The Learning Tree

Newton Winger is a black teenager in a 1920s mixed rural community of Cherokee Flats, Kansas with underlying racism. He follows his friend Marcus Savage to steal apples from Jake Kiner's orchard. Jake catches Marcus and whips him. Racist Sheriff Kirky shots a negro in the back for dice gambling in the woods and later arrests Marcus for putting Jake into the hospital. Judge Cavanaugh sends him to prison. Newt's respected mother works for the judge and sends him to work for Jake to atone for his transgression. He is dating sweet Arcella Jefferson and she gets raped by the judge's son Chauncey. Marcus is on parole and living with his illiterate father Booker. Growing up without a mother has left him angry. Booker kills Jake while stealing his booze. Newt secretly witnesses the incident and fears an explosion of racial reprisals.

There is so much realism in the race subject matter which has echoes of truth in today's world. It's written and directed by Gordon Parks who is better known for directing the blaxploitation icon Shaft. He uses his childhood in Kansas and the Midwest to breathe sincerity into his characters. The young lead does lack big charisma but he fits the young black man very well. Whether intentional or not, he has the sense of a normal young black man, uncertain and struggling to grow up. He and Marcus serve as two different paths into manhood dictated by their family. They're not shocked by the constant racism and are not cowed by them. The white people in the story comes in all shades. It weaves a complex tale of good and evil. It is adapted from Gordon's novel and could use some trimming. There is a lot going on. The vast tapestry of racism is almost a character in itself. It would serve the story better to expand it into a mini-series. With the ways of present day streaming, I hope somebody finds this material.

I think Gordon Parks, did a very good job. I saw the Learning Tree as a child, read it as a child and was happy to see it again as an adult, I even gave my son the book. I applaud Gordon Parks for trying perhaps if he had help (not necessarily someone else total directing it could have flowed a little better). I would love to see this film remade, but who could do it, without deviating from the premise and who could capture the cinematography the way Mr. Parks did. Let me know and maybe we could petition Hollywood. There are a lot of talented black directors who probably could remake the movie but would they be interested???. Spike Lee maybe, John Singelton, the Hudlin brothers??? With the way movies (remakes that is) are being made nowadays, I would love to see a high quality remake. The movie would also need high quality actors. I am going to purchase the movie on DVD and watch it again. Well anyway, I respect your opinion and would like to some feedback on my opinion.

I watched it now in the future present. I really enjoyed how they wrote it and how the cops and the people and the other people talked and communicated and I loved the whole process. But the best part was a very good transition between social castes and ideologies, it was all very good.

The Learning Tree is one of those milestone films that one wishes were much better than it is. Parks' genius for the image comes through time and again, particularly in the opening sequence of the tornado and the horseback riders silhouetted by the sun. The milieu--rural Kansas in the 1920s--is unusual for a film focusing on racial conflict in the U.S., and that alone makes for an interesting film concept. But Parks' lack of film directorial and writing experience mars what could have been a major production. The dialogue in particular is often stilted and forced; too often the characters read their lines as though they're afraid they'll forget something. As a result, there's little real warmth or connection between characters. The other big problem here seems to be flow; each brief episode seems encapsulated, with new characters popping up left and right and then disappearing and reappearing without much development. Case in point: the series of episodes after the arrest. Who exactly are all of these new characters? What is the relationship between the white and black families, and between individuals in both groups? They come, they go, they reappear, but we're lucky to have caught their names. All in all, a much stronger film would have resulted from a collaboration of different screenwriter, director, and cinematographer, rather than having Parks run the whole show. If any film deserves a remake, it's The Learning Tree.

I totally disagree with the previous review that says this movie has been white washed. Had he done his research he would know this was written and directed by a black man. He may need to take into account that this was filmed in 1969. This is how films from that time looked. The sets and costumes for films like Moses and Cleopatra weren't exactly realistic. I will agree that the acting isn't the greatest, but the story is good. There isn't any stereotyping in this movie, they have blacks and whites of different classes and backgrounds. Ever black isn't shiftless and and all of the whites aren't racist. I think it is a fair depiction of what blacks went through and the frustration they felt at that time. Its not the greatest movie I have seen, but it think it's worth watching.