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Catalog/Biography/Leadbelly
Leadbelly poster
B
Strong
MASTER SCORE 66.8 / 100
1976·Biography / Drama / Music·2h 6m

LEADBELLY

“You can't bury a black legend like Leadbelly!”

The life of Blues and folk singer Huddie Leadbetter, nicknamed Leadbelly is recounted. Covering the good times and bad from his 20s to 40s. Much of that time was spent on chain gangs in the south. Even in prison he became well known for the songs he had composed and sung during and before the time he spent there.

Above the Line
Gordon Parks·DirectorErnest Kinoy·WriterBruce Surtees·Director of PhotographyFred Karlin·Original Music ComposerMoe Howard·Editor
Cast
Roger E. Mosley·Huddie LedbetterJames Brodhead·John LomaxJohn McDonald·Tom PruittLeonard Wrentz·GuardErnie Hudson·ArchieDana Manno·Margaret JuddWilliam Wintersole·Sheriff GibbonsPaul Benjamin·Wes LedbetterLynn Hamilton·Sally LedbetterCarole Lamond·Laura May
Full Crew
(30 credits)
Directing· 3
Gordon Parks·DirectorReuben Watt·First Assistant DirectorRichard Alexander Wells·Second Assistant Director
Writing· 1
Ernest Kinoy·Writer
Camera· 5
Bruce Surtees·Director of PhotographyOscar Barber·Camera OperatorWilliam D. Barber·Second Assistant CameraTimothy E. Wade·First Assistant CameraRobert West Sr.·Key Grip
Editing· 2
Moe Howard·EditorThomas Penick·Assistant Editor
Sound & Music· 5
Fred Karlin·Original Music ComposerHoward Beals·Sound Effects EditorGene S. Cantamessa·Sound MixerJohn Wilkinson·Sound Re-Recording MixerDavid H. Cohen·Musician
Art & Design· 4
Robert F. Boyle·Production DesignJohn A. Kuri·Set DecorationBernadine M. Anderson·Makeup ArtistRobert Dawn·Makeup Artist
Production· 5
Marc Merson·ProducerDavid Frost·Executive ProducerJack Grossberg·Executive ProducerPamela Jaye Smith·Location CastingLes Landau·Location Manager
Other Departments· 5
Eddie M. Barron·HairstylistDenny Arnold·StuntsJim Burk·StuntsHarold Jones·StuntsCharles Holmes·Gaffer
By the Numbers
66.8
OF 100
Master Score
7.2
OF 10
IMDb
—
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind Leadbelly's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#E6D9B8
#5C3A29
#FFFFFF
Mood
Powerful, Dramatic
Composition
Centered
Era
1970s
Visual Style
Painted

“The movie poster features a muscular, dark-skinned man standing prominently in the center, holding a guitar in one hand and a sledgehammer in the other. He is s”

Key Elements
GuitarSledgehammerShacklesRailroad Tracks
Atmosphere
Warm
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
Rural
Design Score
7/10
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THREE WAYS DEEPER

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