A Family Thing
Encyclopedia
A Family Thing is a 1996 film starring Robert Duvall
, James Earl Jones
and Irma P. Hall
. It was written by Billy Bob Thornton
and Tom Epperson
and directed by Richard Pearce.
(Duvall) named Earl Pilcher, whose late mother makes a shocking revelation in a letter left for him to read, after her death. She reveals that Earl's biological mother was an African American
maid named Willa Mae, who was raped by Earl's (white) father and died while giving birth to Earl. His adoptive mother's dying wish is that he go to Chicago
to meet his half-brother, Ray Murdoch (Jones). Ray blames Earl's father for his own mother's death and does not want to speak to Earl, whose very presence reminds Ray of the past. But his loving Aunt T. (Hall) welcomes Earl and insists the family accept him.
Earl initially takes it badly, and, as a result, he packs up his clothes and takes off for the big city. He meets Ray at city hall (where he is a police officer) and Ray, although he really wants nothing to do with Earl, agrees to meet him for lunch at a diner. There Ray reveals that he knew he had a half white brother all along and hates Earl's father (and Earl too by association) because he feels that he is what killed his mother. He says in so many words that he doesn't want or need a brother, and they go their separate ways. But when Earl leaves and drives off in his truck he encounters four black street toughs who rear end his truck. When Earl gets out to survey the (minimal) damage, he, being a trusting Southern "good ol' boy", leaves his keys in the ignition, and the toughs beat him up and steal his truck. He walks around in a daze and ends up in a hospital. The hospital staff finds Ray's information in Earl's pocket and calls Ray. He comes reluctantly, and the doctor tells him that Earl may have a concussion and needs to take it easy for a couple of days; no traveling is allowed. She also tells him that the hospital is full, so he will have to take Earl home to recuperate.
At Ray's home, Earl meets Aunt T (Hall), a kind and generous elderly woman who is blind. Aunt T. is Ray's aunt, and thus, Earl's aunt. Earl also meets Ray's son, Virgil (Beach), who doesn't appreciate a white southerner sleeping in his bed. At first, Earl's stay at the Murdock residence is rocky, and leads to Earl leaving, where he gets drunk at a Chicago bar, tossed out for bothering a black family, and decides to sleep under a bridge. The next day, Ray, on Aunt T.'s wishes, manages to find Earl, and settle their differences. As Virgils divorced wife (played by Regina Taylor
), and their two daughters, visit, Earl learns that Virgil had a promising career in professional football that was shattered by an injury. Ever since, his lost chance to become what he couldn't has hurt his family, because he would rather dwell in the past than accept his fate.
Ray and Earl bond together more as each finds similarities between them. Both served in the military (Earl as a firefighter in the United States Navy
, and Ray in the U.S. Marines) during the Korean War
, where they received life-long scars. Ray reveals he once threw a rock at Earl that could have killed him when they were both very young, because of Ray's hatred towards Earl's father. Later on, in a bar, Earl takes Virgil aside and explains to him that by remorsing his loss of a great football career, he isn't devoting himself to his ex-wife and children.
Once Earl is ready to go home, and the police unexpectedly find his truck operational (it was shot up in a bank robbery), Aunt T. had Earl and Ray sit down, where she tells Earl about his mother. According to Aunt T., Earl's father impregnated Earl and Ray's mother, who gave birth to Earl, but died soon after. Earl's white "mother" (whose death at the beginning of the film led Earl to seek out his brother Ray), was a great friend of Earl's mother, and promised to raise Earl. Aunt T. gives Earl a picture of his biological mother, which he keeps close by. Earl accepts his new family with pride, and he and Ray return to their hometown to find their mother's grave. As they share a drink in her tombstone, Earl decides to take Ray to his southern family and tell them the story, ending the movie by joking with Ray that when Earl's white nephew finds out he is part black, he will likely shoot the both of them.
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
, James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
and Irma P. Hall
Irma P. Hall
Irma P. Hall is an African American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows since the 1970s. She is best known for playing matriarchal figures the films A Family Thing, Soul Food and The Ladykillers....
. It was written by Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
and Tom Epperson
Tom Epperson
Tom Epperson is an American screenwriter et writer known for his collaborations with Billy Bob Thornton.-Selected filmography:*One False Move *A Family Thing *Don't Look Back *A Gun, a Car, a Blonde...
and directed by Richard Pearce.
Plot
The film is a drama about a Scotch-Irish American SouthernerSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
(Duvall) named Earl Pilcher, whose late mother makes a shocking revelation in a letter left for him to read, after her death. She reveals that Earl's biological mother was an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
maid named Willa Mae, who was raped by Earl's (white) father and died while giving birth to Earl. His adoptive mother's dying wish is that he go to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to meet his half-brother, Ray Murdoch (Jones). Ray blames Earl's father for his own mother's death and does not want to speak to Earl, whose very presence reminds Ray of the past. But his loving Aunt T. (Hall) welcomes Earl and insists the family accept him.
Earl initially takes it badly, and, as a result, he packs up his clothes and takes off for the big city. He meets Ray at city hall (where he is a police officer) and Ray, although he really wants nothing to do with Earl, agrees to meet him for lunch at a diner. There Ray reveals that he knew he had a half white brother all along and hates Earl's father (and Earl too by association) because he feels that he is what killed his mother. He says in so many words that he doesn't want or need a brother, and they go their separate ways. But when Earl leaves and drives off in his truck he encounters four black street toughs who rear end his truck. When Earl gets out to survey the (minimal) damage, he, being a trusting Southern "good ol' boy", leaves his keys in the ignition, and the toughs beat him up and steal his truck. He walks around in a daze and ends up in a hospital. The hospital staff finds Ray's information in Earl's pocket and calls Ray. He comes reluctantly, and the doctor tells him that Earl may have a concussion and needs to take it easy for a couple of days; no traveling is allowed. She also tells him that the hospital is full, so he will have to take Earl home to recuperate.
At Ray's home, Earl meets Aunt T (Hall), a kind and generous elderly woman who is blind. Aunt T. is Ray's aunt, and thus, Earl's aunt. Earl also meets Ray's son, Virgil (Beach), who doesn't appreciate a white southerner sleeping in his bed. At first, Earl's stay at the Murdock residence is rocky, and leads to Earl leaving, where he gets drunk at a Chicago bar, tossed out for bothering a black family, and decides to sleep under a bridge. The next day, Ray, on Aunt T.'s wishes, manages to find Earl, and settle their differences. As Virgils divorced wife (played by Regina Taylor
Regina Taylor
Regina Taylor is an American actress and playwright. She has won several awards throughout her career, including a Golden Globe Award and NAACP Image Award.-Biography:...
), and their two daughters, visit, Earl learns that Virgil had a promising career in professional football that was shattered by an injury. Ever since, his lost chance to become what he couldn't has hurt his family, because he would rather dwell in the past than accept his fate.
Ray and Earl bond together more as each finds similarities between them. Both served in the military (Earl as a firefighter in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and Ray in the U.S. Marines) during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, where they received life-long scars. Ray reveals he once threw a rock at Earl that could have killed him when they were both very young, because of Ray's hatred towards Earl's father. Later on, in a bar, Earl takes Virgil aside and explains to him that by remorsing his loss of a great football career, he isn't devoting himself to his ex-wife and children.
Once Earl is ready to go home, and the police unexpectedly find his truck operational (it was shot up in a bank robbery), Aunt T. had Earl and Ray sit down, where she tells Earl about his mother. According to Aunt T., Earl's father impregnated Earl and Ray's mother, who gave birth to Earl, but died soon after. Earl's white "mother" (whose death at the beginning of the film led Earl to seek out his brother Ray), was a great friend of Earl's mother, and promised to raise Earl. Aunt T. gives Earl a picture of his biological mother, which he keeps close by. Earl accepts his new family with pride, and he and Ray return to their hometown to find their mother's grave. As they share a drink in her tombstone, Earl decides to take Ray to his southern family and tell them the story, ending the movie by joking with Ray that when Earl's white nephew finds out he is part black, he will likely shoot the both of them.
Cast
- Robert DuvallRobert DuvallRobert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
as Earl Pilcher, Jr. - James Earl JonesJames Earl JonesJames Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
as Ray Murdock - Irma P. HallIrma P. HallIrma P. Hall is an African American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows since the 1970s. She is best known for playing matriarchal figures the films A Family Thing, Soul Food and The Ladykillers....
as Aunt T. - Michael BeachMichael Beach-Biography:Beach was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, of Cape Verdean descent. He attended the prestigious Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts on scholarship from ABC . He was introduced to acting when he was sidelined by a lacrosse injury during high school by a classmate...
as Virgil Murdock