Poster for A Family Thing

A Family Thing

1996, Drama, 1h 49m

22 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

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A Family Thing Photos

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Movie Info

Following the death of the white woman he thought was his mother, a shocked Earl Pilcher Jr. (Robert Duvall) learns he is half black. Shaken to the core by this revelation of decades of lies, an impassioned Pilcher travels to Chicago to find his biological family and meets Roy Murdock (James Earl Jones), his half-brother. Unfortunately, Murdock refuses to accept the aging Southerner. Desperate for a connection, the grieving Pilcher struggles to convince Murdock to open his mind.

Cast & Crew

Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Earl Pilcher Jr.
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
Ray Murdock
Michael Beach
Michael Beach
Virgil
Irma P. Hall
Irma P. Hall
Aunt T.
Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie
Ruby
Regina Taylor
Regina Taylor
Ann
Mary Jackson
Mary Jackson
Carrie
Paula Marshall
Paula Marshall
Karen
James N. Harrell
James N. Harrell
Earl Pilcher Sr.
Richard Pearce
Richard Pearce
Director
Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Producer
Todd Black
Todd Black
Producer
Randa Haines
Randa Haines
Producer
Michael Hausman
Michael Hausman
Executive Producer
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Writer
Tom Epperson
Tom Epperson
Writer
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News & Interviews for A Family Thing

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022
New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022
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Critic Reviews for A Family Thing

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (6)
Full Review… Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle Full Review… Alison Macor Austin Chronicle Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Full Review… Susan Wloszczyna USA Today Full Review… James Berardinelli ReelViews Full Review… Susan Stark Detroit News Full Review… Lori Hoffman Atlantic City Weekly Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Full Review… Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette Full Review… Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Full Review… James Sanford Kalamazoo Gazette
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Audience Reviews for A Family Thing

  • Jan 16, 2008
    Imagine being a 60 year old white man. After your mother dies, she leaves you a letter telling you that your father raped the black servant and you are really her birth child. Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones were perfect in this!
    Ida K Super Reviewer
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