Product Details

• Actors: Beau Bridges, Carl Lumby, Lorraine Toussaint, Bill Cobbs, Allison Jones
• Directors: Charles Burnett
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hallmark
• VHS Release Date: January 27, 1998
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304274807
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,175 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Item Name: Nightjohn; Studio: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

131 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stands on its own two feet, May 7, 2006

By 

Timothy Hulsey (Charlottesville, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nightjohn (DVD)

African-American auteur Charles Burnett is best known for neorealist dramas like _A Killer of Sheep_, but his first foray into television is widely regarded as his masterpiece. The New Yorker's Terrence Rafferty proclaimed _Nightjohn_ the "best American movie of 1996." I agree.

The plot concerns Sarny, a twelve-year-old slave girl who learns to read, and uses her knowledge to expose and undermine the plantation power structure. Performances are excellent -- newcomer Allison Jones is especially good as Sarny -- and Burnett's direction is honest and forthright. Although _Nightjohn_ has a strong pro-education message, it is conveyed with plenty of suspenseful drama and a bare minimum of preachiness. Family filmmaking doesn't get better than this.

The _Nightjohn_ DVD, like the laserdisc edition before it, presents the film in its original full-frame ratio without supplements or bonuses. The transfer and sound are adequate -- and given the price, that's about as much as anyone can reasonably expect.

Note to parents: For a film that features no profanity, no sex or nudity, and only a few instances of onscreen violence, the PG-13 rating on this DVD seems excessive. _Nightjohn_ is not for young children, because it strongly suggests the horror and brutality of American slavery. But I'd recommend this film for ages 9 and up, with parental supervision. (Be prepared for a long, thoughtful discussion afterwards.)

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freedom is Reading!, January 1, 2002

By 

Oni Lasana "Oni" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night John [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I love this movie, the first time I saw it was at a showing given by the Delta's, a African American female sorority at the International House in Philadelphia. It was like history coming alive before my eyes, the lesson it taught on the value of education was unforgettable.
When the lights went up, we were engaged in a dialogue led by poet, Sonia Sanchez on the impact of what we viewed and how relevant it was to all educators and students today.
I could only keep asking how to purchase the video!! A few days later I visited my video rental store and their it was on the shelf...it was sold to me for $10!
I have since purchased over half a dozen [...] and given as gifts to lovers of American history. I also present workshops on slavery, Civil War and Literature in many schools, that connect to my storytelling work, featuring the works of Paul Laurence Dunbar. I often recommend this video to the teachers to show in the middle to university level before I come to the classroom or assembly.

It is realistically powerful! Excellent acting by all! Beautiful visuals and a great storyline from the cabin to the big house.

I gave the last one away to a friend who is working on a Slavery Museum here in Philadelphia, so I keep ordering more!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Reading, February 5, 2004

By 

Robert Hildreth (Whiting, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night John [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a beautiful story about the power of reading. The film gives a moving insight into the condition of slavery in general and those who tried to open the door to literacy in particular. It is wonderfully acted, directed, and written. I showed it to my 8th grade reading class and they were enthralled. (And it isn't easy to enthrall 8th graders these days) Once you see it you will never forget it.