A Raisin in the Sun

( 12 )

Overview

Daniel Petrie Jr.'s moving examination of the African-American experience arrives on DVD with two video transfers. The widescreen 1.85:1 image faithfully reproduces the original theatrical aspect ratio and is preferable to the full-frame 1.33:1 picture. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono and is closed-captioned. English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles are accessible. Extra features include production notes, talent files, and a ...
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DVD (Wide Screen / Pan & Scan / Black & White / Dolby 5.1 / Mono)
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More About This Product

Overview

Daniel Petrie Jr.'s moving examination of the African-American experience arrives on DVD with two video transfers. The widescreen 1.85:1 image faithfully reproduces the original theatrical aspect ratio and is preferable to the full-frame 1.33:1 picture. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono and is closed-captioned. English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles are accessible. Extra features include production notes, talent files, and a handful of trailers.
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Special Features

Digitally remastered audio and anamorphic video; Production notes; Interactive menus; Audio: English [mono]; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai; Talent files; Theatrical trailer; Bonus trailers; Scene selections
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Dan Jardine
After a successful run on Broadway, A Raisin in the Sun came to film in 1961, offering a snapshot of an urban, working-class, African-American family at a turning point in their lives. The film powerfully conveys the inter-familial and inter-generational conflicts that arise out of different hopes, dreams, and ambitions. Set in the 1940s, but filmed just as America was beginning its civil rights movement, the film draws its intelligent dialogue from the complex questions facing a racial minority in an environment in which the effects of prejudice are always percolating just beneath the surface. The story examines such serious generational and racial issues as assimilation and the conflicts between idealism, the pursuit of the American dream, and pride in one's racial and cultural heritage. The cramped and claustrophobic apartment setting reminds us of the film's theatrical roots, but it also serves the movie's themes well, and director Daniel Petrie keeps the camera moving, even if the setting and action are static. The issue of racism is handled relatively subtly, quietly insinuating itself into the situation rather than slamming you in the face. There is some unevenness in the performances, as some of the actors from the stage production still seem to be projecting to the back row of the theater, but Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee lead the cast with their charismatic presences.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 2/22/2000
  • UPC: 043396009196
  • Original Release: 1961

    • Rating:

  • Source: Sony Pictures
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1), Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
  • Presentation: Wide Screen / Pan & Scan / Black & White / Dolby 5.1 / Mono
  • Sound: Dolby Digital, monaural
  • Language: English
  • Time: 2:08:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 617

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Sidney Poitier Walter Lee Younger
Claudia McNeil Lena Younger
Ruby Dee Ruth Younger
Diana Sands Beneatha Younger
Ivan Dixon Joseph Asagai
Louis Gossett Jr. George Murchison
Stephen Perry Travis Younger
John Fiedler Karl Lindner
Joel Fluellen Bobo
Roy E. Glenn Sr. Willie Harris
Ray Stubbs Bartender
Rudolph Monroe Taxi Driver
George de Normand Employer
Thomas D. Jones Chauffeur
Louis Terkel Herman
Technical Credits
Daniel Petrie Director
Carl Anderson Art Director
Louis Diage Set Decoration/Design
Lorraine Hansberry Screenwriter
Ben Lane Makeup
Charles Lawton Cinematographer
William Lyon Editor
Arthur Norton Musical Direction/Supervision
Philip Rose Producer
Laurence Rosenthal Score Composer
David Susskind Producer
Paul Weatherwax Editor
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Scene Index

Side #1 -- Widescreen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [1:24]
2. 7:30 Am [6:52]
3. "I Got Me a Dream." [2:56]
4. Beneatha [3:14]
5. "My First Day Home." [4:35]
6. Money Plans [4:29]
7. Guitars, Dates & God [4:25]
8. "He Needs His Chance." [5:22]
9. Two-Months Pregnant [1:20]
10. Joseph Asagai [7:52]
11. $10,000 Check [3:29]
12. Lena Says No [2:04]
13. "I Ain't Got Nothing!" [4:13]
14. 5 Dollars Down [3:15]
15. African Heritage [4:16]
16. George [7:28]
17. "She Bought You a House." [5:51]
18. Butchered Dream [3:15]
19. Kitty Kat Klub [5:22]
20. Their New Home [5:59]
21. The Welcoming Committee [7:21]
22. "You Had a Caller." [2:59]
23. Bobo's News [5:02]
24. A Bit of a Suggestion [5:35]
25. "Tell Them Not to Come." [2:34]
26. "I Made a Call." [4:32]
27. The Time to Love [2:51]
28. Plain & Proud People [8:56]
Side #2 -- Full Screen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [1:24]
2. 7:30 Am [6:52]
3. "I Got Me a Dream." [2:56]
4. Beneatha [3:14]
5. "My First Day Home." [4:35]
6. Money Plans [4:29]
7. Guitars, Dates & God [4:25]
8. "He Needs His Chance." [5:22]
9. Two-Months Pregnant [1:20]
10. Joseph Asagai [7:52]
11. $10,000 Check [3:29]
12. Lena Says No [2:04]
13. "I Ain't Got Nothing!" [4:13]
14. 5 Dollars Down [3:15]
15. African Heritage [4:16]
16. George [7:28]
17. "She Bought You a House." [5:51]
18. Butchered Dream [3:15]
19. Kitty Kat Klub [5:22]
20. Their New Home [5:59]
21. The Welcoming Committee [7:21]
22. "You Had a Caller." [2:59]
23. Bobo's News [5:02]
24. A Bit of a Suggestion [5:35]
25. "Tell Them Not to Come." [2:34]
26. "I Made a Call." [4:32]
27. The Time to Love [2:51]
28. Plain & Proud People [8:56]
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Menu

Side #1 -- Widescreen
   Play Movie
   Subtitles
      English
      Español/Spanish
      Português/Portuguese
      Chinese
      Korean
      Thai
      No Subtitles
   Special Features
      Talent Files
         Daniel Petrie (Director)
         Sidney Poitier
         Louis Gossett, Jr.
         Ruby Dee
      Theatrical Trailers: A Raisin in the Sun
      Theatrical Trailers: To Sir, With Love
      Theatrical Trailers: Buck and the Preacher
      Theatrical Trailers: Brother John
Side #2 -- Full Screen
   Play Movie
   Subtitles
      English
      Español/Spanish
      Português/Portuguese
      Chinese
      Korean
      Thai
      No Subtitles
   Special Features
      Talent Files
         Daniel Petrie (Director)
         Sidney Poitier
         Louis Gossett, Jr.
         Ruby Dee
      Theatrical Trailers: A Raisin in the Sun
      Theatrical Trailers: To Sir, With Love
      Theatrical Trailers: Buck and the Preacher
      Theatrical Trailers: Brother John
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 12 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(4)

4 Star

(5)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Uptown Saturday Night
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    Review of A Classic American Movie

    I highly recommend this movie as a must see to anyone interested in seeing the progressive state of American from the 1950's to today.
    In this classic movie the actors all delivered a superb performance which sets the standard for how well Ms. Hansberry original Broadway play was written. The work was so superbly created that it has inspired several remakes from its production including contemporary movies starring modern day celebraties; such as,Danny Glover and Sean Combs, both having been casted as Walter Lee Younger.
    Yet, as good as both of those actors were in their versions of
    'A Raisin in The Sun', no one can top the performance given by it first star Sidney Poitier as well as the enseblem cast which included a very young and beautiful Ruby Dee, and the matriarch of all mothers, Claudia McNeil.
    This movie is a true American classic showing a realistic view of a time that many in this country are not familiar with unless they were directly affected by the pangs of poverty, injustice, or racism.
    It is a hard movie to find in most major markets and I commend Barnes and Noble for having it readily available.

    Jacqueline Jones
    Avid Reader & Historical Films Connoisseur

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Black is Beautiful

    More proof that Sidney Portier is one of the greatest actors of all time. This tale about a desperate family and their suffocating circumstances, boils over when race becomes their obstacle to a better life.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Raisin in the Sun

    This film expresses the struggles and family bonding of a colored family of that time. Starting out with everyday life of a family, you notice some of the difficulties of living a life with only the little you own. This movie demonstrates some of the most respected traditions, most families today strive for. With a low income, the Youngers do everything thing the can to keep their lifestyle alive, and still keep their poor secret from their son, Travis. With Walter Lee’s mother and sister also sharing the two bedroom apartment, everyone finds a way to pitch in and help out. The late pass of the elder Mrs. Younger will finally give them some comfort money to spend on the dream the family has always desired. Being the typical African American family they are however, they must overcome some obstacles and gentlemen that do not share the same dream. New money brings new needs to friends and family, despite the horrible secret Walter Lee has kept since the news of his father passing away. With medical school in her eyes, the younger sister Benetha has her own personal struggles along the way, in which eventually makes her a stronger person for her new upcoming life. Being a classic film, I originally was discouraged. After I saw all the traditions and customs being used throughout the film, I had a change of heart. No matter the race, this is a perfect example of how everyone is the same. Everyone has the same way of making ends meet, as long as you please your family. “A Raisin in the Sun” expresses the difficulties of how life was in that time, and is also and example of how African Americans shouldn’t have been treated. Recommending for teenagers and up, I think this is a “need to see” film for all Americans of any race.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Classic American Tale

    This is a classic "American" story very well depicted on film. Those critical of Sydney Poitier's performance no doubt are put off by it because they can not relate to it (big surprise). This film examines the struggle African Americans CONTINUE to face in trying to get ahead in a society where they have been kept behind for generations (White's were able to gain wealth due to the generations of FREE labor they enjoyed...a little thing we call slavery. Imagine how wealthy one would be by today's standards if you ran a company where you never paid your employee's and they were forced to keep working for you. You and your children and their children would be forever wealthy, while your workers would struggle to recover for generations...without anything to pass on to the next) A deeper theme is how to advance in society without compromising one's integrity and values. This was the conflict Sydney's character faced. The best character (and actress) was the mother of the film, a strong figure that holds the family together and keeps them on the straight and narrow...those that understand the dynamics of the traditional African American family will definitely relate.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    ''A classic that is sure to bring a smile''

    i loved the movie, because i know a lot people who relate to these very situations. it was full of GREAT acting. regardless of what other may say. i really much enjoed the movie.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 9, 2013

    This movie is not dated. It's fabulous! I first saw this movie i

    This movie is not dated. It's fabulous! I first saw this movie in the basement of a catholic elementary school - I was 11, but this movie made a lot of sense in the 1960's. I became an instant fan of Sidney Poitier. It is very relevant to present day America. We should be a lot further along in the racial equality scenario, and a lot further along in attainment of the American Dream. I'm tutoring a 17 year old student, and she said, who is Sidney Poitier? No, I was not required to read Raisin in the Sun. Appalled, I told her that I will purchase it and we will watch it together with her family!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Somewhat Dated

    Although dated, this film has much resonance in our own time as it will in future generations. Race has always been a factor in American history. Sidney Portier proved himself the consummate actor, again.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    NOT the best acting!

    I thought it was a good story but not the best acting. And it dragged in lots of places...not a very exciting movie!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    ''Raisin In The Sun'' tries to be faithful to Hansberry's vision

    The movie version of “A Raisin In The Sun,” playwright Lorraine Hansberry’s drama about a black family’s search for its identity and destiny in the midst of the prevailing social upheaval at the dawn of the civil rights era, tries to be faithful to the play. The pivotal deletion of the Asagai character’s acrimonious polemic against European colonialism in his native Africa—obviously an attempt to placate white audiences of the time—does dilute Hansberry’s message somewhat. But overall, it is a fine, entertaining and engrossing film with the best of intentions.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    It is called ... ACTING!!!!!!

    Lets not be afraid to break tradition, abd admit the truth that everyone is afraid to admit - Sidney Poitier was not the greatest African American actor of al time. Insted, he wa the greatest African American BAD ACTOR of all time. If you enjoyed Charleton Heston yelling ''It's a Mad House'' in Planet of the Apes or ANY of William Shatner's performances (before he became aware of his own haminess) , then this is the performance for you!!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews