The Learning Tree

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The Learning Tree

PG

1969

1h 47m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

As an African-American teen in small-town Kansas in the 1920s, Newt Winger (Kyle Johnson) largely shrugs off the racial prejudice of his time and place. His calm and self-controlled perspective is in direct opposition to that of his quick-tempered friend, Marcus Savage (Alex Clarke). But when Marcus' father, Booker (Richard Ward), murders a man -- and Newt witnesses the crime -- Newt realizes that going to the police could jeopardize both his friendship and his life.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Oct 16, 2007

The Learning Tree is a sentimental, sometimes awkward, but ultimately moving film about the growing-up of a black teenager in rural Kansas during the 1920s.

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Roger Greenspun

New York Times

May 9, 2005

4/5

The restraint, the composure, the sufficiency of the sentimental gesture constitute a small gift for memory and a real victory in the first stages of this filmmaker's career.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Aug 16, 2003

4/5

Touching autobiographical story with brilliant cinematography.

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Nov 1, 2022

Written and produced by Gordon Parks, The Learning Tree meanders. It’s more slice of life than narrative-based.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Feb 10, 2022

4/5

"Layers are the real strength of 'The Learning Tree.'"

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Feb 2, 2022

3.5/4

a compelling narrative that addresses the realities of black life in America within the familiar framework of a moving coming-of-age tale whose emotional peaks and valleys are the stuff of shared human experience to which anyone can relate

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Apr 16, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Dallas H

@RT53171010 Jan 11, 2025

I don't like the sheriff. He's always in a rush to pin the blame for a crime on the first person he assumes is the guilty person without bothering to do any investigation at all. The rest of the movie is okay. I thought it was a decent viewing.

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Jun 30, 2019

This is an exceptional film that deserves to be better recognized by critics. More importantly, every American should see The Learning Tree.

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delysid d

@RT67044741 Apr 11, 2019

back in the old days it was convenient to just shoot black people instead of arresting them... but they dont do that anymore do they?

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s r

@ScottR Oct 7, 2018

Some forced powerful themes that demanded your attention. I did not always find the characters believable, but the message made up for it.

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Jan 16, 2014

good bio-pic of sorts of the director the gr8 gordon parks

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Gordon Parks

Director

Kyle Johnson

Newt

Alex Clarke

Marcus

Estelle Evans

Sarah

Dana Elcar

Kirky

Mira Waters

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Synopsis

As an African-American teen in small-town Kansas in the 1920s, Newt Winger (Kyle Johnson) largely shrugs off the racial prejudice of his time and place. His calm and self-controlled perspective is in direct opposition to that of his quick-tempered friend, Marcus Savage (Alex Clarke). But when Marcus' father, Booker (Richard Ward), murders a man -- and Newt witnesses the crime -- Newt realizes that going to the police could jeopardize both his friendship and his life.

Director: Gordon Parks
Producer: Gordon Parks
Screenwriter: Gordon Parks
Distributor: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Production Co: Winger
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 6, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2012
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Mono

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