Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

  • TV Movie
  • 1979
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
354
YOUR RATING
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979)
Period DramaPsychological DramaBiographyDrama

Based on writer Maya Angelou's childhood, this story is about a young girl in the South who is sent to live with her grandmother after her parents divorce.Based on writer Maya Angelou's childhood, this story is about a young girl in the South who is sent to live with her grandmother after her parents divorce.Based on writer Maya Angelou's childhood, this story is about a young girl in the South who is sent to live with her grandmother after her parents divorce.

  • Director
    • Fielder Cook
  • Writers
    • Maya Angelou
    • Leonora Thuna
  • Stars
    • Paul Benjamin
    • Diahann Carroll
    • Ruby Dee
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    354
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Fielder Cook
    • Writers
      • Maya Angelou
      • Leonora Thuna
    • Stars
      • Paul Benjamin
      • Diahann Carroll
      • Ruby Dee
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos46

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 40
    View Poster

    Top Cast39

    Paul Benjamin
    Paul Benjamin
    • Freeman
    Diahann Carroll
    Diahann Carroll
    • Vivian
    Ruby Dee
    Ruby Dee
    • Grandmother Baxter
    Roger E. Mosley
    Roger E. Mosley
    • Bailey Sr.
    • (as Roger Mosley)
    Esther Rolle
    Esther Rolle
    • Momma
    Madge Sinclair
    Madge Sinclair
    • Miss Flowers
    Sonny Jim Gaines
    • Uncle Willie
    Art Evans
    Art Evans
    • Principal
    Constance Good
    • Maya
    John Driver
    • Bailey Jr.
    • (as John M. Driver II)
    Georgia Allen
    • Mrs. Gurney
    J. Don Ferguson
    J. Don Ferguson
    • Mr. Donleavy
    Darleen Taylor
    • 1st Girl
    Darryl Antony Williams
    • Tommy Valdon
    • (as Darryl Williams)
    Tonea Stewart
    Tonea Stewart
    • Lillie
    • (as Tommie Stewart)
    Shaunery Stevens
    • Policeman
    Monica Kyles
    • Julie
    Frankie Mitchell
    • 2nd Mrs. Fletcher
    • Director
      • Fielder Cook
    • Writers
      • Maya Angelou
      • Leonora Thuna
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    7.1354
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    More like this

    Down in the Delta
    6.9
    Down in the Delta
    To Dance with the White Dog
    7.3
    To Dance with the White Dog
    The Member of the Wedding
    6.2
    The Member of the Wedding
    The Kid Who Loved Christmas
    6.3
    The Kid Who Loved Christmas
    Train Ride
    5.6
    Train Ride
    Message from Nam
    6.3
    Message from Nam
    The Last Child
    6.5
    The Last Child
    Miles to Go Before I Sleep
    7.0
    Miles to Go Before I Sleep
    Mesmerized
    4.7
    Mesmerized
    Claudine
    7.3
    Claudine
    Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    5.7
    Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys
    7.0
    Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys

    Related interests

    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Connections
      Featured in Maya Angelou and Still I Rise (2016)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    • Release date
      • April 28, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • arabuloku.com
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Miksi häkkilintu laulaa
    • Filming locations
      • Mississippi, USA
    • Production company
      • Tomorrow Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.