Apparently I am the only black person who went to school in an urban area who did not have to read, see or listen to this play in school, so the P Diddy version is all I have to go by.
First off, I want to say how well he acted in it. For long stretches of time, I forgot he was Diddy and believed he was Walter. However, I’m wondering if another, better actor would have gotten me to jump right into his redemption at the end. Because, if I was any one of Walter’s relatives, I would have to be restrained from beating his brains in.
What a selfish fuck! And the only thing that saved him was that he didn’t want to be embarressed in front of his son?
So, I’m wondering if it’s the play or if I had seen Sydney Poitier’s Walter, I would have been more sympathetic.
I saw the Sidney Potier version some years ago and I enjoyed this new production much more.
P.Diddy was wonderful as Walter. The most impressive of the cast to me was Phylicia Rashad. My thought in the scene when she learned the money was lost was “Emmy worthy performance”.
I called quite a few people last night to remind them to watch. It kills me that some complain of the lack of good AA programming, then chose to watch other fare.
I’m glad I saw this and will try to buy the DVD once it’s released.
The thing is-- did he really learn that your strength comes from inside you and from your family and not the almighty dollar or did he not want to appear like a toadie in his son’s eyes?
I can see Sydney finding the strength within and me believing he did as opposed to P’s sorta ‘can’t bring myself to say it in front of my son’ type dealie.
Oh yes, it was fantastic! And, like I said before, Diddy was good but-- I can just imagine Sydney in the scene when he found out he was duped. I felt nothing but anger toward Walter but I can see how a more experience actor could have also made me feel sorry and sad for the man who lost his dream AND screwed his family on top of it.
I think he realized that he was teaching his son and it hit him that he was really wrong. When he repeated the “proud” line to the neighborhood rep he really just made the realization himself and Diddy sold it to me.
I like Diddy’s low key protrayal rather than the over the top type emothion that other actors might have used.
Oh - wasn’t the actor playing the Nigerian professor just beautiful? Mmmmm.
I’m white and I had had to read it and see it in school. Danny Glover did a great job IMO. I’d be willing to give PD a chance but he’d reaaly have to earn it.
Though, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Sidney Poiter-Ruby Dee version. P Diddy’s Walter Lee was “believable enough” but I wouldn’t call his performance top-quality acting. His very New York accent was distracting to me and his stony face made reading his mood difficult. But I was so happy the play was being aired on TV I was able to ingore it all.
I agree so much with you about Phylicia Rashad, jali. When I first saw the play years ago in HS, I teared up during that scene. But yesterday, I cried. I saw my mother in Phylicia Rashad, and I wanted to choke the living shit out of Walter Lee. Dammit, I’m tearing up just thinking about it!
Didn’t expect to see John Stamos.
It’s funny. I’ve seen the play maybe three or four times, but I didn’t realize how much I had committed the lines to memory until I watched it yesterday. Like I noticed how they replaced “faggoty white shoes” with “sissy white shoes”. But that was the only change in the dialogue that I noticed. Except, I don’t think P Diddy shouted the infamous “WILL-IE!!!”
Biggirl, you should really check out the original film.
If we’re gonna be on first name basis with him, that’s Sidney. Sidney Poitier. Sidney GorgeousTalentedAgelessElegantSexy Poitier. Who was brilliant as Walter; not especially likeable, but still sympathetic. I mean, how could anyone not want Sidney freakin’ Poitier to get whatever he desires?
I thought Combs was pretty good, nothing stellar. But Rashad was on fire. Love her and am so happy to see her career thriving. It sure is hard to believe she’s old enough to play Lena, rather than Ruth, but I guess I still see her as lovely Claire Huxtable, thanks to Nick @ Nite.
Sorry to double-post, but I’ve found a great clip from near the end of the '61 film. Stellar performances all 'round. Spoilers, obviously, but not if you’ve seen the play or the new version.
Sidney plays the part a little too proud for me. To me I’ve always seen Walter the way Danny Glover played him, which is man that looks like he is on his last once of self-esteem. It is more believable to see Danny’s Walter consider not moving into a white neighborhood than it is to see Sidney’s Walter do it.
Who was brilliant as Walter; not especially likeable, but still sympathetic. I mean, how could anyone not want Sidney freakin’ Poitier to get whatever he desires?