A Raisin in the Sun [Criterion Collection]

A Raisin in the Sun [Criterion Collection]

Director: Daniel Petrie Cast: Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
, Claudia McNeil
Claudia McNeil
, Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee
, Diana Sands
Diana Sands
Daniel Petrie
A Raisin in the Sun [Criterion Collection]

A Raisin in the Sun [Criterion Collection]

Director: Daniel Petrie Cast: Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
, Claudia McNeil
Claudia McNeil
, Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee
, Diana Sands
Diana Sands
Daniel Petrie

DVD

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Overview

While this original movie version of Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning play may have dated somewhat, it was groundbreaking when first released in 1961, and a wealth of future plays, films, and TV productions have taken their lead from this socially conscious drama about a struggling African-American family. Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil) is a strong, proud woman who has raised a family in a crowded apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Her son Walter Lee (Sidney Poitier) works as a chauffeur; intelligent and ambitious but impulsive and often angry, he desperately wants to get ahead in a world that offers him few opportunities. His wife Ruth (Ruby Dee) takes in laundry to help make ends meet and watches over their son. Younger daughter Beneatha (Diana Sands) is a college student who wants to become a doctor and often speaks of searching for her cultural identity. On the death of her husband, Lena becomes the beneficiary of a $10,000 life insurance payment, and suddenly the family is in conflict over how the money should be spent. Lena wants to use the money for a down payment on a house. Beneatha is hoping that Lena will help her pay for medical school. And Walter Lee wants to go into business with friends who plan to open a liquor store, which he's convinced will be a sure money maker. The cast, nearly all reprising their roles from the original Broadway production, offers a collection of superb performances; also keep an eye peeled for a young Louis Gossett Jr. as George Murchison. While Daniel Petrie's direction never takes A Raisin in the Sun very far from its roots as a stage play, it captures the power and tension of a strong ensemble cast working with an intelligent and moving script.

Product Details

Release Date: 09/25/2018
UPC: 0715515220712
Original Release: 1961
Rating: NR
Source: Criterion Collection
Language: English
Time: 2:08:00
Sales rank: 14,241

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Sidney Poitier Walter Lee Younger
Claudia McNeil Lena Younger
Ruby Dee Ruth Younger
Diana Sands Beneatha Younger
Ivan Dixon Asagai
John Fiedler Mark Lindner
Louis Gossett Jr. George Murchison
Stephen Perry Travis
Joel Fluellen Bobo
Roy E. Glenn Sr. Willie Harris
Ray Stubbs Bartender
Rudolph Monroe Taxi Driver
George DeNormand Employer
Louis Terkel Herman
Thomas D. Jones Chauffeur
Laurence Rosenthal Composer

Technical Credits
Daniel Petrie Director
Lorraine Hansberry Screenwriter
David Susskind Producer
Philip Rose Producer
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