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A Raisin in the Sun (The Criterion Collection)

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Description

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun was the first play by a black woman to be on Broadway and is now an immortal part of the theatrical canon. Two years after its premiere, the production came to the screen, directed by Daniel Petrie. The original stars—including Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee—reprise their roles as members of an African American family living in a cramped Chicago apartment, in this deeply resonant tale of dreams deferred. Following the death of their patriarch, the Youngers await a life insurance check they hope will change their circumstances, but tensions arise over how best to use the money. Vividly rendering Hansberry’s intimate observations on generational conflict and housing discrimination, Petrie’s film captures the high stakes, shifting currents, and varieties of experience within black life in midcentury America. SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES • New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack • Interview from 1961 with playwright and screenwriter Lorraine Hansberry • New interview with Imani Perry, author of Looking for Lorraine, on the real-life events on which the play is based • Episode of Theater Talk from 2002 featuring producer Philip Rose and actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis • Excerpt from The Black Theatre Movement: From “A Raisin in the Sun” to the Present, a 1978 documentary, with a new introduction by director Woodie King Jr. • New interview with film scholar Mia Mask, editor of Poitier Revisited • Trailer • PLUS: An essay by scholar Sarita Cannon


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No


MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)


Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.84 Ounces


Director ‏ : ‎ Daniel Petrie


Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen


Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 8 minutes


Release date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2018


Actors ‏ : ‎ Ruby Dee;Sidney Poitier


Subtitles: ‏ ‎ English


Studio ‏ : ‎ Criterion Collection


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • One of the REAL ones.
I am an older Black Chicagoan and, for me, this movie is evocative of the early sixties. Anybody who lived on the south side and remembers Woodlawn (where the story takes place) as the vital shopping restaurant, night club district that it was before the gangs destroyed it will feel this movie. Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote the original play grew up and lived there. Claudia McNeal nails Mama Lena, as does Ruby Dee as the harried Ruth, Sidney Poitier as Walter Lee, Ivan Dixon as the “Nigerian” Assagai and Diana Sands as Beneatha. All the actors did a larger than life portrayal of ordinary people living in Woodlawn at that time. This is one of my favorite “sweet movies”. A lot of so-called Black movies are an embarrassment to the Black viewer, but this one is one of the real ones. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2016 by MIZLOU

  • A favorite film of mine since I was a youngster- a classic!
I first watched this film on tv many, many years ago, and loved it! This film provides an excellent insight into the struggles of an African American family, with great values, with three generations crammed together, living together in a 2 bedroom apartment, with a bathroom shared by other tenants in the building. Because this where the majority of the story takes place, is like watching a play. The cast is nothing short of spectacular, and their story is one of tremendous strength, hope and love that will stay with you, as it has me. I am writing this in a way that will not give too much away, because it has to be seen! I have also read this, and is proudly on my bookshelves. Even though it is an old film, it is a great reminder to where we, collectively, as a country were at that time, in contrast to where we are today. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2021 by Elizabeth Leclair

  • Dreams and frustration
I haven’t seen this movie since I was in Junior High School when my English class watched it after reading the play it’s based upon. The story is about dreams and frustration. It’s based upon the famous Langston Hughes poem A Dream Deferred which says, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore … Or does it explode?” Sidney Poitier plays the angry father in a family who has big dreams of success but can’t reach any of them. He’s bitter and mad as a result like a “dried up raisin” and a festering sore. He explodes at his family for not supporting him with his wife Ruby Dee and sister Diana Sands taking the brunt of it. I actually like Sands character as well. She’s feisty, independent, and not a push over for anyone. She also represents the changes going through young African Americans in the 1950s and 60s as she talks about black identity, Africa, and relationships between men and women. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2022 by joel wing

  • "Look at what the New World hath wrought!"
I have always heard this is a great movie, but then one always hears that some movie is great… that the writing is great, the acting is great, great this, great that… and then I watched it; and it simply blew me away! There is not a false note, there is not a wasted line, every interaction is true; it pulled me on… relentlessly on. I cared about everyone I met and tried to understand them. At times it was incredibly funny and at times it was dark and desperate (when hope and ambition smash and break hard against walls of unowned talent and unavailable opportunity, giving rise to that disappointment and despair which breeds criminals); but always the movie was very, very human. I truly enjoyed this film. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2015 by F.Hoffman

  • I've always enjoyed this joy and Sidney Poitier!
It's a great classic of how life used to be for the African American family,especially one that was a struggling to get by,because you see a man not just a black man,but a man who wants to make it better in life and he makes a horrible mistake with his mother's money,and you can see how he was betrayed by whom he thought were his friends and how much he hurt his mother but you also see forgiveness and just going on,and well it's just a beautiful movie and one of my all time favorites. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2021 by Victoria R.Remington

  • Great movie! A must watch
I'm so glad Amazon had this. I read this book years ago in high school and have loved it since. I've seen all the plays on television but this one remains my favorite. This is my second favorite Sidney Poitier movie, rivaled by the great To Sir With Love. I love the fire Mr. Poitier brings to Walter lee. I played Benetha in our Black History presentation of the film and used it as inspiration. I also encouraged all the other cast members to see this version. We got awesome reviews for our performance and I credit some of our success to this film version. I'm so glad amazon had it, if you haven't seen it then you really should. It's a great story about families, the importance of believing in one another and the benefits of knowing your self worth. It speaks to all ages, I watched it first when I was 10 years old. It speaks to men and women, black and white, old and young. For young people it helps us to understand where our people, both black and white have come from, how we've grown and shows us the dual effects of a raisin in the sun. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2015 by L. B. Vernon

  • In my Mother’s house, there is an excellent restoration
The HD transfer is excellent beyond belief than I’ve seen on TV. Criterion has done an excellent job with these restorations of classic movies lately and this is no exception. The extras were interesting to watch and the movie itself is a classic. Excellent performances from the cast and well worth adding to your collection. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2018 by TPT

  • Great classic oldie, lousy HD presentation
I foolishly bought the video, supposedly HD quality, even though I should have learned from previous buys. The movie is excellent, the video quality is such that the background, clothing of the actors looks like it is seen through the lens of a thousand moving polka dots. I'm willing to bet the original movie and TV premier were probably superior than this. ALWAYS watch tailor or rent if you must. This a gem of an old movie that I had to own due to the increasing likelihood of censorship and removal since we live in the times we live in, simply put but probably spot on. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020 by Jeff

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