{"id":90147,"date":"2023-02-26T16:28:32","date_gmt":"2023-02-26T23:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=90147"},"modified":"2023-02-27T13:15:09","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T20:15:09","slug":"raisin-in-the-sun-a-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=90147","title":{"rendered":"Raisin in the Sun, A (1961)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;m lookin&#8217; in the mirror this morning and I&#8217;m thinkin&#8217;, I&#8217;m 35 years old, I&#8217;m married 11 years, and I got a boy who&#8217;s got to sleep<br \/>\nin the living room because I got nothin&#8217; &#8212; nothin&#8217; to give him but stories like on how rich white people live.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poster-194x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-90148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poster-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poster.png 611w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA Black matriarch (Claudia McNeil) in 1940s Chicago is torn between wanting to help her daughter (Diana Sands) go to medical school, buy a house for her family, and\/or support her son (Sidney Poitier) and his pregnant wife (Ruby Dee) and child (Steven Perry) in her son&#8217;s dream to own a liquor store.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>African-Americans<\/li>\n<li>Grown Children<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Ruby Dee Films <\/li>\n<li>Race Relations and Racism <\/li>\n<li>Sidney Poitier Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAll of the leading stars of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun\">Lorraine Hansberry&#8217;s original 1959 Broadway play production<\/a> were cast in this cinematic adaptation, written by Hansberry and directed by Daniel Petrie. The story and performances remain powerful, with Petrie and DP Charles Lawton, Jr. effectively opening up the sets to show both the claustrophobia of the family&#8217;s cramped apartment, and the space and freedom they long to move to. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard-1024x547.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"342\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard-1024x547.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard-506x270.png 506w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Backyard.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s heartbreaking to watch each of these characters grappling with challenging constraints, and see the pressures that inevitably arise within a landscape of limited funds and diverse ideas of how to achieve success and happiness. The toxicity of societal racism comes through loud and clear, with John Fiedler&#8217;s representative from the &#8220;Clybourne Park Improvement Association&#8221; (in the family&#8217;s intended new neighborhood) embodying the sniveling &#8220;new&#8221; format through which racial intolerance is communicated. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler-1024x543.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"339\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler-1024x543.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler-509x270.png 509w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Fiedler.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Authentic tension abounds through each of the interwoven narrative sub-strands, ranging from Poitier&#8217;s desperate desire to finally break free from his job as a chauffeur and work for himself, to Dee&#8217;s angst over bringing a new child into their family, to McNeil&#8217;s determination to provide a home for her family, to Sands&#8217; indecision around who to date: her well-to-do suitor George (Louis Gossett Jr.) or a Nigerian classmate (Ivan Dixon) who entices her with visions of exploring her cultural heritage. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett-1024x538.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett-514x270.png 514w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Gossett.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This engrossing, finely-acted film &#8212; which was selected by the Library of Congress in 2005 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being &#8220;culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant&#8221; &#8212; remains well worth a look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ruby Dee as Ruth<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee-1024x544.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee-1024x544.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee-768x408.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee-508x270.png 508w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Dee.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sidney Poitier as Walter Lee<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash-1024x537.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash-1024x537.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash-515x270.png 515w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Poitier-Cash.png 1311w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Claudia McNeil as Lena<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma-1024x545.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma-1024x545.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma-768x409.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma-508x270.png 508w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Mamma.png 1284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Diana Sands as Beneatha<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha-1024x537.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha-1024x537.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha-515x270.png 515w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Beneatha.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Charles Lawton, Jr.&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa-1024x537.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-90157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa-1024x537.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa-515x270.png 515w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Raisin-in-the-Sun-Sofa.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a still-powerful screen adaptation of an enduring American play. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0055353\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/moviediva.com\/reviewpages\/mdraisininthesun\/\">Movie Diva Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/a-raisin-in-the-sun\/review\/2030283828\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/87646\/a-raisin-in-the-sun\/#articles-reviews?articleId=156507\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m lookin&#8217; in the mirror this morning and I&#8217;m thinkin&#8217;, I&#8217;m 35 years old, I&#8217;m married 11 years, and I got a boy who&#8217;s got to sleep in the living room because I got nothin&#8217; &#8212; nothin&#8217; to give him but stories like on how rich white people live.&#8221; Synopsis: A Black matriarch (Claudia McNeil) in 1940s Chicago is torn between wanting to help her daughter (Diana Sands) go to medical school, buy a house for her family, and\/or support&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=90147\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=90147"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90183,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90147\/revisions\/90183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=90147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=90147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=90147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}