A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writers:

Lorraine Hansberry (play)
Lorraine Hansberry (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 September 1961 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Prize-Winning Drama That Warms The Screen With Its People and Its Passions!...

Plot:

A substantial insurance payment could mean either financial salvation or personal ruin for a poor black family.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Black Family | Argument | Black Culture | Working Class

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

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 (as Louis Gossett)
Stephen Perry	...	Travis Younger
Joel Fluellen	...	Bobo
Louis Terrel	...	Herman
Roy Glenn	...	Willie Harris
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George DeNormand	...	Employer (uncredited)
Thomas D. Jones	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Rudolph Monroe	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Ray Stubbs	...	Bartender (uncredited)

Directed by
Daniel Petrie

Writing credits
Lorraine Hansberry		(play)
Lorraine Hansberry		(screenplay)

Produced by
David Cogan	....	producer: stage production (as David J. Cogan)
Philip Rose	....	producer: stage production
David Susskind	....	producer

Original Music by
Laurence Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Charles Lawton Jr.		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William A. Lyon
Paul Weatherwax

Art Direction by
Carl Anderson

Set Decoration by
Louis Diage

Makeup Department
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist
Ben Lane	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Nelson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
George Cooper	....	sound
Charles J. Rice	....	sound supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard H. Kline	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Monterey Video (????) (USA) (video)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19812) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | UK:PG | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario - 2006) | Argentina:Atp | Spain:13 | Chile:14 | South Korea:12 | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Louis Gossett Jr.'s film debut.

Quotes:

Lena Younger: [sobbing] Oh God, please, look down and give me strength!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dreams Worth While: The Journey of 'A Raisin in the Sun' (2008) (V)

Powerful performances

"A Raisin in the Sun" presents powerful acting performances from Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Claudia MacNeil. I was deeply engaged throughout the film due to the fine presence of the characters and meaningful dialogue. The conversations between the members in the Younger family reveal not only their unique personalities and dreams, but also, the complex nature of their relationships and the deep personal issues within each of them. Someone once said, "pride is a dangerous thing" and this film beautifully illustrates the consequences of pride. In my opinion, this is one of Poitier's finest moments in film but, more importantly, I believe this story offers a lesson to all of us, regardless of race, about love and pride. It is truly a classic film.