For the first episode to focus on an actor as such, Alex and Jonathan look at three influential leading roles played by Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun (1961), A Patch of Blue (1965), and In the Heat of the Night (1967). We discuss how acting becomes highlighted in a film which is adapted from the stage, the ways that Poitier’s roles reflect his own life and values, and how he blazed a trail for modern African American actors.

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Skip to: A Raisin in the Sun (10:54), A Patch of Blue (37:14), In the Heat of the Night (1:02:30), Overall (1:25:54), Coming Attractions (1:37:27)

Resources referenced in this episode:

Benjamin Angrisano will be joining us once again next time to talk about Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather Trilogy:

Intro/outro music by Mike Braudrick

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