''Jackson'' is a 2008 American comedy-drama-musical film written and directed by J. F. Lawton and starring

Barry Primus Barry Primus (born February 16, 1938) is an American television and film actor, director, and writer. Career While Primus is primarily an actor, he has also worked as a writer and director in films in which he has acted. For the first decade ...

and Charlie Robinson.

Synopsis

Jackson is about two homeless men in Los Angeles, Donald and Sam. At the start of the day Donald is given a $20 bill (also known as a "

Jackson Jackson may refer to: Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson oil field in Durham, ...

"). The film follows the two and shows their adventures throughout the day with this money, and features songs from various operas.

Cast

as Donald * Charlie Robinson as Sam *

Steve Guttenberg Steven Robert Guttenberg (born August 24, 1958) is an American actor, author, businessman, producer, and director. He is known for playing Carey Mahoney in the '' Police Academy'' films from 1984 to 1987. He also acted in '' Three Men and a Baby ...

as Businessman *

Debra Jo Rupp Debra Jo Rupp (born February 24, 1951) is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Kitty Forman in the Fox sitcom ''That '70s Show'' (1998–2006) and its Netflix sequel series ''That '90s Show'' (2023–2024). Rupp also ...

as Nice Lady

Musical numbers

# " Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's ''Elixer of Love'' – Richard Brown and Shawnette Sulker # "Champagne Aria" from Mozart's ''

Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; full title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanish legen ...

'' – Cedric Trenton Berry # " Habanera" from Bizet's ''Carmen'' – Elaa Lee Romani/ Chorus: Ariella Vaccarino, Aleta Braxton, Pilar Diaz, Tahlia McCollum # Sextet from Donizetti's ''

Lucia di Lammermoor ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' () is a (tragic opera) in three acts by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian-language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's 1819 historical novel '' The Bride of Lammermoor''. ...

'' – Jennifer Suess, William Gorton, Michael Sokol, Fred Winthrop, Benjamin Von Atrops, Leberta Clark; Music performed by Remy Zero # Monologue by Ibn Hakia from Tchaikovsky's ''

Iolanta ''Iolanta'', Op. 69, ( ) is a lyric opera in one act by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. It was the last opera he composed. The libretto was written by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, and is based on the Danish play ' (''King René's Daughter'') by ...

'' – John R. Jackson # " O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's ''Gianni Schicchi'' – Gustavo Hernandez Jr. # "

Va, pensiero "" (), also known as the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves", is a chorus from the opera ''Nabucco'' (1842) by Giuseppe Verdi. It recollects the period of Babylonian captivity after the destruction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BC. The libre ...

" from Verdi's ''Nabucco'' – Socialists:

Clamma Dale Clamma Churita Dale (born 1948) is an American operatic soprano. She portrayed "Bess" in the highly successful 1976 Houston Grand Opera production of ''Porgy and Bess''. The show was transferred from Houston to Broadway and Dale was awarded a ...

, Kimarie Torre, Lauren Lee
Chorus: Laura Decher, Frances Garcia, Erin Neff, Sara MacBride, Gregory Stapp, Antoine Garth, Gary Murphy, Tom Oberjat, Raphaela Rose Primus # "Love Cannot Be" (written by J.F. Lawton) # "El Pueblo" – George Lawton and John Cross # "Vamos a la Fiesta" – Julie Griffin # "Abrabo" – Way Depp, Robidebs Okyeame, Paa Dogo and Brekete # " I Wish I Was in Dixie Land" – John B.J. Smith # "Downtown Birthday" (written by J.F. Lawton)

Production details

Jackson was filmed mainly in Los Angeles with the exception of one scene shot in Kentucky.

Awards

*2009 Swansea Bay Film Festival **Best in Festival *2009 The Conscious Life Film Festival **Indigo Award *2009 Treasure Coast International Film Festival **Best Feature Film **Best Editing * 2008 International Film Festival of South Africa ** Best Feature Film * 2008 Non Violent Film Festival ** Best Feature Film * 2008 Lakedance Film Festival ** Audience Award for Best Feature Film * 2008 Socal Film Festival ** Best Feature Film ** Best Director ** Best Actor: Barry Primus

References

External links

* * {{J. F. Lawton 2008 films 2000s musical comedy-drama films American musical comedy-drama films 2008 comedy-drama films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films Films directed by J. F. Lawton Films with screenplays by J. F. Lawton English-language musical comedy-drama films 2008 musical films