A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

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)
David Susskind	...	On-screen Trailer Narrator (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.

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:

Walter Lee Younger: [to George Murchison, Beneatha's date] How come all you college boys wear them faggoty-looking white shoes?

Movie Connections:

Edited into Afro Promo (1997)

An exceptional screenplay.

The cast is excellent. The dialogue is sharp and wise. Sidney Poitier pulls an absolutely riveting performance as the widow's son. Since RAISIN IN THE SUN is based from a play, most of the movie takes place in the house and has the characters talk and talk. But what they have to say is excellent, and the character study is something to admire. RAISIN IN THE SUN is a pure gem.

The old man of the house passes away and leaves the Younger family with $10 000 in their pocket. What will they do with their destiny?

Every character has an integral part in the movie. The man of the house, who longs to be one. The wife, who despairs in the house, while discovering she is pregnant. The daughter who strives to be a doctor. RAISIN IN THE SUN is far from the big booming special effect epics of today. But it is powerful for its time, and is a worthwhile classic rent. Two thumbs up.