A middle-aged married wealthy white corporate executive is surprised to discover that he has a working-class black teen-age son who wants to be adopted into the almost-exclusively-white upper-middle-class community of San Marino, California.
Acting
Denzel's screen debut already commands attention.
Writing
Satire that bites harder than expected for 1981.
Direction
Schultz balances warmth with genuine discomfort.
Director
Michael Schultz
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Denzel Washington was 27 playing a teenager; he reportedly took the role to avoid being typecast after his stage success.
The film's reception split along racial lines in 1981—Black critics often found Roger more compelling than the white protagonist, which wasn't the intended focus.
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