Sounder is a 1972 American family drama movie directed by Martin Ritt and was based on the novel of the same name by William H. Armstrong. It stars Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Taj Mahal, James Best and was distributed by 20th Century Fox. It was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in 1973 and was followed by "Part 2, Sounder" in 1976.