Pauline Kael, in her review of Sounder, wrote: "The director, Martin Ritt, working from a scrupulous, unsentimental script by Lonne Elder III, based on the William H. Armstrong novel, avoids charging up the scenes [...] the movie earns every emotion we feel. And I think it will move audiences – move them truly, that is – as few films ever have." The film garnered four nominations at the 45th Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay.
Pauline Kael, in her review of Sounder, wrote: "The director, Martin Ritt, working from a scrupulous, unsentimental script by Lonne Elder III, based on the William H. Armstrong novel, avoids charging up the scenes [...] the movie earns every emotion we feel. And I think it will move audiences – move them truly, that is – as few films ever have." The film garnered four nominations at the 45th Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay.