Fictional chronicle depicting the last years of jazz musician’s Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker’s life. Capturing the trials and tribulations of a black musician in white America, this film takes an in-depth look at the multi-faceted world of the jazz life — music, drink, drugs, racism, women, and indifference. Features Dick Gregory in the key role as Richie ‘Eagle’ Stokes, with Don Murray playing a down-and-out professor. Adapted from the John A. Williams’ novel “Night song”.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
319367
Languages
English
English
French
Spanish
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → African Americans in motion pictures
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Biographical films
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → African Americans
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → African Americans
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → African Americans in motion pictures
Feature films → Feature films - United States
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Alcoholism
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Drug abuse
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Drug addiction
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Men - Alcohol use
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Narcotic addicts
Literature → American literature - Film and video adaptations
Music & Performing Arts → African American musicians
Music & Performing Arts → Jazz music
Music & Performing Arts → Jazz musicians
Music & Performing Arts → Musicians
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
DVD; Access Print (Section 1)