The River Niger 48 years old

Some rivers can't be dammed...some people won't be broken.

An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. But times are tough and the poverty-troubled streets are even tougher, and it takes every ounce of Johnny's love and courage for the couple to make it through their strife, finding redemption in the River Niger.

Credits

The River Niger Cast

Name Character
James Earl Jones He was 45, now 93 years old as Johnny Williams
Tony Burton He was 39, 78 years old when he died as Black Policeman
Cicely Tyson She was 51, now 99 years old as Mattie Williams
Louis Gossett, Jr. He was 39, now 88 years old as Dr. Dudley Stanton
Zakes Mokae He was 41, 75 years old when he died
Shirley Jo Finney as Gail
Glynn Turman He was 29, now 77 years old as Jeff Williams
Ralph Wilcox was 157, 58 years old when died as Al
Hilda Haynes She was 63, 73 years old when she died as Wilhelmina Geneva Brow
Ed Crick as White Police Lieutenant
Roger E. Mosley He was 37, now 85 years old as Big Moe Hayes
Jonelle Allen She was 31, now 80 years old as Ann Vanderguild
Teddy Wilson He was 63, 73 years old when he died as Chips
Charles Weldon He was 35, 78 years old when he died as Skeeter

The River Niger Crew

Name Department
Krishna Shah as Director. He was 38 (75) years old when He died Directing
The River Niger (48 years)

Some rivers can't be dammed...some people won't be broken.

  • Release day: Wednesday, April 14, 1976
  • Runtime: 105 minutes