Customer Reviews

Freeman (Broadway Theatre Archive) [VHS]

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This 1977 film is usual for the era of black young men struggling to break away from the mold their parents succumbed to. Freeman (Dick Anthony Williams) is young, naïve, ambitious, and got his book learning the harder way, by himself. And, he thinks that was enough to get by, to advance. He learned a lot, but the forces and his anger keep him down.

Freeman lives with his pregnant wife Osa Lee and his parents. His family is clearly not his priority. He quit the office job at the plant, striving to better himself. He can't get ahead for trying and his parents are very aware of that as they watch the drama in his life unfold.

His major competition in the family, a young doctor (Lou Gossett), who was practically raised by the family, like a brother to Freeman. The two have very different thinking, with very different approaches to life with very different outcomes.

The setting is the Michigan home of an industrial town. The play takes us to several rooms of the home, neat, clean and flowered wallpapered thoughout. Acting by Freeman was emotional, moving, and somehow it would have been more dramatic if Lou Gossett's role were more challenging, rather than the nice doctor he played. Not sure who wrote this play, but it was directed by Tony-winner Lloyd Richards for (Fences), an August Wilson play. For another play about a young black man trying to break away, try. The First Breeze of Summer (Broadway Theatre Archive) This was excellent too ....Rizzo

Every one has met the main character who has delusions about who he is and why his dreams are never realized. Recommend this play to all.

Wonderful 70's era dramatic play about a young idealist son who has aspirations higher than his blue-collar middle class upbringing but can't seem to figure a way out. No happy ending , but is a beautiful conveyance of real-life, with all the heart-felt emotion and drama.