Native Son *** (1986, Victor Love, Matt Dillon, Elizabeth McGovern, Geraldine Page, Oprah Winfrey, Carroll Baker) – Classic Movie Review 7321

Director Jerrold Freedman’s earnest and honorable 1986 drama Native Son is the second film version of Richard Wright’s powerful 1940 novel about Bigger Thomas (Victor Love), a poor, African American young man in Thirties Chicago who takes a job as a chauffeur to a prosperous white family.

But he kills Mary (Elizabeth McGovern), the teenage daughter of the couple (Carroll Baker as Mrs Dalton, John McMartin as Mr Dalton), by mistake and then tries to cover it up by disposing of the body. When Mary’s boyfriend Jan (Matt Dillon) is wanted by the police for Mary’s murder, Bigger prompts the accusations against him.

Native Son is solid, socially conscious fare, anchored by Love’s convincing turn, though it proves tricky material to film, and Richard Wesley’s screenplay and Freedman’s handling are somewhat hesitant. But it gets the acting it needs to succeed from a top-notch cast.

The main cast are Victor Love as Bigger Thomas, Elizabeth McGovern as Mary Dalton, Geraldine Page as Peggy, Oprah Winfrey as Mrs Thomas, Akosua Busia as Bessie, Carroll Baker as Mrs Dalton, John McMartin as Mr Dalton, Art Evans as Doc, John Karlen as defence lawyer Max, Willard E Pugh as Gus, Ving Rhames as Jack, Matt Dillon as Jan Erlone and David Rasche.

On a fairly small budget of $2,000,000, it struggled with a $1,301,121 box office take.

A cheaply-made version previously appeared in 1950 with the author as the star.

A24 announced in March 2018 that they have acquired the rights to Native Son and are developing it with Moonlight actor Ashton Sanders in mind.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7321

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