The Learning Tree

Ben Mankiewicz introduces The Learning Tree, 1969.

Introduction and comments following The Learning Tree, 1969, with Clayton Davis and Jasmine Simpkins from the African American Film Critics Association.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces The Learning Tree, 1969.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces The Learning Tree, 1969.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces The Learning Tree, 1969.

A storm blows up in Kansas opening the largely autobiographical movie directing debut by renowned photographer Gordon Parks Sr., from his screenplay and novel, Kyle Johnson as his stand-in Newt, Carole Lamond the local working girl who rescues him, in The Learning Tree, 1969.

Mom Winger (Estelle Evans) works for Judge Cavanaugh (Russell Thorson), her son Newt (Kyle Johnson) and his (Zooey Hall) also present, before the sentencing of Marcus (Alex Clarke), which pleases Sheriff Kirky (Dana Elcar), in Gordon Parks Sr.'s semi-autobiographical The Learning Tree, 1969.

Newt (Kyle Johnson, in the role modeled on writer-director Gordon Parks Sr.) with pals (Stephen Perry, Carter Vinnegar, Bobby Goss) gets led astray by troubled Marcus (Alex Clarke), rancher Kiner (George Mitchell) the victim, in 1920's Kansas, early in The Learning Tree, 1969.