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Native Son

Play trailer Poster for Native Son 1951 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 8 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Author Richard Wright portrays his novel's Bigger Thomas, a young chauffeur trapped in an accidental murder.

Critics Reviews

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Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap Sep 19, 2022
2.5/5
The exceedingly rare film adaptation of a novel starring the author in the leading role. Unfortunately, it replicates all the pitfalls of Richard Wright's book. Go to Full Review Peter Canavese Celluloid Dreams Jul 25, 2022
2.5/4
A real oddity in literary and cinematic history. Rushed and somewhat clumsy in its narrative it lacks the full impact of the novel but boasts visual impact. An interesting enough historical relic worth seeing. Go to Full Review Armond White National Review Nov 5, 2020
Every close-up, even when scaling the top of a water tower to evoke James Cagney at the end of White Heat, conveys the no-hope fatality of the novel's tragedy. It's not so much poetic or expressive as banal. Go to Full Review Michael J. Casey Michael J. Cinema Sep 25, 2020
3.5/5
Not a perfect film, but the movie is far more than a curiosity. The cinematography from Antonio Merayo is top-notch, and Wright's writing is as brutal as it is blunt. Go to Full Review Kenneth R. Morefield 1More Film Blog Sep 22, 2020
2/5
Why is it essential then? Every now and hen you get a glimpse of the deeper horrors of the book, even if they are just passing allusions to what the novel insists is omnipresent Go to Full Review Donald J. Levit ReelTalk Movie Reviews Sep 30, 2012
Limited budget, black and white melodramatic pacing and scripting, awkward direction and inferior acting are what contribute to its shortcomings as pure film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Feb 22, 2021 While the film's historical value and analysis of racism makes this a must-watch for lovers of art there's no question the film suffers from poor acting and audio dubbing. The acclaimed author of the source material plays the lead role and he's incapable of doing justice to his masterpiece. At the very least, his character should have been re-written to reflect his age. There's a 20+ year age difference. So, you have a 40 year old man saying words written for a teen. See more Oct 9, 2012 Read and comment on my review at http://bit.ly/WLzqbj See more Read all reviews
Native Son

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Cast & Crew

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Pierre Chenal

Director

Richard Wright

Bigger Thomas

Jean Wallace

Mary Dalton

Gloria Madison

Bessie Mears

Nicholas Joy

Henry Dalton

Charles Cane

Detective Britten

Movie Clips

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Native Son

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Native Son

Native Son (1951) Native Son (1951) Native Son (1951) A scene from "Native Son." A scene from "Native Son." A scene from "Native Son." A scene from "Native Son." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Author Richard Wright portrays his novel's Bigger Thomas, a young chauffeur trapped in an accidental murder.
Director
Pierre Chenal
Producer
Jaime Prades
Screenwriter
Pierre Chenal, Richard Wright
Distributor
Classic Pictures
Production Co
Argentina Sono Film S.A.C.I.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 16, 1951, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 24, 2021
Runtime
1h 31m
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