

Study of interracial marriage in the 1960s. A white divorcée falls in love with and marries an African-American man. When her ex-husband sues for custody of her child, arguing that a mixed household is an improper place to raise the girl, the new husband fights for his parental rights in court, fighting against a judge who represents the prejudices of the era.
Acting
Barrie's Oscar-nominated restraint vs. Hamilton's barely contained dignity
Writing
Dialogue that lets bigots hang themselves with their own words
Direction
Peerce shoots the courtroom like a horror film

Director
Larry Peerce
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released months before Loving v. Virginia made interracial marriage legal nationwide; the film's 'improper environment' argument was literally the law.
Barbara Barrie was so broke she took the role for scale and got the only Oscar nomination of her career; she later called the film 'the one that mattered.'
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