Native Son (1951 film)
| Native Son | |
|---|---|
Artwork for Library of Congress restoration of US-release of this 1951 Argentine film. | |
| Directed by | Pierre Chenal |
| Screenplay by | Richard Wright Pierre Chenal |
| Based on | Native Son 1940 novel by Richard Wright |
| Produced by | Walter Gould James Prades |
| Starring | Richard Wright Gloria Madison Willa Pearl Curtis Jean Wallace George Rigaud |
| Cinematography | A.U. Merayo |
| Edited by | George Garate |
| Music by | John Elhert |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Argentina Sono Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | Argentina |
| Languages | English Spanish |
Native Son, also known as Sangre negra (in Spanish: "Black Blood"), is a 1951 Argentine melodrama film directed by French filmmaker Pierre Chenal during the classical era of Argentine cinema. It is based on the novel Native Son by American author Richard Wright, who also stars in the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Chenal. Actor Canada Lee, who was originally scheduled to play the film's protagonist Bigger Thomas, had difficulties with his visa while filming Cry, the Beloved Country (1951) in South Africa and had to decline the role; with the whole production in jeopardy due to the mishap, Wright decided to step in and replace Lee.
Due to its controversial plot, the film received severe editing in the United States, which removed about 30 minutes. A restored cut premiered on Turner Classic Movies on February 20, 2021, for the film's 60th anniversary.
Native Son was later remade in two adaptations: one in 1986 and another in 2019.