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Man and Boy

  • 1971
  • G
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
215
YOUR RATING
Bill Cosby, Gloria Foster, and George Spell in Man and Boy (1971)
AdventureCrimeDramaWestern

After the Civil War, a black ex-union soldier, his wife, and his son settle in Arizona Territory to homestead and build their lives. At first, Caleb Revers race doesn't seem to matter, but t... Read allAfter the Civil War, a black ex-union soldier, his wife, and his son settle in Arizona Territory to homestead and build their lives. At first, Caleb Revers race doesn't seem to matter, but then things change.After the Civil War, a black ex-union soldier, his wife, and his son settle in Arizona Territory to homestead and build their lives. At first, Caleb Revers race doesn't seem to matter, but then things change.

  • Director
    • E.W. Swackhamer
  • Writers
    • Harry Essex
    • Oscar Saul
  • Stars
    • Bill Cosby
    • Gloria Foster
    • Leif Erickson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    215
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • E.W. Swackhamer
    • Writers
      • Harry Essex
      • Oscar Saul
    • Stars
      • Bill Cosby
      • Gloria Foster
      • Leif Erickson
    • 8User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos29

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    Top cast23

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    Bill Cosby
    Bill Cosby
    • Caleb Revers
    Gloria Foster
    Gloria Foster
    • Ivy
    Leif Erickson
    Leif Erickson
    • Mossman
    George Spell
    • Billy
    Douglas Turner Ward
    • Christmas
    John Anderson
    John Anderson
    • Stretch
    Henry Silva
    Henry Silva
    • Caine
    Dub Taylor
    Dub Taylor
    • Atkins
    Yaphet Kotto
    Yaphet Kotto
    • Nate
    Shelley Morrison
    Shelley Morrison
    • Rosita
    Richard Bull
    Richard Bull
    • Thornhill
    Robert Lawson
    • Lawson
    Jason Clark
    • Red
    Fred Graham
    Fred Graham
    • Blockers
    Jack Owens
    Buster Shaver
      Sam Partridge
      Horace Owens
      • Director
        • E.W. Swackhamer
      • Writers
        • Harry Essex
        • Oscar Saul
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews8

      5.5215
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      Featured reviews

      10prosulas

      This film, Man and Boy, should inspire every fatherless child as it did me!!

      I find that it is very important that the American Society will continue to show these types of films where Black men are the leading voice and to show that Blacks did want to be employed even during Westward Expansion time when governments chose not to employ Black men. To show that once a Black man was willing to stand behind his child and show the child what's right from wrong and to stick up for his belongings that will be taken from them even after they have fought long and hard in the Civil War (just to be called a "Nigger Blue-Belly" and denied homestead) is long overdue. If you steal my horse, shouldn't I get it back! If you look at most films that expose the truth of Westward Expansion you will learn that the Native American men and the African American men were not allowed to ride up on horses into town and talk to any women because they were looked upon as savages to White men with homesteads. Plain and simple the women were for White men only. But, this film shows the opposite and it is by no means a tool to pull any race card. Long live Bill Cosby!!!!!!

      S.
      dizozza

      He attempts to catch a wild horse

      It was just rather interesting how much a person could need something and the skills developed to acquire it, especially capturing something wild, like the white horse with its brown relatives. Anyway, after lassoing it, it winds up dragging him until the rope breaks. That was a cinematic scene. I only saw a reel of this film, a reel that mysteriously was identified as a reel from Westworld.
      jcain3

      Well written non-typical western

      Very well written story of the early American West and African American family. It is "G" rated but the subject is on adult level, for complete understanding. The psychology of the characters is very well defined and true to life as I see it, from my knowledge of early cowboys in Texas and the Western frontier. Fine acting and great scenery, a good movie to watch!
      7thndrkiss75

      few movies have truly human characters

      The most impressive thing about this film, to me, was it's realism. Many films have the pretense of reality, but very few movies have truly human characters. The only one you can become emotionally invested in is, of course, the boy. Everyone else is perfectly flawed. The Hero is, at times, a coward. The villains all seem to be driven by motives that one can easily understand. And under the same influences, one might be inclined to follow the same paths they chose. As in life, there are few truly righteous or evil people. Some, but very few. Most of us are somewhere in between. In short,"Man and Boy" is teaching us this lesson through the eyes of a young boy looking for a hero. Dose he find one? You be the judge.
      ncoxny

      I remember

      I remember going to see this movie with my second grade class. It was playing at a theater somwhere in New York, no doubt due to the recent popularity of "The Cosby Show". It was really weird seeing Bill as a cowboy. I don't remember the movie well at all, but I remember it being kind of violent and very depressing. It seemed like the poor mans "Sounder". I don't remember liking it much, but I think Bill's heart was in the right place. He apparently loves Westerns, and, as always, wanted to make something very pro social.

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Connections
        Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Ghost Dad (2014)
      • Soundtracks
        Better Days (Theme From Man And Boy)
        Composed And Arranged by J.J. Johnson

        Performed by J.J. Johnson And His Orchestra

        Sung by Bill Withers

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • January 28, 1976 (Mexico)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • El hombre y el niño
      • Filming locations
        • Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA(Shoot-out scene, ranch scenes, and others.)
      • Production companies
        • J. Cornelius Crean Films Inc.
        • Jemmin Inc.
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 38 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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