Native Son (1986)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jerrold Freedman

Writers:

Richard Wesley (writer)
Richard Wright (novel)

Release Date:

12 December 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Bigger Thomas, an African American who lives in an impoverished neighborhood, is employed by a prosperous...

Plot Keywords:

Chauffeur | Blind | Murder | African American | Accidental Death

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Victor Love	...	Bigger Thomas
Matt Dillon	...	Jan
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Mary Dalton
Geraldine Page	...	Peggy
Oprah Winfrey	...	Mrs. Thomas
Akosua Busia	...	Bessie
Carroll Baker	...	Mrs. Dalton
John McMartin	...	Mr. Dalton
Art Evans	...	Doc
John Karlen	...	Max
Willard E. Pugh	...	Gus
David Rasche	...	Buckley
Ving Rhames	...	Jack
Walter Rivers	...	G.H.
Shavar Ross	...	Buddy

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

Ving Rhames feature film debut.

Movie Connections:

Features My Man Godfrey (1936)

Good job

Bigger is a teenager who is so poor he and his mother must share a bedroom in an apartment that appears to be falling apart, and they don't have enough money to eat well. When they get out of bed, two other hidden children pop up from under the covers--Bigger's sister sleeps with her mother, and his brother sleeps with him, and the males must turn around while the females get dressed. To improve their situation, Bigger's mother knows of a great opportunity for him and hopes he will finally get a job he can hold on to. If he doesn't, things could be even worse (at least they HAVE a home now).

Bigger goes to be with his friends when he should be interviewing for the job. He lets them know he will NOT work for the white man. Yet he does finally show up at the home of a rich family, and immediately turns into what his friends would likely call an Uncle Tom--not Stepin Fetchit, but respectful and polite.

Everything appears to be going well for a while, but then something quite terrible changes the situation drastically.

Oprah Winfrey came across quite convincingly as a poor black mother. This was in the days before she became a superstar talk show host. I won't say it's too bad she was successful in her best-known career, because she did so much good, but she could have been quite a fine actress. Victor Love was good as Bigger, primarily because Bigger had to be so convincing in order to keep his job. A great performance came from John Karlen as a defense lawyer (yes, someone needed a lawyer).

This was an African Heritage Network Monthly Movie Classic. It wasn't as good as some movies selected for this honor, but it was pretty good.