A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

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

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writers:

Lorraine Hansberry (play), Lorraine Hansberry (screenplay)

Stars:

Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee

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

Cast

Complete credited 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)
Steven Perry	...	Travis Younger (as Stephen Perry)
Joel Fluellen	...	Bobo
Louis Terrel	...	Herman
Roy Glenn	...	Willie Harris

Storyline

Walter Lee Younger is a young man struggling with his station in life. Sharing a tiny apartment with his wife, son, sister and mother, he seems like an imprisoned man. Until, that is, the family gets an unexpected financial windfall...

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Plot Keywords:

segregation | poverty | chicago illinois | african american | based on play | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 1961 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Ein Fleck in der Sonne

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Louis Gossett, Jr.'s film debut.

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Goofs

Lena Younger states that she and Walter Sr. moved into the 2-bedroom apartment as young marrieds. Walter Jr. and Ruth sleep in one bedroom and now that Walter Sr. is deceased, Beneatha sleeps in the bedroom with her mother, but where did she sleep prior to her father's death? Travis sleeps on the single couch.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in Go to Blazes (1962)

User Reviews

Masterpiece

Diary entry 1996:

For decades I have been waiting for American TV to see fit to exhibit the movie version of "A Raisin in the Sun". The day will never come. So I grabbed the opportunity to check out the video from the library. I didn't expect to be moved as much as I was when I first saw the TV play. After all, I knew the plot. The novelty effect was no longer there. Yet I was tearful throughout the movie, and was wiping away tears for the last half hour. There are wonderful lines like "Seems God saw fit to give the black man nothing but dreams - but He sure saw fit to give'em children to make the dream seem worthwhile". "A raisin in the Sun" is not only the greatest movie drama, but also the greatest American play. This play transcends race and addresses universal issues. It combines drama with humor with admirable balance.