The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
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- R
- 1h 48min
- Comedy, Sci-Fi
- 14 Sep 1984 (USA)
- Movie
A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Joe Morton | ... |
The Brother
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Rosanna Carter | ... |
West Indian Woman
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Ray Ramirez | ... |
Hispanic Man
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Yves Rene | ... |
Haitian Man
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Peter Richardson | ... |
Islamic Man
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Ginny Yang | ... |
Korean Shopkeeper
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| Daryl Edwards | ... |
Fly
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| Steve James | ... |
Odell
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| Leonard Jackson | ... |
Smokey
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| Bill Cobbs | ... |
Walter
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| Maggie Renzi | ... |
Noreen
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| Olga Merediz | ... |
Noreen's Client
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| Tom Wright | ... |
Sam
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Minnie Gentry | ... |
Mrs. Brown
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| Renn Woods | ... |
Bernice
(as Ren Woods)
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| Reggie Rock Bythewood | ... |
Rickey
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| Alvin Alexis | ... |
Willis
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| Caroline Aaron | ... |
Randy Sue Carter
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| Herb Newsome | ... |
Little Earl
(as Herbert Newsome)
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| John Sayles | ... |
Man In Black
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| David Strathairn | ... |
Man In Black
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| Rosetta LeNoire | ... |
Mama
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| Michael Mantell | ... |
Mr. Love
(as Michael Albert Mantel)
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| Jamie Tirelli | ... |
Hector
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| Liane Curtis | ... |
Ace
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| Fisher Stevens | ... |
Card Trickster
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Charles Mitchell | ... |
Ed
(as Chip Mitchell)
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David Babcock | ... |
Phil
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Randy Frazier | ... |
Bouncer
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| Dee Dee Bridgewater | ... |
Malverne Davis
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Sidney Sheriff Jr. | ... |
Virgil
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Copper Cunningham | ... |
Black Hooker
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Marisa Smith | ... |
White Hooker
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Ishmael Houston-Jones | ... |
Dancer
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| Kim Staunton | ... |
Teacher
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Dwania Kyles | ... |
Waitress
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| Carl Gordon | ... |
Mr. Price
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Leon W. Grant | ... |
Basketball Player
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Anthony Thomas | ... |
Basketball Player
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Andre Robinson Jr. | ... |
Pusher
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John Griesemer | ... |
White Cop
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Ellis Williams | ... |
Watcher
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Edward Baran | ... |
Mr. Vance
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| Josh Mostel | ... |
Casio Vendor
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Deborah Taylor | ... |
Vance's Receptionist
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Herb Downer | ... |
Floor Buffer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Giancarlo Esposito | ... |
Man Being Arrested (uncredited)
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| Dhonna Harris Goodale | ... |
Waitress (uncredited)
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| Reverend Islaam | ... |
Customer in the store (uncredited)
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Pete Richardson | ... |
Street Merchant (uncredited)
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John Canada Terrell | ... |
Baby Grand Patron (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Sayles | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| John Sayles | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Peggy Rajski | ... | producer |
| Maggie Renzi | ... | producer |
Music by
| Martin Brody | ||
| Mason Daring | ||
Cinematography by
| Ernest R. Dickerson | ||
Editing by
| John Sayles | ||
Editorial Department
| Kip Hansen | ... | senior color timer: 2003 restoration |
| John Tintori | ... | associate editor |
| John Dowdell | ... | hd colorist (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Barbara Shapiro | ||
Production Design by
| Nora Chavooshian | ||
Art Direction by
| Stephen J. Lineweaver | ||
Costume Design by
| Karen Perry | ||
Makeup Department
| Ralph Cordero | ... | makeup artist |
| Timothy D'Arcy | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
Production Management
| Peggy Rajski | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Joy Birdsong | ... | assistant director |
| Craig Laurence Rice | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Carol Dysinger | ... | additional sound editor |
| Tom Fleischman | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Eric Taylor | ... | sound |
| Laura Perlman | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| David M. Geshwind | ... | computer graphics |
| Michael Hinton | ... | optical supervisor (2003 restoration) |
Stunts
| Steve James | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Edgard Mourino | ... | stunt consultant |
| Tom Wright | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Rick Fischer | ... | second assistant camera |
| Jeff Levy | ... | gaffer |
| Bob Marshak | ... | still photographer |
| Frank Prinzi | ... | assistant camera |
| David Skutch | ... | best boy electric |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marco Williams | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Ghost Rabbit | ... | title designer |
| Richard Guay | ... | accountant |
| Larry Justice | ... | production assistant |
| Howard March | ... | Production Office Coordinator / production assistant |
| Virginia Munce | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
- Anarchist's Convention Films (restored version)
- UCLA Film and Television Archive (restored version)
- A-Train Films
Distributors
- Cinecom Pictures (1984) (United States) (theatrical)
- Key Video (1985) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan for CBS/Fox Video)
- IFC Films (2003) (United States) (theatrical) (restored version)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Euro Space (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Mikado Film (1986) (Italy) (theatrical)
- 375 Media (2019) (Austria) (DVD)
- 375 Media (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- 375 Media (2019) (Switzerland) (DVD)
- Cargo Records (2019) (Austria) (DVD)
- Cargo Records (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Cargo Records (2019) (Switzerland) (DVD)
- Fox Lorber (United States) (VHS)
- Maritim Pictures (2019) (Austria) (DVD) (label)
- Maritim Pictures (2019) (Germany) (DVD) (label)
- Maritim Pictures (2019) (Switzerland) (DVD) (label)
- Mill Creek Entertainment (2011) (United States) (DVD)
- Norstar Home Video (1985) (Canada) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Synergy Entertainment (2007) (World-wide) (DVD)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- United American Video (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- VCL Communications (1987) (West Germany) (VHS) (Media Entertainment)
- Videosonic (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Audio Mechanics Music & Sound (sound post-production) (2003 restoration)
- DJ Audio (sound post-production) (2003 restoration)
- Sundance Film Festival (festival)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The Brother is an alien who has crash-landed on Earth, in New York City. While mute, strongly empathic, and able to fix things, he resembles a Black man with strange feet. His attempt to make a place for himself in Harlem is an allegory for the immigrant experience in the United States. Meanwhile, two bounty hunters from the Brother's home planet arrive and try to capture him. Written by Reid Gagle |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Welcome to a world of crude beauty... of danger and excitement... of wonders, legend, and imagination... Welcome to Harlem, Brother. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $350,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $67,867, 28 Oct 1984 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | John Sayles financed most of this movie himself. According to Wikipedia, "Sayles describes this movie as being about the immigrant experience of assimilation. He spent part of his MacArthur Fellows 'genius' grant on the film, which cost $350,000 to produce". See more » |
| Goofs | After Little Earl takes off his band-aid, and The Brother heals his knee, the band-aid reappears where his cut was. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Teachers/Country/The Brother from Another Planet/Old Enough (1984). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Homeboy See more » |
| Quotes |
Bernice:
What you want for dinner? Odell: You mean, what do I *want*, or what do I want that you can *cook*? Bernice: Well, in that case, where are you taking me? Odell: Yeah, what do you want to have? Bernice: You mean, what do I *want*, or what do I want that you can *afford*? See more » |