Pinky
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Movie Reviews of Pinky
Movie Review: What's rational about prejudice?
Summary: 3 Stars
Fair skinned "Pinky" returns home after six years abroad, three of which were spent at a nursing school paid for by her hard working and very black grandmother. Walking about her Southern hometown, people on the street and in shops are heard to comment that she can almost pass for white. Of course the actress playing Pinky, Jeanne Crane, IS white! But since she's not supposed to be, the racism and prejudice she is confronted with seem more absurd than ever. One is reminded of the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson from 1896 where Plessy, who appeared as white as "Pinky" but was classified as "colored" under the Louisiana code because he was one-eighth black, rode in the "white" rail car after making his mixed race known to the conductor. When he refused to move to the "colored" car, he was arrested, tried unsuccessfully to overturn the statute in Louisiana, ultimately taking his case to the Supreme Court of the United States. One-eighth black? What does that mean? What percentage of "African" blood is required to send a man to the back of a bus or get him arrested for sitting in a "white only" railcar? Of course this begs the even greater question - why should any human being be subjected to a different status solely based upon a distinction as insignificant as skin color? Jeanne Crane's performance, almost completely unblemished by emotion and depth of character, seems almost as out of place in this film as believability is in the convoluted script. Still, this film does have a lot to merit a watch, albeit a Timex and not a Rolex! The obvious problems with the film notwithstanding, they do add an interesting degree of relevance, intentional or not, to the subject. The central theme, "What's rational about prejudice" deals with the absurdity of a "color" conscious society to begin with, and Crane being so obviously white, draws attention to the irrational behavior of those pointlessly prejudiced against her.Movie Review: AN UNITENTIONALLY RACIST BUT INTERESTING MOVIE
Summary: 3 Stars
If a very dark skinned Italian has a child with a blonde haired blue eyed German does that make said child an Italian? No, said child is simply considered white. However, transpose dark skinned Italian with very light skinned African American and the resultant child will still be classed as BLACK!
This movie is the perfect example of deeply seated subconscious white racism that without knowing it views black people as some kind of genetic contaminant.
What the hell is passing for white! Why in the hell should a woman as light as our protaganist in this movie even consider herself black when she is no more black than the hypothetical child I mentioned earlier is Italian.
As a historical document this a very interesting, well executed and very bold for its time movie. But as a morality tale about the evils of racism
it clearly fails because it is itself, racist; albeit quite unintentionally.
Check out my review of "PASSING FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE" BY A.D. POWELL on amazon.co.uk. Buy yourself a copy of this very interesting book and then you'll understand my point of view more completely.
Movie Review: Black Blood
Summary: 3 Stars
More Hollywood stereotyping while trying to be relevant.
Howevever Barrymore, Crain and Waters give solid performances.
In the 50's colored folks were glad to see just about anything with Black characters.
Movie Review: daring for its time
Summary: 3 Stars
Interesting how this movie speaks of race and racism while at the same time promoting stereotypes. Worth watching, especially if have an interest in communications, media, or black studies.Movie Review: Interesting
Summary: 3 Stars
I saw this one years ago on VHS and was glad to be able to add it my collection on DVD. Considering the time that this film was made, I think it is a good one.