To Sleep with Anger (1990)

A charismatic old acquaintance drifts into town, stirring up trouble for a mild-mannered family.

Director:

Charles Burnett

Writer:

Charles Burnett

Stars:

Danny Glover, Paul Butler, DeVaughn Nixon

7 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Butler	...	Gideon
DeVaughn Nixon	...	Sunny (as Devaughn Walter Nixon)
Mary Alice	...	Suzie
Reina King	...	Rhonda
Cory Curtis	...	Skip
Richard Brooks	...	Babe Brother
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Linda
Carl Lumbly	...	Junior
Vonetta McGee	...	Pat
Paula Bellamy	...	Mrs. Baker
Danny Glover	...	Harry
Wonderful Smith	...	Preacher
Ethel Ayler	...	Hattie
DeForest Covan	...	Fred Jenkins (as DeForest Coven)
Sy Richardson	...	Slash

Storyline

Harry Mention, an enigmatic drifter from the South, comes to visit an old acquaintance named Gideon, who now lives in South-Central Los Angeles. Harry's charming, down-home manner hides a malicious penchant for stirring up trouble, and he exerts a strange and powerful eff...

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | uninvited guest | middle class | los angeles california | garden | 

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Taglines:

When Harry comes to town, he brings good times, bad times... And a lot of trouble!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

film society lincoln center screenings

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dormir con rabia

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,161,135

Company Credits

Production Co:

SVS Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Harry: Ya, but you can't do the shuffle with one leg. You and your wife, in fortunate. Now I'm not talking about you and what you do but some folks that always run to help the victim, deep down are attracted to pain and suffering and love to be near the dying.
Junior: All the people working with us are really doing it 'cause they hate to see suffering.
Harry: You never know what's in the heart and just because you can cry doesn't make you human.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: Congo/The Glass Shield/Pocahontas/Fluke (1995)

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Soundtracks

Annie Mae's Cafe
Performed by Little Milton (as Little Milton Campbell)
Written by Larry Addison and George Jackson
Courtesy of MALACO Records
Published by Malaco Music BMI

User Reviews

outstanding

This movie is very deep...you have to really pay attention in order to get the seriousness of the underlying message. If you pay attention and apply the lessons to your own life you may be able to identify people like the character that Danny Glover portrayed. It has a very deeply religious appreciation for the fact that love covers a multitude of sin. The mother's love brought her family back together and her husband back to life. The garden died and the man of the house fell ill after Danny Glover's character arrived uninvited, unannounced and undermining everything that the family's values were based upon. The mother was a God fearing woman, but she turned to old wives tales remedies rather than standing firmly on her faith in God. Until she remembered that God was the only one that could help her she suffered from lack of faith not knowledge. The man of the house was the spiritual gate keeper for the family, but he allowed his guard down due to misplaced loyalty to an old friend...or at least what he thought was an old friend. He nearly lost his life and his family behind the thoughtless decision to allow a stranger to stay in his home. Danny Glover's character explained to the woman of the house that just as she has a purpose in life he did as well, regardless to the fact that their purposes were in direct opposition to one another. A lesson in life to choose your friends carefully and always know who and what you are dealing with. Pay close attention to the movie and even closer attention to your acquaintances and your surroundings.