RAISIN IN THE SUN, A (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television film is an adaptation of the 1959 play by Lorraine Newberry and stars the cast of the 2004 Broadway revival, telling the story of the Youngers, a working-class black family in 1950s Chicago. The program begins as Ruth Younger awakens her husband Walter, annoyed that his "loudmouthed" friends kept their son Travis up late with their chatter in the cramped apartment. Travis requests fifty cents for "special books" at school, and Walter proudly gives him the money despite Ruth's protests. Walter then asks Ruth to persuade his mother, Lena, to invest her forthcoming $10,000 check – life insurance from her late husband "Big Walter" – in his new business venture, but Ruth firmly reminds him that the money belongs to Lena, and Walter complains that black women do not "build their men up" enough. He argues with his "high and mighty" sister Beneatha, who plans to attend medical school, accusing her of ingratitude for his sacrifices, and then heads to work as a chauffeur for a wealthy white couple. Elsewhere, Lena bids farewell to her young charge, Priscilla, having decided to finally retire from her nanny job now that she is to receive the money.
Wealthy George Murchison flirts with Beneatha at school, and she attends a Yoruba lesson with Joseph Asagai, who praises her talents and then asks her on a date, though she seems uncertain about the idea. Lena shops for groceries and then arrives at Ruth's home, where she is hard at work on others' laundry, and she observes that Ruth seems exhausted. They discuss the $10,000, with Lena declaring that part of it is earmarked for Beneatha's tuition, as Big Walter "believed in dreams" despite never achieving any of his own. Beneatha arrives home and reveals that she has begun guitar lessons, prompting Lena to observe that she often "flits" from hobby to hobby, and she explains that she is going out with George again, though she is sure that he will not marry her due to his snobbishness. She boldly asserts that she is more interested in becoming a doctor than in marrying and does not believe in God, though Lena angrily orders her to respect the family's beliefs. Ruth admits to Lena that Walter "needs something" that she cannot provide and Lena agrees that she cannot fund his latest moneymaking scheme, but Ruth then suddenly faints. Walter meets with his friends Bobo and Willy at a bar, the Green Hat, and they agree that they will go in on a liquor store business together. Ruth visits a woman, Miss Tilly, as Beneatha and Lena clean the house, and Lena is flustered when Beneatha suddenly invites Joseph over to visit, urging her mother not to ask "crazy questions" about his life in Africa.
Ruth returns and unhappily reveals that she is pregnant, as Lena suspected, and Beneatha reacts with frustration, knowing that the family cannot afford a new child. Joseph arrives and Beneatha apologizes for the family's "acute ghetto-itis," and he surprises her with traditional Nigerian music and clothing. She bristles when he suggests that she is an "assimilationist," and Lena awkwardly makes polite small talk with the young man. Later, Travis eagerly chases the mailman and retrieves the fateful check, though Lena finds herself saddened by the idea of her husband's "worth" being reduced to a number. She tries to question Ruth about the female "doctor" who confirmed her pregnancy, but Walter then reveals his plans for the liquor store and Lena immediately objects. Walter protests that the family is in great need and that "money is life," though Lena shocks him by revealing that Ruth is pregnant and considering an abortion. Ruth confirms it, admitting that she has given Miss Tilly a down payment, and when Walter does not object, Lena accuses him of disgracing his father's memory. Beneatha dons the Nigerian clothing and performs a folk dance, though George is unimpressed by her "eccentric" behavior when he arrives for their date, dismissing her appreciation of African culture as superficial. Walter immediately takes umbrage with the "college boy," feeling belittled by his lofty attitude, and Ruth has to intervene between the two. She begs Walter to help mend their relationship, reminding him of the early days of their marriage, and the two seem to recall their former passion for one another.
Lena then announces that she has spent the insurance money on a house for the family, and everyone except Walter is thrilled, though surprised when she explains that it is in a predominantly white neighborhood. Walter heads out to the Green Hat and stays out all night, failing to arrive for work in the morning, and Lena finds him at the bar and scolds him about his lack of "dignity," though he counters that she is not allowing him to take charge of his own life as she once did her own by leaving the South. She then reveals that there is $6,500 left over and says that he may use half as he sees fit, with the rest saved for Beneatha's education. At the same time, Ruth heads back to Miss Tilly's but flees at the last second, unable to go through with it. Walter happily takes Ruth for a night on the town, though Beneatha's date with George goes south when he fails to understand her desire to have a meaningful career. As the family excitedly tours their new house, they are surprised by a visit from Carl Lindner of the local "improvement association," who feigns courtesy as he tells them that they are not welcome in the white neighborhood and offers to buy the house back from them at a high price.
Back in their apartment, the others tell Lena about Lindner's visit, and Bobo arrives in a state of shock and hesitantly tells Walter that Willy has betrayed them and vanished with all of their money, including the amount intended for Beneatha. The family is crushed by Walter's actions, and when Joseph arrives to help with the move, Beneatha is stunned at his lack of concern about the "small defeat." He reminds her that none of them actually worked to earn the $10,000 and that the loss must now motivate her to work harder, declaring that she should live with him in Africa. Ruth is distressed when Lena suggests that they should not move after all, and Walter announces that he has called Lindner and will accept his offer, sardonically stating that the world contains only "the takers and the tooken" and that he feels no guilt about giving in. Beneatha reacts with disgust and rejects her brother, though Lena reminds her to "measure him right" and consider his feelings of despair as well as her own. Lindner arrives and happily prepares the sale papers, but when Lena challenges Walter to explain his decision to Travis, Walter formally tells Lindner that they are "very plain" but proud people and will move into the house after all, as it was earned for them by Big Walter. Beneatha declares that she may marry Joseph after all, and Walter sincerely thanks his mother for her strength as the family prepares to depart the small apartment for good. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 25, 2008 Monday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:53:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:92867
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama; Classics
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2008
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AT&T wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - Advil Cold & Sinus medication
- TV - Commercials - Allstate insurance
- TV - Commercials - Aveeno Positively Ageless cream
- TV - Commercials - Centrum Cardio vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Charmin Ultra Soft toilet paper
- TV - Commercials - Chase banking
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Chili's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Crystal Light drink mix
- TV - Commercials - Dove cream oil body wash
- TV - Commercials - Egg Beaters egg substitute
- TV - Commercials - Florida tourism
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Freschetta Pizzamoré frozen pizza
- TV - Commercials - Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine
- TV - Commercials - Healthy Choice dinners
- TV - Commercials - JCPenney stores
- TV - Commercials - Juicy Juice fruit juices
- TV - Commercials - Lean Cuisine diet meals
- TV - Commercials - Loestrin 24 birth control
- TV - Commercials - Lowe's stores
- TV - Commercials - Lyrica fibromyalgia medication
- TV - Commercials - Make-A-Wish foundation
- TV - Commercials - Marie Callender's frozen dinners
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Nasonex allergy spray
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Orbit, Eclipse and Extra chewing gum
- TV - Commercials - Oust Surface & Air sanitizer
- TV - Commercials - Pepcid Complete heartburn relief
- TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Post Trail Mix cereal
- TV - Commercials - Propel fitness water
- TV - Commercials - Quaker oatmeal
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Reynolds foil wrap
- TV - Commercials - Staples stores
- TV - Commercials - State Farm insurance
- TV - Commercials - Target stores Dream in Color program
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Tyson chicken strips
- TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
- TV - Commercials - Walt Disney resort theme parks
- TV - Commercials - Weight Watchers weight loss program
- TV - Commercials - Yoplait Yo Plus yogurt
- TV - PSA - A Better Community volunteering
- TV - Promos - "All My Children"
- TV - Promos - "Barbie Mariposa" home video
- TV - Promos - "College Road Trip" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Dancing With the Stars"
- TV - Promos - "Eli Stone"
- TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
- TV - Promos - "Here Come the Newlyweds"
- TV - Promos - "Lost"
- TV - Promos - "Men in Trees"
- TV - Promos - "Oprah's Big Give"
- TV - Promos - "Supernanny"
- TV - Promos - "The Bachelor"
- TV - Promos - "The Other Boleyn Girl" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "The Royal Family"
- TV - Promos - "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "What Would You Do?"
- TV - Promos - "Wife Swap"
- TV - Promos - ABC spring lineup
CREDITS
- Susan Batson … Executive Producer
- Sean Combs … Executive Producer
- Carl Rumbaugh … Executive Producer
- David Binder … Executive Producer
- Craig Zadan … Executive Producer
- Neil Meron … Executive Producer
- John M. Eckert … Producer
- Tim Christenson … Co-Producer
- Royce Bergman … Co-Producer
- Kenny Leon … Director
- Paris Qualles … Writer
- Lorraine Hansberry … Based on the play by
- Mervyn Warren … Music by
- Patdro J. Harris … Choreographer
- Sean Combs … Cast, Walter Lee Younger
- Sanaa Lathan … Cast, Beneatha Younger
- Audra McDonald … Cast, Ruth Younger
- Phylicia Rashad … Cast, Lena Younger
- Justin Martin … Cast, Travis Younger
- Bill Nunn … Cast, Bobo
- Joseph Oyelowo … Cast, Joseph Asagai
- Ron Cephas Jones … Cast, Willy Harris
- Sean Patrick Thomas … Cast, George Murchison
- John Stamos … Cast, Carl Lindner
- Sandi Ross … Cast, Earline Johnson
- Ruby Webb … Cast, Mr. Johnson
- Martin Roach … Cast, Walter Lee Sr.
- Rosemary Dunsmore … Cast, Mrs. Arnold
- Paul Stephen … Cast, Mr. Arnold
- Emily Swiss … Cast, Priscilla Holiday
- Yanna McIntosh … Cast, Miss Tilly
- Jean Daigle … Cast, Cop
- Dan Warry-Smith … Cast, Grocery Clerk
- Elle Downs … Cast, Cocktail Waitress
- James Kirchner … Cast, Mailman
- Earl 'Bubba' McLean Jr. … Cast, Bubba
- Gene A. Mack … Cast, Bartender
- Demo Cates … Cast, Sax Player