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Great Poitier find! Dec 27, 2009
An incredible movie, I don't know how this never became a classic!I'm not African American but this movie really tells the story of the early stages of integration. Today, white folks would find it politically impossible to resort to "community associations" to keep blacks out of their neighborhoods though I'm sure there are some who devise less conspicuous rules to try to accomplish the same thing.
The sun shines brightly on this unforgettable masterpiece... Nov 23, 2009
One of the most spellbinding films I've ever seen, and certainly the film that Sidney Poitier should be remembered for (and the one that should have netted him the Oscar, not that horribly mediocre `Lilies of the Field' film), `A Raisin in the Sun' is a powerful look at racism, poverty, religion, dreams and aspirations as well as to importance of family and togetherness. With a stellar cast (seriously, Oscar nominations should have been handed out to nearly everyone) and a tightly woven and poignant script, this film is a total must see.
I think it is safe to say that I didn't expect this to move me as much as it did.
The film revolves around a check for $10,000, made out to Lena Younger, the matriarch of an African American family living in Chicago. With the check scheduled to arrive in mere days, everyone in the family is expressing their feelings as to how the money should be spent. Despite seemingly noble motives, the divided interests of the family begin to ware at the fibers of their unity and cause them to turn on one another. Walter is a struggling chauffer who just wants a chance to provide for his family. His plans are hasty but he means well. His wife, Ruth, looks at the expected money as a chance to get out of their small, cramped living space and really spread out (get their son off the couch maybe), but her role as `supportive wife' makes it difficult to really voice her concerns. Beneatha, Walter's sister, is spoiled and naïve to her cultured existence, developing a certain arrogance that lends itself to disapproval from those around her. She, of course, feels that the money should be spent on furthering her education.
In the end, the final hand is to be dealt by Lena herself, a wise woman who knows just how to give her family what they need, even if they don't see it that way.
The film, adapted from a stage play, never plays to the confines that most stage-to-screen adaptations bare with. It feels open and free even if the scenes all take place within the small confines of a cramped apartment (mostly). This is thanks in large part to the fantastic performances that litter the screen. Sidney Poitier, an actor I often find stiff and highly overrated, is a revelation here as Walter. He just commands every scene with a theatrical naturalness that is rarely seen in films today. He is supporting by a strong female cast, most notably Ruby Dee, who is beautifully restrained as Ruth. Diana Sands is also stellar as the self-centered Beneatha, and Claudia McNeil is remarkable as the wise Lena Younger.
With a delicate yet affirmative stand on very sensitive subjects, `A Raisin in the Sun' is a beautiful film that everyone should see. I have not seen the made-for-television remake, but I cannot imagine it can hold a candle to this finely crafted and unforgettable experience.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Vendor Provided Poor Quality Product Nov 17, 2009
The vendor I purchased "A Raisin in the Sun" from misrepresented the product. I was overcharged for shipping, the product was damaged and not viewable. I asked for a refund and have not received a response in at least 3 weeks if not longer. I will never buy a product from that vendor again.
 Movin' On Up Oct 08, 2009
Directed by Daniel Petrie, this is the first of 3 film adaptations of the play created by Lorraine Hansberry (who also penned the screenplay) and stars the original theatrical cast. Fighting poverty, cramped space, and institutional racism, a black Chicago woman (Claudia McNeil) stakes her family's future on her late husband's insurance money but then leaves it in the hands of her mercurial son (Sidney Poitier). Try as he/she might to picture Hansberry and Petrie's vision, nothing could prepare the viewer for Poitier's fiery, intense Walter Lee Younger. But I give more praise to McNeil's Lena Younger, Walter's mother, whose subtle but strong demeanor is the glue that holds her family--and, dare I say, the story--together. Indeed the drama and the acting in "Raisin in the Sun" make it a classic in all sense of the word.
This film is rated is unrated: Adult Situations.
Beyond 5 stars Sep 06, 2009
I love this timeless classic ,all of the actors were superb one of my all times favorites,And to think they cast Sean Combs in the new Raisin in the Sun this is only my opinion but he was totally laughable, nothing like Sidneys performance
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