Coming Attractions

By incorporating the three principles: the past, present and future. We will post our discoveries about each phase of the cinema. From what we learned to what we know. So settle down with your popcorn and favorite beverage and stay tuned for the coming attractions.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner


The Civil Rights movement was gaining momentum in the 1960's. During this time of Jim Crow laws and southern racial segregation, a film premiered in 1967 titled 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.' The groundbreaking theme of the movie was the topic of interracial marriage. Sidney Poitier portrayed a black doctor who met and fell in love with a young white woman played by Katharine Houghton. This film showcased the discomfort felt by family members of the young couple as they came to terms with the upcoming marriage.


This film premiered at a time in the United States where interracial marriage was illegal in fifteen states. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner won two Academy Awards - one for original screenplay and the other award for best actress given to Katharine Hepburn. Upon the film's release, it was criticized for being too controversial in it's subject matter and also for being too lightweight for lack of seriousness. But years later this film is now well regarded for tackling the divisive topic of racism.
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3 comments:

  1. AshleyFebruary 28, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    I believe the best movies are the one's that talk about things that people really want to keep hidden. I have never seen the movie, but it does sound like something I would love to sit down and watch.

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  2. sandra bonnerMarch 2, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Geraldine this was one of my favorites movies. I was four years old when this movie premiered.So I wasn't able to appreciate this movie until I beacame a young adult. It was interesting watching the movie and observing how blacks were stereotyped.In one scent the young white woman maid, who was black was talking bad about blacks.I commend the people who had the courage to express their ideas and to challenge racism.

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  3. Monica GuimaraesMarch 23, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    I've never seen this movie, but i've heard of it. I like movies like these because i can see the difference of how people think today and how they thought back then. It's good to see that they tried to introduce these ideas to the public around the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Now there is still some conflict with racism, but not as much! There are certainly no states against interracial marriage.

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