A Raisin in the Sun: Movie vs Play Posted Apr 25, 2022

A Raisin in the Sun is a play that was written in 1957 by Lorraine Hansberry. Later, in 1961, it became a film and was remade much later in 2008. Both play and screen adaptations follow a powerful storyline, but there are many elements of this play that were missing in films. A film remake of A Raisin in the Sun did include more elements, making it a much better adaptation for those that are looking to compare play to screen productions.

If you want to learn more about the differences between this play and screen format, we have details right here. We are comparing/contrasting play/film and discovering the differences. As a fan of this author’s work, one may be disappointed in film adaptations. On the other hand, those who are looking for entertainment factors will appreciate the added scenes and settings.

Author’s Message Remains the Same

With A Raisin in the Sun, this author delivers her powerful message to audience members. By taking time to look at various effects of racial tension and prejudice and how that affects the dreams of African-American families, viewers learn about the daily struggles of black people in Chicago. Each member has their dream of being successful and having their day in the sun. Walter wanted to open his liquor store, Beneatha aspires to become a doctor, and Ruth has her dream of owning a home.

As they struggle to keep things together, Mama tries to bring them closer to each other. By placing a down payment on a home in a white neighborhood, the hope is for new beginnings, especially for Ruth’s unborn child. They are then addressed with an offer to buy this new home in hopes of dissuading them from entering a white neighborhood. They do not give in and that offer is refused.

This story plot is all about one lower-class black family trying to pursue dreams in a middle-class world and gain acceptance. When you review an essay on “A Raisin In The Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, you can clearly see the strong message she was trying to convey and how racial tensions severely impact the lives of lower-class black families. It depicts true conflicts between white and black Americans during that time in both the play and the film.

Change of Scenery

When watching A Raisin in the Sun films, you will see there are different settings. When reading the play, there is a single setting throughout this story. The film takes viewers to different locations, including the Younger family apartment, Mama’s place of employment, the market and hair salon, and their new house. While these locations were all mentioned in the play, they were not visited in any scene. All action occurs at home, either in their living room or kitchen.

The film may be more interesting because of the added locations, but it strays from the play. However, this was required to attract viewers. Films with a single setting are less likely to succeed. For example, one of the main scenes is when Mama hands Walter money that was received from the insurance check. This happened in the living room in the play, unlike in the film, where it occurs at The Green Hat bar.

When major scenes take place in different settings, they have various meanings. In the play, the focus is on the apartment, which tells readers that there are financial struggles. When those same events happen in other locations, it distracts the viewers from that issue.

Events That Vary

There are a number of memorable scenes from this play that fans have enjoyed for years. When making the film adaptations, these events have been changed. While it adds to your entertainment factor, it reduces the impact that was intended. For example, we see that Walter works as a chauffeur and caters to a rich white family. His job is merely described, but in the film, we see him at his job.

Another main difference in events is when Lena gives the insurance policy money. This money is received by Walter Lee in their small apartment while on-screen this event takes place in a bar setting.

There are also deleted scenes as well as deleted characters. With this original play, Mrs. Johnson’s character was eliminated from the stage production. Another scene that was deleted was when Beneatha cut her hair to wear it naturally so that she would attract Asagai. This hair scene was important but was deleted due to the actress receiving a horrible haircut before filming. This omission was done for the audience not to receive a negative statement about the natural hairstyles of African American women.

Another omitted scene was when Travis is playing with neighborhood kids and chasing rats. Later, Travis is telling others about this and how much fun he had. As an author, she was trying to convey her statement with these scenes. The popular hair scene is one way of making a statement on an identity crisis that was dealt with among black communities. As for Travis, this scene was included to depict different horrors and conditions that affected poor children living black life.

Conclusion

While A Raisin in the Sun is a well-known and respected play, the film renditions were just as popular. Many added elements created a pleasurable viewing experience while maintaining a strong message. This is a great example of how one powerful play can be transformed into screen films without losing power, themes, meaning, or emotion. Taking into consideration the fact that these films dwell upon a matter of great importance, they are definitely ones to see and reflect on.