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Native Son (1986)
Released By: Live Home Video   Rating: PG   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Live Home Video
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Jerrold Freedman
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Carroll Baker, Elizabeth McGovern, Geraldine Page, Matt Dillon, Oprah Winfrey, Victor Love
Published ID: 467
UPC: N/A
Plot: Previously filmed in Argentina in 1951, black author Richard Wright's powerful race-conscious novel Native Son was remade in this barely released 1986 version. The story involves Bigger Thomas (Victor Thomas), an angry Depression-era Chicago black who hopes to elevate himself through his chauffeur's job with a prosperous white Gold Coast family. The family's daughter (Elizabeth McGovern) takes advantage of Bigger's servile status by ordering him to drive her to a rendezvous with her communist-activist lover (Matt Dillon). Their parlor liberal attitude both pleases and confuses Bigger, as do the girl's apparent sexual advance towards him. One evening, Bigger drives the girl home after she's gotten herself drunk. She flirts harmlessly with him in her bedroom; when her blind mother (Carroll Baker) stumbles onto the scene, the terrified Bigger, certain that he'll be accused of rape, tries to muffle the girl so she can't talk. He accidentally kills her, whereupon the panicky Bigger hides the body and tries to pin the girl's kidnapping on her lover. Tragedy piles upon tragedy before Bigger's climactic murder trial and execution; throughout, we are given the impression that this sorry state of affairs would never have taken place without the black-white tensions and divisiveness that existed in 1930s, and which still exist to this day. During the trial scene, TV talk host Oprah Winfrey makes a heavily-made-up cameo appearance as Bigger's mother. The whole scene has the earmarks of an Oscar clip, but Oprah's excessive histrionics pale in comparison to her brilliant, well-modulated performance in the earlier The Color Purple. The 1986 version of Native Son was co-produced by PBS' American Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Quick delivery, good condition
Added 2/19/2009

Very pleased with this service. My order was processed promptly, delivery arrived quickly, and the product was in good condition. Impressive.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Not too bad!!
Added 9/10/2005

I understand the perspectives of the other online-reviewers; however, being an English teacher, I have found this video to be quite beneficial and complimentary in assisting me and helping my students to understand the characterization and themes in Native Son. It is not an outstanding performance; however, it does offer a color cinematic version, while having actors that are recongnizable to a younger generation.

I do not believe that many outstanding novels can ever really be properly and accurately portryaed on film; that is really a daunting task for directors, writers, and producers. To this date, I can only say that The Color Purple has actually achieved cinematic success, due in large part to the creative genius of Steven Spielberg. That is a rarity.

However, I have been trying to find this movie for some time, and at last, I have found it. It will be put to good use in my classroom.

2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Outstanding Movie And Excellent Book
Added 7/13/2003

For starters this movie depicts everything that is detailed/explained in the original title "Native Son". I do not know precisely which movie one of the previous reviewers from Decatur, Georgia was watching, but I can most definitely assure that it was not Native Son.

The cast performed almost as good as the cast members in the original story. I think the book and the video are an excellent combinational method for those reading the novel and attempting to visual what the entire concept of this novel is all about. In short I think the video is well deserving of a 4 star rating.


3 out of 5 people found this helpful.
NATIVE FLOP
Added 12/14/2000

The cinematic presentation of Richard Wright's classic is once again another flop. Although it is far better than the original adaptation of the book into a movie (filmed in 1949), it fails to capture the essence of Bigger Thomas. How can such a film with a star studded cast fail so miserably? After all, now you have actors who can really act!

Native Son lacks passion.Bigger comes across as poor Black boy gone wrong with his cowardly behavior. His white liberal benefactors personalities are benign. Jan (Matt Dillon) just doesn't impress me as an ardent communist. Mary Dalton ( Elizabeth McGovern) comes across as a bubble head. Even Oprah Winfrey's begging plea to let her son live, is a sham. Where is the political and heated fervor of the era? John Karlen's role as Max, the lawyer for Bigger, was a waste of time. He wasn't convincing as a passionate lawyer out to save this oppressed black boy.

Most film adaptations of books fall short in staying true to the author's story. This second adaptation falls through period. I found it a great disappointment in the acting as well as the script. Someday, somehow, some one will do this great novel justice and present us with a blockbuster film filled with not only passion but with a sense of what formed this Native Son. I recommend this movie to put in your video archive along with its original version.


6 out of 8 people found this helpful.
Big Letdown From the Book
Added 7/22/2000

After reading the book, the movie leaves a lot to be desired. There were just way too many things left out of the movie.

The film did have an exceptional cast, and the acting was terrific. I was somewhat suprised at how well Matt Dillon play Jan Erlone. The setting was pretty good too. The scenery was put together nicely, as it did look like the 1940's.

Unfortunately, the editing from the novel made the film seem quite choppy. Having read the book, you got into the minds of the characters, especially that of Bigger's. The movie skipped over too many things, not allowing you to do this, which was a fairly big letdown.

Not reading the book might leave you with a different impression of the film, because, once again, the acting is wonderful. But, having read the book, I couldn't enjoy the movie. Way too many important scenes were taken out of it. It is really not a good adaptation.


2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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