While many a successful play has been adapted for film, some movie adaptations became classics of the genre and in our summer series we’ll examine a few of the very best. Each movie is introduced by area cinephile Ann Glenn with info about the film’s background and production and followed by an always lively Q&A session.
A Raisin in the Sun(1961) Monday, July 20, 5pm
Based on Lorraine Hansbury’s award winning play, the first ever produced on Broadway written by a Black woman, this film gives an unflinchingly honest presentation of the pre-Civil Rights era life of Black Americans. With standout performances by Sydney Poitier, Claudia McNeil and Ruby Dee, the film deftly explores discrimination, feminism and racial equality, while examining the meaning and promise of the American Dream with a frankness never before seen in films of the era. 2hrs. 8 mins., Not rated