A light-skinned African-American family are "passing" in an all-white New England town. When the truth comes out, the more prejudiced neighbors demand their expulsion from the community.
Acting
Mel Ferrer's restrained panic as the mask slips.
Direction
Werker's shadow work during the revelation scene.
Writing
Dialogue that whispers what it cannot shout.
Director
Alfred L. Werker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on the real Lovett family of Keene, NH—whose story was serialized in Reader's Digest before becoming this controversial film that some theaters refused to screen in the South.
The casting of white-passing actors was deliberate studio cowardice; Mel Ferrer was actually of mixed Cuban heritage, which Hollywood buried. The film critiques passing while literally requiring it.
US
