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Native Son

  • 19861986
  • PGPG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
574
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Native Son (1986)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:25
1 Video
4 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

In 1940s Chicago, a young black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the teenage daughter of the couple and then trie... Read allIn 1940s Chicago, a young black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the teenage daughter of the couple and then tries to cover it up.In 1940s Chicago, a young black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the teenage daughter of the couple and then tries to cover it up.

IMDb RATING
5.9/10
574
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jerrold Freedman
  • Writers
    • Richard Wesley
    • Richard Wright(novel)
  • Stars
    • Victor Love
    • Matt Dillon
    • Elizabeth McGovern
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jerrold Freedman
  • Writers
    • Richard Wesley
    • Richard Wright(novel)
  • Stars
    • Victor Love
    • Matt Dillon
    • Elizabeth McGovern
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Native Son
    Trailer 1:25
    Native Son

    Photos

    Native Son (1986)
    Oprah Winfrey and Victor Love in Native Son (1986)
    Native Son (1986)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Victor Love
    Victor Love
    • Bigger Thomasas Bigger Thomas
    Matt Dillon
    Matt Dillon
    • Janas Jan
    Elizabeth McGovern
    Elizabeth McGovern
    • Mary Daltonas Mary Dalton
    Geraldine Page
    Geraldine Page
    • Peggyas Peggy
    Oprah Winfrey
    Oprah Winfrey
    • Mrs. Thomasas Mrs. Thomas
    Akosua Busia
    Akosua Busia
    • Bessieas Bessie
    Carroll Baker
    Carroll Baker
    • Mrs. Daltonas Mrs. Dalton
    John McMartin
    John McMartin
    • Mr. Daltonas Mr. Dalton
    Art Evans
    Art Evans
    • Docas Doc
    John Karlen
    John Karlen
    • Maxas Max
    Willard E. Pugh
    Willard E. Pugh
    • Gusas Gus
    David Rasche
    David Rasche
    • Buckleyas Buckley
    Ving Rhames
    Ving Rhames
    • Jackas Jack
    Walter Rivers
    • G.H.as G.H.
    Shavar Ross
    Shavar Ross
    • Buddyas Buddy
    Lane Smith
    Lane Smith
    • Brittonas Britton
    Richard Wesley
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    Adrienne Cook
    • Veraas Vera
    • Director
      • Jerrold Freedman
    • Writers
      • Richard Wesley
      • Richard Wright(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Bigger Thomas, an African American who lives in an impoverished neighborhood, is employed by a prosperous white family who live in the suburbs of a major city. The money Bigger makes at his new job will be used to supplement his mother's income. As a chauffeur, he is directed by the father of the family to take Mary, the daughter, to the university. Instead, Mary decides to pick up her Socialist boyfriend, Jan, and to spend the time drinking and partying. Jan and Mary portray a young liberal couple who venture into a black neighborhood with Bigger for the sole purpose of being entertained at Ernie's, a black nightclub. On the way home, Mary becomes inebriated and Bigger must get her to her bedroom without being detected. Mary's mother, who is blind, enters the room and Bigger panics at the thought of being caught with a white woman. He accidentally kills Mary by placing a pillow over her head to keep her quiet. Still frightened, Bigger disposes of the body in the furnace, possibly because he feels he would not get a fair trial for the accidental death of a white woman. Meanwhile, Jan is wanted by the police for Mary's murder and Bigger plays a role in the accusations against him. —Broncine G. Carter
    • man wears eyeglasses
    • timeframe 1930s
    • chauffeur
    • teenage daughter
    • bedroom
    • 145 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      However, this movie has been released officially on VHS, it has yet to have an official DVD or Blu-ray release.
    • Quotes

      Gus: Ain't no use hiding it. That Bigger Thomas, he bad. Just bad!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Morning After/Native Son/Brighton Beach Memoirs/Mother Teresa (1986)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    Good job
    Bigger is a teenager who is so poor he and his mother must share a bedroom in an apartment that appears to be falling apart, and they don't have enough money to eat well. When they get out of bed, two other hidden children pop up from under the covers--Bigger's sister sleeps with her mother, and his brother sleeps with him, and the males must turn around while the females get dressed. To improve their situation, Bigger's mother knows of a great opportunity for him and hopes he will finally get a job he can hold on to. If he doesn't, things could be even worse (at least they HAVE a home now).

    Bigger goes to be with his friends when he should be interviewing for the job. He lets them know he will NOT work for the white man. Yet he does finally show up at the home of a rich family, and immediately turns into what his friends would likely call an Uncle Tom--not Stepin Fetchit, but respectful and polite.

    Everything appears to be going well for a while, but then something quite terrible changes the situation drastically.

    Oprah Winfrey came across quite convincingly as a poor black mother. This was in the days before she became a superstar talk show host. I won't say it's too bad she was successful in her best-known career, because she did so much good, but she could have been quite a fine actress. Victor Love was good as Bigger, primarily because Bigger had to be so convincing in order to keep his job. A great performance came from John Karlen as a defense lawyer (yes, someone needed a lawyer).

    This was an African Heritage Network Monthly Movie Classic. It wasn't as good as some movies selected for this honor, but it was pretty good.
    helpful•9
    4
    • vchimpanzee
    • Apr 18, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 12, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Native Son - Im Namen der Gerechtigkeit
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Playhouse
      • Cinecom Pictures
      • Cinétudes Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,301,121
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,301,121
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Related news

    A24 Developing ‘Native Son’ Film With ‘Moonlight’ Actor
    Mar 16The Playlist
    Oprah Winfrey’s Major Movie Roles Ranked, From ‘The Color Purple’ to ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ (Photos)
    Oprah Winfrey’s Major Movie Roles Ranked, From ‘The Color Purple’ to ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ (Photos)
    Mar 9The Wrap

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