Walter Lee Younger (Sidney Poitier) is a chauffeur feeling under the thumb of the ladies in his life. His wife Ruth (Ruby Dee) is pregnant and considering an abortion. His mother and sister Beneatha are also living with them in their apartment in Chicago's south side. His father is recently deceased and his mama is expecting a large insurance cheque. Walter expects to use the money to buy a liquor store but his mother has other thoughts. His sister wants to pay for her education. She has a fight with mama over religion. She brings home Nigerian Asagai who introduces her to Nigerian culture. Her integrated boyfriend George Murchison (Louis Gossett Jr.) is dismissive of any old world culture. Mama buys a house in a white neighborhood to try to pull the family back together. Mark Lindner comes to offer to buy it back to avoid racial tension.
This is an important black play and an important black movie. There are a lot of family conflicts in this story. Some of it feels like piling on especially the abortion question. I would like a more simple argument about money. I am also not impressed with Sidney Poitier. He's being whiny. Maybe he is intended to be whiny but it would be better as frustrated anger. For me, the standout is Claudia McNeil playing the mother. She is both powerful and powerless over her children. She is playing on several different levels. The sister also feels whiny but she's younger and it fits more than her brother. There are some interesting work here and an important message in the end.
This is an important black play and an important black movie. There are a lot of family conflicts in this story. Some of it feels like piling on especially the abortion question. I would like a more simple argument about money. I am also not impressed with Sidney Poitier. He's being whiny. Maybe he is intended to be whiny but it would be better as frustrated anger. For me, the standout is Claudia McNeil playing the mother. She is both powerful and powerless over her children. She is playing on several different levels. The sister also feels whiny but she's younger and it fits more than her brother. There are some interesting work here and an important message in the end.