weezeralfalfa I know that the occasional African American could be as fair as Jeanne Crain, and I know that Jeanne did a great job in her role, but I think the story would have been notably more believable, if a dark-skinned Caucasian, such as Linda Darnell, Yvonne de Carlo, or Ava Gardner, had been given the role of Pinky. In fact, Yvonne later did play such a woman, in "Band of Angles". Her character had been raised as a Kentucky southern belle. But, upon her father's death, it was revealed that she had a small amount of negro inheritance, should be considered African American, and therefore could be sold as a slave to cover her father's remaining debts. There are 2 obvious villains in Ms. Wooley and her maid Rozelia. That would include Ms. Wooley's lawyer in the contested will trial. But, in a sense, Pinky's white Boston boyfriend is also a villain, in that he wants her to hide the fact that she has some African ancestry, and be his wife in a white society. This conflicts with her desire to follow the wishes of her benefactor: the white Miss Em, who left her decaying mansion and surrounding land to Pinky, with the hope that she would do something important with it. Pinky has a dream(later realized)of turning the property into a combo medical clinic and nursery school: an odd combination. Several doctors are connected with this clinic.Along with the 3 lead women, there are a couple of male heros in this story. First, is Judge Walker, who served as Pinky's council at the trial over the legitimacy of Miss Em's will. Despite the absence of his key witness, due to conflicting obligations, he did well enough to convince the judge, who also deserves credit for standing up to popular prejudice in making his decision.Several incidents are meant to illustrate the point that whether Pinky was considered white or negro much affected how she was treated. In the altercation between Pinky and African American Rozelia, the police assumed she was white, and thus assumed that Rozelia was at fault. When they were told otherwise, they arrested both Pinky and Rozelia. ...When Pinky was walking home after dark, 2 drunk men in a car came by and assumed she was white, offering a ride. But when they surmised she must be an African American, they tried to rape her...When Ms. Wooley and Pinky were in a store, Pinky finished first, but Ms. Wooley objected that, as a white person, she should be waited on first.Jeanne received a nomination for best actress, and both Ethel Barrymore, and Ethel Waters received a nomination for best supporting actress, for playing Ms. Em, and Dicy(Pinky's grandmother), respectively.

gooddog23-713-956844 One of the reviewers (Kara Dahl Russell) on this page really shocked me : "There is a reason that "she's passing" became an understood term. Very light skinned women & men in the early part of the 1900s DID try to do what Pinky here does." No, actually she doesn't. She left her small town, and I get the feeling it was unintended on her part. She was young when Granny Dicey sent her to school, and she merely accepted what was given without understanding. She had the opportunity, but Patricia went to jail defending her heritage.I really enjoyed this movie. It is another reflection of it's time, and I was surprised at it's frankness and relativity today, especially in these times with a black president who is more racist than even the characters in this 1949 classic. I'm white, and was born in 1958 and grew up during the era of civil rights. I often was challenged by the racism of the day that was accepted and shared among my peers and society at large, but at a young age I objected to it. This movie is surprising to me now in it's treatment of white and black America even more relevant than the 'politically correct' exploitation that exists today with it's rewrite of racism's history, and foisting the guilt of America's past sins onto me.Jeanne Crain was wonderful as the light skinned 'negro' title character, which must have been very controversial in it's day for a white woman. She still gave a tremendous performance, and her race seemed unimportant. Race was a strange fruit in those days, and Hollywood was still Hollywood; a weird animal trying to please everyone, even the racism of the era.The movie easily helped to tame the animal somewhat.Ethel Waters always impresses me in everything she did, a true star, and a strong woman, but a world worn character here, but as Aunt Deedee a grounded, straightforward, woman of conviction. If Sydney Poitier earned respect as a black actor, Ethel Waters certainly paved his way.Ethel Barrymore, whose character I didn't take to at first was perfect. She was a stalwart actress who knew I'd object to Miss. Em, but she was right in her judgments, and acted on her convictions. This film really has me rooting for all the right people, and Miss Em was no exception.I was struck by the PC culture censoring the word 'colored' in this 1949 film, but allows 'negro' ( I laughed as I winced), especially when today's generation uses much more objective terminology. Elia Kazan and the script didn't rely on stereotypes here. It occurred to me while watching it, that if you removed the actors colors, it would still address the issue effectively. THIS is an important movie. I was impressed with it's transparency addressing the relationship between Pinky and her fiancée's acceptance of her heritage. Yup, put it right up there with 'To Kill A Mockingbird', 'Driving Miss Daisy','Mississippi Burning', and 'The Jackie Robinson Story'. I can't wait to see this again.

jarrodmcdonald-1 The characters are all carefully presented and the story is simple yet complex in this though- provoking film. But while Jeanne Crain is a fabulous actress, she is perhaps wrong for this part. Her Irish heritage cannot be concealed by the black-and-white cinematography, because her bone structure and eyes are very distinctly non-African in appearance.Apparently, Gene Tierney was first considered for the part, and so was Linda Darnell. But this role requires a real-life mulatto actress. Perhaps having a white actress in the lead helped Fox tell the story without a black, or partially black woman, kissing a white man-- in the film, Pinky kisses her fiancé, played by William Lundigan. Despite the uneven casting of the lead, the rest of the players are well selected. Improving on the supporting actresses would not be necessary. The two Ethels are perfect: Ethel Waters as the grandmother; and Ethel Barrymore as the old southern belle.

edwagreen Outstanding 1949 film with director Elia Kazan matching his 1947 Oscar winner "Gentleman's Agreement." A very belated kudos for Mr. Kazan in tackling social issues, in this case racial prejudice.What performances are depicted here. Jeanne Crain is the trained nurse who returns to the south and is immediately caught up in its worst form of bigotry. She is the granddaughter of the kind, wisely, illiterate woman who takes in clothing and sacrificed all so that her granddaughter could get ahead. Ethel Waters was so adept in her performance here. She is equally matched by Ethel Barrymore, as a crotchety woman, never forgiven by Pinky for a childhood incident, but ailing now and as a favor to Grandma Waters, Pinky agrees to take care of her.What a social problem erupts when the Barrymore character dies and it is revealed that she left her property to Pinky. A cousin and a cousin by marriage contest the will in court. Evelyn Varden, as the heavy set, bigoted cousin-in-law is terrific and a scene stealer in every scene she appears.This is an outstanding film depicting racial inequity and ultimate redemption.William Lundigan is memorable as the doctor who loved Pinky, but could not marry her. He could not accept her way of life.The film showed that there was anything but racial harmony in America. Notice the musical theme throughout the film is exactly the same as the music played at the beginning of "Gentleman's Agreement." Am sure that Kazan and 20th Century-Fox had plenty to do with that.