Native Son (1951): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Native Son is a 1951 drama directed by Pierre Chenal, starring Willa Pearl Curtis, Richard Wright and Gloria Madison. It is based on Native Son by Richard Wright and Arnold Rampersad. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes. It holds 56% on TMDB.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Pierre Chenal
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Kino Lorber
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Native Son About?
The premise of Native Son without spoilers, adapted from Native Son by Richard Wright and Arnold Rampersad. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A compelling drama tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young Black man living in poverty and facing limited opportunities in 1930s Chicago. When he takes a job as a chauffeur for a wealthy white family, a series of tragic events lead to a confrontation with devastating consequences. The film explores themes of race, class, and the struggle for identity amidst social inequality and systemic oppression, highlighting the complexities of human nature and the destructive impact of fear and prejudice.
Native Son Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- interracial relationship
- black man white woman relationship
- lying on a bed
- woman wears eyeglasses
- co written by director
- begins with voice over narration
- missing woman
- newspaper headline
- organized labor
- disposing of a dead body
- murder trial
- 1940s
+38 more Show fewer
- couple
- young
- job
- man
- water tower
- shouting in court
- suffocated with a pillow
- pool hall
- blues singer
- lake michigan
- woman wears a one piece swimsuit
- shot of whiskey
- burning a body
- torch singer
- slum
- changing plea to not guilty
- drug store
- elevated train
- boxing
- confession
- woman smoking
- killing a rat
- drunken woman
- corsage
- pistol whipped
- carl august sandburg quotation
- rat infestation
- mob of reporters
- falling to death
- dollar bill
- dilapidated building
- pulling a knife
- riverview park
- black neighborhood
- drinking and driving
- female singer
- floor show
- extortion
Native Son Cast
Willa Pearl Curtis leads the cast, with Richard Wright and Gloria Madison. Directed by Pierre Chenal; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Pierre Chenal
Also Starring in Native Son
· 6 moreMore from Pierre Chenal
More films directed by Pierre Chenal: L’assassin connaît la musique, Sinners of Paris, Se abre el abismo and The Corpse Breaks a Date.
Native Son Reviews & Ratings
Native Son holds 56% on TMDB.
-
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB
Native Son Plot Summary
What happens in Native Son from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set during the tumultuous early 1940s in Chicago’s “black belt,” a region deeply populated by nearly half a million African Americans, we meet Hannah Thomas (Willa Pearl Curtis), a resilient mother living in a cramped kitchenette alongside her three children: Vera, Buddy, and her eldest son, Bigger (Richard Wright). The family, having fled the South a dozen years prior due to the horrific lynching of Hannah’s husband, struggles to make a living amidst societal upheaval. One day, as they go about their lives, a rat scurries across the floor, aptly named “old man Dalton” after their landlord—Bigger, in a moment of frustration, kills the pest.
Full summary
The whole story of Native Son, scene by scene
Native Son Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Native Son.
How Well Do You Know Native Son?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What does Bigger Thomas do to the rat in his family's home?
Cars in Native Son
1 car on screen: the 1948 Packard Super Eight.
-
1948 Packard Super Eight Main role
Native Son Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “네이티브 선” and “토박이”.
- Also known as
-
- 네이티브 선
- 토박이
- Sangre negra
- Un enfant du pays
- Sang noir
- 미국의 아들
- 土生子
Seen Native Son?
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Native Son FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Native Son, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Native Son?
Native Son runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Native Son released?
Native Son was released on June 16, 1951.
Who directed Native Son?
Native Son was directed by Pierre Chenal.
More films by Pierre Chenal Who is in the cast of Native Son?
Native Son stars Willa Pearl Curtis, Richard Wright and Gloria Madison, among 10 credited actors.
How is Native Son rated?
Native Son has 56% on TMDB.
Is Native Son based on a book?
Yes. Native Son is adapted from Native Son by Richard Wright and Arnold Rampersad.
Does Native Son have a post-credit scene?
No. Native Son has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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