marvelous tale about the family piano.
Do these changes damage the play? No, but they certainly do alter its flavor.
On one hand, I'm very happy that this great Black American playwright allowed one of his scripts to have a TV production and that we now have this video record of that production. On the other hand, it seems a shame that Wilson had to compromise his artistry in order to reach a wider audience than theatre itself can supply.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best video I've ever seen!
Review: I haven't watched the film, but the guy on the right looks like Tim Meadows, so it is with irreverence and insincerity that I give this film AN EMOTIONAL TWO THUMBS UP! I mean, FIVE STARS!

Rating:
Summary: A Lesson of My Own
Review: I teach language arts, including drama, at a rural high school. I read "The Piano Lesson" and was hoping for a film version that I could show to my students to go along with their reading. This film is true to the play and shows viewers what happens when we don't carry on family traditions and make good use of the gifts and talents we have. The cast and production crew have done a marvelous job of creating a compelling version of this Pulitzer Prize winning play. I highly recommend it for its many levels of enjoyment and learning.

Rating:
Summary: This MOvie was pitifull
Review: I think that this movie was a horrible movie that had not a point to it. This movie was dull and made children not want to watch it and to talk.....

Rating:
Summary: The Piano Lesson
Review: I think the Piano Lesson is a great movie because it teaches you not to forget your past. I think it is a movie that all kids should see because it teaches you a valuable lesson in life. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this movie an 11.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I thought this was an ok movie. It had its high and low points, but for the most part it was ok. My favorite part of the movie was when they all sang at the tabel. This movie has plenty of interesting points and i would probubly recomend it to others.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this video.
Review: I was riveted to the TV throughout this video. The scene at the kitchen table where the four ex-cons nostalgically and authentically sing an old prison work song is unforgettable. The acting is uneven throughout the cast, but the script, costumes, set, directing, and editing are first-class.

Rating:
Summary: A battle between the historic past and dreams for the future
Review: If you are seriously into dramatic theatre plays, you may agree that re-creations made for movies or televisions are often substandard to the book! In this case, the re-creation was geared toward television/movie quality rather than a reproduction of a stage theatre performance.

And if you are familiar with the works of August Wilson, you will recognize that to adher to the vernacular - spoken language of a region - is critical to the element of his works. In this DVD movie, the use of the N word was omitted and that omission is part of history.

African American playwright, August Wilson was born in 1945 and has received numerous, that include Pulitzer Prize honors, "Fences" in 1987; and "The Piano Lesson" in 1990. Each of his works chronicle a decade in black experience. The Piano Lesson takes place in the depression era, the 30's.

The story revolves around an old carved upright piano that is symbolic with rich family history that dates back to trading slaves. The carvings are stunning and each scene depicts a story filled with vivid description. The plot includes supernatural elements.

Actor Charles Dutton has performed as other characters in Wilson's plays and here he plays Boy Willie. With dreams of owning land like his ancestors, his plan involves selling a piano that belongs to him and his sister Berniece, played by the well-known Alfre Woodard. However, the piano, an heirloom, is a representation of the past and she refuses to sell it. The carvings were done by her grandfather, an enslaved plantation carpenter.

The movie version of the Piano Lesson was done quite well with some stunning performances by seasoned actors. Like any well-written play with all the elements required, it lays heavy on meaningful and lengthy dialogue.

The Piano Lesson opened onstage in 1984 and became Wilson's second Pulitzer Prize in 1990. Supposedly, this Hallmark version is shortened and since I have not read the book, I cannot say how true to the book it is. ....MzRizz


Rating:
Summary: The Piano Lesson
Review: Overall I thought this movie was pretty good although there were some parts of it that were pretty boring. In the beginning of it the movie seemed strange because the family was being haunted by Sutter's ghost. I'm not going to tell you that much more about it because I think you should go and see it for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: a movie
Review: tbis movie was okay. It was about a dude tring to get his sister to sell a piano to by some land. You should watch it.