Return Of The Prodigy

Spread from “Return of the Prodigy," LIFE Magazine, November 15, 1968

This article is focused on Parks filming his first movie, “The Learning Tree,” which is based on the book he wrote of the same name. It is set in Fort Scott, Kansas, where Parks was raised, and is a homecoming of sorts for the photographer.

Annotations:

Page 117: Gordon Parks in the director's chair. He was on location in Fort Scott, Kansas, shooting his first film, "The Learning Tree." These images were taken by Parks's son, Gordon Parks, Jr.

Page 123: Parks's extended family comes to visit him during filming of his first feature film "The Learning Tree," in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Page 124: Gordon Parks is greeted around his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas, and at a dinner being held in his honor, while on location for filming "The Learning Tree."