A Lesson Before Dying(1999)
A young man's destiny becomes a teacher's journey.
A Lesson Before Dying Synopsis
In the 1940s South, an African-American man is wrongly accused of the killing a a white store owner. In his defense, his white attorney equates him with a lowly hog, to indicate that he didn't have the sense to know what he was doing. Nevertheless convicted, he is sentenced to die, but his godmother and the aunt of the local schoolteacher convince school teacher go to the convicted man's cell each day to try to reaffirm to him that he is not an animal but a man with dignity.
A Lesson Before Dying (1999) is a drama film directed by Joseph Sargent, released on May 22, 1999 with a runtime of 1h 41m. It stars Don Cheadle, Cicely Tyson, Mekhi Phifer and Irma P. Hall. Viewers rate it 5.0 out of 10 across 19 ratings.
- Director:
- Joseph Sargent
- Writers:
- Ernest J. Gaines, Ann Peacock
- Producers:
- Robert Benedetti, Rick Dallago
- Composer:
- Ernest Troost
- Production:
- Spanky Pictures, Ellen M. Krass Productions, HBO Films
- Status:
- Released
A Lesson Before Dying Cast & Crew
Main cast
Don Cheadle
as Grant Wiggins
Cicely Tyson
as Tante Lou
Mekhi Phifer
as Jefferson
Irma P. Hall
as Miss Emma
Brent Jennings
as Reverend Ambrose
Lisa Arrindell
as Vivian Baptiste
Dana Ivey
as Edna Guidry
Frank Hoyt Taylor
as Sheriff Guidry
- Stuart Culpepper
Stuart Culpepper
as Henri Pichot
Von Coulter
as Farrell Jarreau
Elijah Kelley
as Clarence
- Wynton Yates
Wynton Yates
as Louis Washington
Key crew
Directed by Joseph Sargent, written by Ernest J. Gaines and Ann Peacock, produced by Robert Benedetti and Rick Dallago.
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A Lesson Before Dying Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 5.0/10 from 19 ratings.
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A Lesson Before Dying – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch A Lesson Before Dying online?
+
A Lesson Before Dying (1999) is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in A Lesson Before Dying?
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The main cast of A Lesson Before Dying (1999) includes Don Cheadle, Cicely Tyson, Mekhi Phifer, Irma P. Hall and Brent Jennings. The film was directed by Joseph Sargent. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was A Lesson Before Dying released?
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A Lesson Before Dying was released on May 22, 1999 and runs for 1h 41m.
Is A Lesson Before Dying worth watching?
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A Lesson Before Dying (1999) holds an average rating of 5.0 out of 10 from 19 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.