Pinky (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Pinky' (directed by Elia Kazan, after John Ford backed out) tells the story of a light-skinned black woman named Patricia "Pinky" Johnson (Jeanne Crain), who - when young - is sent by her black 'Granny' (Ethel Waters) to study nursing up in Boston. Pinky, the product of 1 black & 1 white parent, not only passes for being a white woman and lives as a free person, but she even has a white fiance Dr. Thomas Adams. Convinced that htier interracial relationship would never work out in the long run and fearing that society would never accept them, Pinky leaves her man, leaves the New England medical institute, and comes running back to her Granny's welcoming arms at her rundown shack in the rural South to find her true identity as a mulatto.
Old-fashioned Granny works on a sprawling piece of land for the feisty, rich white lady Miss Em (Ethel Barrymore). Much to Granny's chagrin, Em becomes gravely ill (weak heart) & is nursed by Pinky until her death. As if relationship/segregation issues aren't enough for Pinky, further drama enters the fray when Em leaves her entire estate to Pinky. Em's family, led by loathsome cousin Melba (Evelyn Varden), contests the will because ... Pinky is black. A court trial ensues; and after the verdict, Pinky must decide whether to leave again to marry her doctor friend up in Boston, or remain behind to put her nursing skills to better use.
I like this film quite a bit. There are a few dull and/or hokey spots here & there. But the premise is inherently interesting and the acting is top-notch from all. Beautiful Jeanne Crain brings a real sense of melancholy to the role that feels authentic to the situation a 'Pinky' would be in. If I question anything about the casting, it would be that Crain, who received a well-deserved Oscar nomination, looks nothing like a black woman; many people thought that Lena Horne or Dorothy Dandridge (talented, legitimate light-skinned black actresses) would have been better suited for the role – and I agree. But as an isolated performance, I still think Crain did a swell job. I hate to say it, but I believe Crain was "cast" for box office reasons and, well, the film went on to be a critical & box office success.
Ethel Waters is great as loving, world-weary Granny. Another Ethel, Ethel Barrymore, is excellent as the sharp-tongued, but understanding Miss Em. And Evelyn Varden is perfectly cast as meddling cousin Melba, who'll exploit Pinky's race to get what she wants. Kazan's direction is on-point, as usual. The editing is relatively smooth (for a 1940s flick). The black-&-white cinematography is good. The sets/rural South locales lend a distinct mood to the proceedings. The music is solid, without being intrusive. And so, 'Pinky' is a stellar socially-conscious film with several tender/moving moments. This is one of the earliest Hollywood movies to attack racism (goon on it!). And I like how Pinky becomes a sort of tragic heroine who puts her racial pride and career ahead of the man she loves.
Old-fashioned Granny works on a sprawling piece of land for the feisty, rich white lady Miss Em (Ethel Barrymore). Much to Granny's chagrin, Em becomes gravely ill (weak heart) & is nursed by Pinky until her death. As if relationship/segregation issues aren't enough for Pinky, further drama enters the fray when Em leaves her entire estate to Pinky. Em's family, led by loathsome cousin Melba (Evelyn Varden), contests the will because ... Pinky is black. A court trial ensues; and after the verdict, Pinky must decide whether to leave again to marry her doctor friend up in Boston, or remain behind to put her nursing skills to better use.
I like this film quite a bit. There are a few dull and/or hokey spots here & there. But the premise is inherently interesting and the acting is top-notch from all. Beautiful Jeanne Crain brings a real sense of melancholy to the role that feels authentic to the situation a 'Pinky' would be in. If I question anything about the casting, it would be that Crain, who received a well-deserved Oscar nomination, looks nothing like a black woman; many people thought that Lena Horne or Dorothy Dandridge (talented, legitimate light-skinned black actresses) would have been better suited for the role – and I agree. But as an isolated performance, I still think Crain did a swell job. I hate to say it, but I believe Crain was "cast" for box office reasons and, well, the film went on to be a critical & box office success.
Ethel Waters is great as loving, world-weary Granny. Another Ethel, Ethel Barrymore, is excellent as the sharp-tongued, but understanding Miss Em. And Evelyn Varden is perfectly cast as meddling cousin Melba, who'll exploit Pinky's race to get what she wants. Kazan's direction is on-point, as usual. The editing is relatively smooth (for a 1940s flick). The black-&-white cinematography is good. The sets/rural South locales lend a distinct mood to the proceedings. The music is solid, without being intrusive. And so, 'Pinky' is a stellar socially-conscious film with several tender/moving moments. This is one of the earliest Hollywood movies to attack racism (goon on it!). And I like how Pinky becomes a sort of tragic heroine who puts her racial pride and career ahead of the man she loves.