GetWiki

{{Short description|2005 television film}}{{for|the play from which this film was derived|Lackawanna Blues}}

factoids

| screenplay = Ruben Santiago-Hudson| director = George C. Wolfe

• S. Epatha Merkerson
• Marcus Carl Franklin
• Mos Def
• Carmen Ejogo
• Louis Gossett Jr.
• Macy Gray
• Terrence Dashon Howard
• Delroy Lindo
• Rosie Perez
• Liev Schrieber
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson
• Jimmy Smits
• Jeffrey Wright

}}| music = Meshell Ndegeocello| country = United States| language = English

• Halle Berry
• Vincent Cirrincione
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson
• Shelby Stone

{edih}| producer = Nellie Rachel Nugiel| editor = Brian A. Kates| cinematography = Ivan Strasburg| runtime = 95 minutes

• HBO Films
• Bellah Films
• Good Shepherd Entertainment

{edih}| budget = | network = HBOLackawanna Blues is a 2005 biographical drama television film directed by George C. Wolfe and written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. It aired on HBO on February 12, 2005. It is based on the play of the same name by Santiago-Hudson. Wolfe had commissioned the stage version.{{Citation|last=Lee|first=Felicia R.|title=Lost and Found In Lackawanna|date=2005-02-06|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CEFDE153AF935A35751C0A9639C8B63|newspaper=New York Times}}For her work in the movie, S. Epatha Merkerson won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006.

Premise

Lackawanna Blues is the true story of Ruben Santiago Jr. growing up in Lackawanna, New York. He was raised by his father and mother and the neighborhood boarding house lady known as Rachel “Nanny” Crosby. Ruben was born in 1956 to his Puerto Rican father Ruben Santiago and his African-American mother Alean Hudson. His mother was too mentally unstable to take good care of him; residing in mental hospitals, Alean disappears and reappears throughout Ruben’s life. His father stayed at Nanny’s boarding house, but he was frequently not around due to working long hours or out looking for work. Nanny more or less took care of Ruben Jr. as a mother figure. The television movie depicts his life growing up there and the diverse characters that he meets during his and their stays at the boarding house.

Cast

• S. Epatha Merkerson as Rachel “Nanny” Crosby
• Hill Harper as Ruben Santiago Jr. as an adult
  • Marcus Carl Franklin as Ruben Santiago Jr. as a boy, ages 7–10
• Jimmy Smits as Ruben Santiago Sr., Ruben’s father
• Terrence Dashon Howard as Bill Crosby, Nanny’s much younger husband
• Mos Def as The Bandleader
• Carmen Ejogo as Alean Hudson, Ruben’s mother
• Louis Gossett Jr as Ol’lem Taylor, a retired Negro league baseball player
• Macy Gray as Pauline, a resident and Jimmy’s girlfriend
• Michael K. Williams as Jimmy, a resident and Pauline’s boyfriend
• Ernie Hudson as Dick Barrymore, a cabaret owner
• Delroy Lindo as Mr. Lucious, a resident
• Rosie Perez as Bertha, a hairdresser and resident
• Adina Porter as Ricky, a resident
• Jeffrey Wright as Small Paul
• Barry Shabaka Henley as Shakey Winfield, a resident and Nanny’s cousin
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Freddie Cobbs, a World War II veteran
• Saul Williams as Lonnie, a resident and war veteran
• Liev Schreiber as Ulysses Ford, a social worker
• Julie Benz as Laura, an abused wife
• Henry Simmons as Jesse, Laura’s abusive husband
• Patricia Wettig as Laura’s Mother
• Ron Kellum as Fish Fry guest
• Robert Bradley as Otis McClanahan (credited as “Robert A. Bradley” in some sources)

The blind Detroit street singer Robert Bradley from the band Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise appears in the film. He performs on-screen and has three songs featured on the soundtrack (including a duet with Macy Gray).

Awards and nominations{| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Award! Category! Nominee(s)! Result! Ref. {{center|2005}}Casting Society of America#Artios Awards>Artios Awards| Outstanding Achievement in Movie of the Week Casting| John Papsidera and Wendy O’Brien| {{won}} HTTPS://WWW.CASTINGSOCIETY.COM/AWARDS/ARTIOS/2005 >TITLE=2005 ARTIOS AWARDS WEBSITE=WWW.CASTINGSOCIETY.COM, en, | Humanitas PrizeList of Humanitas Prize recipients#2006 (31st Humanitas Awards)>90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television| Ruben Santiago-Hudson| {{won}} HTTPS://WWW.HUMANITASPRIZE.ORG/PRIZE-WINNERS >TITLE=PAST WINNERS & NOMINEES HUMANITAS PRIZE >ACCESS-DATE=JUNE 11, 2022, Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television| {{nom}} HTTP://WWW.OFTAAWARDS.COM/TELEVISION-AWARDS/9TH-ANNUAL-TV-AWARDS-2005/ >TITLE=9TH ANNUAL TV AWARDS (2005) ACCESS-DATE=MAY 15, 2021, | Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| Marcus Carl Franklin| {{nom}}| Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}}| Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| Terrence Howard| {{nom}}| Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| Macy Gray| {{nom}}| Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries| George C. Wolfe| {{nom}}| Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries| Ruben Santiago-Hudson| {{nom}} Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{won}} Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{nom}} Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{nom}} Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{nom}} Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{nom}}| Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| Meshell Ndegeocello| {{nom}} Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{nom}} Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries| {{nom}} Primetime Emmy AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie>Outstanding Made for Television Movie| Halle Berry, Vincent Cirrincione, Shelby Stone, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Nellie Nugiel| {{nom}} HTTPS://WWW.EMMYS.COM/SHOWS/LACKAWANNA-BLUES >TITLE=LACKAWANNA BLUES PUBLISHER=ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES, August 24, 2021, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie>Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}}Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie>Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special| George C. Wolfe| {{nom}}Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie>Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special| John Papsidera| {{won}}Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie>Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special| Charles Gregory Ross and Fay Kelly| {{nom}}Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)>Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Non-Prosthetic)| Edna Sheen, Denise Pugh-Ruiz, and Karen Westerfield| {{nom}}Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie>Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie| Susumu Tokunow, Rick Ash, and Adam Jenkins| {{nom}} Satellite Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television| {{nom}} HTTP://WWW.PRESSACADEMY.COM/SATAWARDS/AWARDS2005B.SHTML >TITLE=NOMINEES & WINNERS – SATELLITEâ„¢ AWARDS 2005 (10TH ANNUAL SATELLITEâ„¢ AWARDS) INTERNATIONAL PRESS ACADEMY. SATELLITE AWARDS >URL-STATUS=DEAD ARCHIVE-DATE=FEBRUARY 2, 2008, April 7, 2019, Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film>Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{nom}}21st TCA Awards>Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials| {{nom}} HTTPS://VARIETY.COM/2005/SCENE/NEWS/ALPHABET-TOPS-TCA-NOMINATIONS-1117923832/>TITLE=ALPHABET TOPS TCA NOMINATIONSWORK=VARIETY (MAGAZINE) >ACCESSDATE=JUNE 17, 2013, Women’s Image Network Awards#The WIN Awards 2005>Women’s Image Network Awards| Actress in Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{nom}} {{center|2006}}5th AARP Movies for Grownups Awards>AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best TV Movie| {{nom}} NEWCOTT >FIRST=WILLIAM R. TITLE=“FIFTH ANNUAL MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS” PAGES=50–51, Washington, DC, American Cinema Editors>American Cinema Editors AwardsAmerican Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television>Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television| Brian A. Kates| {{won}} HTTPS://WWW.IMDB.COM/EVENT/EV0000017/2006/1/?REF_=EV_EH >TITLE=NOMINEES/WINNERS IMDB >ACCESSDATE=APRIL 4, 2019, BET Awards 2006>BET AwardsBET Award for Best Actor>Best Actor| Terrence Howard| {{won}} HTTPS://WWW.TODAY.COM/POPCULTURE/JAMIE-FOXX-LEADS-BET-NOMINEES-1C9433449 >TITLE=JAMIE FOXX LEADS BET NOMINEES TODAY (AMERICAN TV PROGRAM)>TODAY, May 17, 2006, Black Reel AwardsBlack Reel Award for Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series>Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series| Halle Berry and Vincent Cirrincione| {{won}} HTTPS://WWW.BLACKREELAWARDS.COM/BLACK-REEL-AWARDS-BRATS >TITLE=BLACK REEL AWARDS – PAST WINNERS BLACK REEL AWARDS >ACCESS-DATE=DECEMBER 18, 2021, Black Reel Award for Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Limited Series>Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series| George C. Wolfe| {{won}}Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series>Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}} Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series| Terrence Howard| {{nom}}| Jeffrey Wright| {{won}} Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series| Carmen Ejogo| {{won}}| Rosie Perez| {{nom}}| Adina Porter| {{nom}}Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Limited Series>Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series| Ruben Santiago-Hudson| {{won}}| Cinema Audio Society AwardsCinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movie or Limited Series>Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series| Susumu Tokunow, Rick Ash, and Adam Jenkins| {{won}} HTTPS://WWW.IMDB.COM/EVENT/EV0000175/2005/1/?REF_=EV_EH >TITLE=NOMINEES/WINNERS IMDB >ACCESSDATE=MAY 8, 2019, Costume Designers Guild>Costume Designers Guild Awards| Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series| Hope Hanafin| {{nom}} HTTPS://WWW.COSTUMEDESIGNERSGUILD.COM/AWARDS-ARCHIVES/7TH-CDGA-2005/ >TITLE=7TH COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD AWARDS COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD >ACCESS-DATE=MAY 21, 2016, 58th Directors Guild of America Awards>Directors Guild of America AwardsDirectors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film>Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries| George C. WolfeTied with Joseph Sargent for Warm Springs.}} HTTPS://WWW.DGA.ORG/AWARDS/HISTORY/2000S/2005.ASPX?VALUE=2005 >TITLE=58TH DGA AWARDS DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARDS >ACCESS-DATE=JULY 5, 2021, Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film| {{nom}} HTTPS://WWW.GOLDENGLOBES.COM/TV-SHOW/LACKAWANNA-BLUES >TITLE=LACKAWANNA BLUES – GOLDEN GLOBES HFPA >ACCESS-DATE=JULY 5, 2021 HFPA, 2006, }}Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film>Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}}Motion Picture Sound Editors#Golden Reel Awards>Golden Reel AwardsGolden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Series 1 Hour – Dialogue/ADR>Best Sound Editing in Television Long Form – Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement| Jon Mete, Michael Hertlein, and Paul Longstaffe| {{won}} HTTPS://VARIETY.COM/2006/SCENE/AWARDS/SOUND-EDITORS-SING-PRAISE-1117939269/ >TITLE=SOUND EDITORS SING PRAISE VARIETY (MAGAZINE)>VARIETY, June 28, 2019, | Gracie Awards| Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}} HTTPS://ALLWOMENINMEDIA.ORG/GRACIES/2006-GRACIES-WINNERS/ >TITLE=2006 GRACIES GALA WINNERS GRACIE AWARDS >DATE=24 OCTOBER 2016, September 11, 2022, Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature| {{nom}} HTTPS://S3.AMAZONAWS.COM/SA_SUBFORM_ETC/2021_SA_ALLNOMINEESWINNERS_063021.PDF >TITLE=36 YEARS OF NOMINEES AND WINNERS INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS >ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 13, 2021, HTTPS://WWW.INDIEWIRE.COM/ARTICLE/BROKEBACK_CAPOTE_CRASH_TRANSAMERICA_HONORED_WITH_SPIRIT_AWARDS>TITLE=“BROKEBACK,” “CAPOTE,” “CRASH,” “TRANSAMERICA” HONORED WITH SPIRIT AWARDSWORK=INDIEWIRE, 2012-08-21, Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead>Best Female Lead| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{nom}} NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special| {{won}} HTTP://WWW.THEFUTONCRITIC.COM/NEWS/2006/01/10/RANDY-JACKSON-AISHA-TYLER-KIMBERLY-ELISE-JAMES-PICKENS-JR-AND-KEVIN-FRAZIER-JOIN-NEW-NAACP-PRESIDENT-AND-CEO-BRUCE-S-GORDON-TO-ANNOUNCE-THE-37TH-NAACP-IMAGE-AWARDS-NOMINATIONS--20236/20060110FOX01/ >TITLE=RANDY JACKSON, AISHA TYLER, KIMBERLY ELISE, JAMES PICKENS JR., AND KEVIN FRAZIER JOIN NEW NAACP PRESIDENT AND CEO BRUCE S. GORDON TO ANNOUNCE THE “37TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS” NOMINATIONS THE FUTON CRITIC >ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 10, 2006, Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special| Terrence Howard| {{won}}| Jeffrey Wright| {{nom}} Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special| Carmen Ejogo| {{won}}| Macy Gray| {{nom}}| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}}| Rosie Perez| {{nom}}NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture>Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie| George C. Wolfe| {{nom}} NAMIC Vision Awards Best Drama| {{won}} | Best Dramatic Performance| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{nom}}National Board of Review Awards 2005>National Board of Review Awards Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TV| {{won}} HTTPS://NATIONALBOARDOFREVIEW.ORG/AWARD-YEARS/2005/ >TITLE=2005 AWARD WINNERS NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW >ACCESS-DATE=JULY 5, 2021, 17th Producers Guild of America Awards>Producers Guild of America AwardsProducers Guild of America Award for Best Long-Form Television>David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television| Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Halle Berry, Vincent Cirrincione, Shelby Stone, and Nellie Nugiel| {{nom}} MCNARY>FIRST1=DAVEURL=HTTPS://VARIETY.COM/2006/FILM/AWARDS/PGA-ON-COWBOY-TRAIL-2-1117936608/WORK=VARIETYARCHIVEURL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20170922002640/HTTP://VARIETY.COM/2006/FILM/AWARDS/PGA-ON-COWBOY-TRAIL-2-1117936608/URL-STATUS=LIVE, 12th Screen Actors Guild Awards>Screen Actors Guild AwardsScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie>Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie| S. Epatha Merkerson| {{won}} HTTP://WWW.SAGAWARDS.ORG/AWARDS/NOMINEES-AND-RECIPIENTS/12TH-ANNUAL-SCREEN-ACTORS-GUILD-AWARDS >TITLE=THE 12TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS >ACCESS-DATE=MAY 21, 2016, 58th Writers Guild of America Awards>Writers Guild of America AwardsLong Form – Adapted)Lackawanna Blues>play| {{nom}} PREVIOUS NOMINEES & WINNERS: 2008 AWARDS WINNERS> PUBLISHER = WRITERS GUILD AWARDS ACCESS-DATE = 2014-05-07 ARCHIVE-DATE = 2015-05-12, dead,

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• {{IMDb title|0407936}}

{{George C. Wolfe}}{{Navboxes|title = Awards for Lackawanna Blues|list ={{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series}}{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special}}}}