Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Drama

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979): Cast

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) movie poster

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a 1979 drama directed by Fielder Cook, starring Constance Good as Maya, Art Evans and Diahann Carroll. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Director
Fielder Cook
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
Tomorrow Entertainment
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings About?

The premise of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings without spoilers.

Adapted from Maya Angelou’s lyrical memoir, the film follows her childhood as a talented young girl in the Deep South during the Depression. After her parents’ divorce, she and her older brother live with their grandmother, confronting poverty, racism and the challenges of growing up while discovering her voice.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Themes & Keywords

· 39 tags
  • teleplay adapted by author
  • trauma
  • childhood
  • child abuse
  • voice over narration
  • family relationships
  • violence
  • st. louis missouri
  • sexism
  • racism
  • loneliness
  • divorced parents
+27 more
  • child molestation
  • black woman
  • arkansas
  • american south
  • uncle niece relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • offscreen rape
  • coming of age
  • sexual abuse
  • child rape
  • race relations
  • great depression
  • compassion
  • bigot
  • african american
  • train
  • rape
  • grandmother granddaughter relationship
  • church
  • brother sister relationship
  • bathtub
  • based on autobiography
  • 1940s
  • 1930s
  • based on novel
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Cast & Characters

Constance Good leads the cast as Maya, with Art Evans as Principal and Diahann Carroll as Vivian. Directed by Fielder Cook; 39 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

· 35 more
Show all 39 cast members
From the director

More from Fielder Cook

More films directed by Fielder Cook: Seize the Day, Why Me?, Family Reunion and Beauty and the Beast.

Full filmography

Seen I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
More like this

Movies Like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Caged, Band of Angels and The Color Purple.

FAQ

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, each answered in a sentence.

How long is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings released?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was released on April 28, 1979.

Who directed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was directed by Fielder Cook.

More films by Fielder Cook

Who is in the cast of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings stars Constance Good as Maya, Art Evans as Principal and Diahann Carroll as Vivian, among 39 credited actors.

Does I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings have a post-credit scene?

No. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app