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Feature film — 1996

A Family Thing (1996)

6.61h 49mComedy — Drama

Earl Pilcher Jr. runs an equipment rental outfit in Arkansas, lives with his wife and kids and parents, and rarely takes off his gimme cap. His mother dies, leaving a letter explaining he's not her natural son, but the son of a Black woman who died in childbirth; plus, he has a half brother Ray, in Chicago, she wants him to visit. Earl makes the trip, initially receiving a cold welcome from Ray and Ray's son, Virgil. His birth mother's sister, Aunt T., an aged and blind matriarch, takes Earl in tow and insists that the family open up to him.

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The note

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A high-signal pick with 78 votes.

United Artists / Butcher's Run Films / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Director: Richard Pearce

On screen

Cast & crew

Robert Duvall as Earl Pilcher Jr.

Robert Duvall

Earl Pilcher Jr.

James Earl Jones as Ray Murdock

James Earl Jones

Ray Murdock

Michael Beach as Virgil

Michael Beach

Virgil

Irma P. Hall as Aunt T.

Irma P. Hall

Aunt T.

Grace Zabriskie as Ruby

Grace Zabriskie

Ruby

Regina Taylor as Ann

Regina Taylor

Ann

David Keith as Sonny

David Keith

Sonny

Xander Berkeley as Sunburned Man

Xander Berkeley

Sunburned Man

Jacqueline Williams as Woman at Hospital

Jacqueline Williams

Woman at Hospital

Mary Jackson as Carrie

Mary Jackson

Carrie

Paula Marshall as Karen

Paula Marshall

Karen

Phillip Edward Van Lear as Club Manager

Phillip Edward Van Lear

Club Manager

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