I Passed for White (1960)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Fred M. Wilcox

Writers:

Mary Hastings Bradley (novel)
Reba Lee (novel)

Release Date:

18 March 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

"All He Asked Of Me Was Love...Not The Color Of My Skin!"

Plot:

A young girl meets and marries the man of her dreams--only she hasn't told him that she is half-black, and he and his rich family and friends are white. |

Plot Keywords:

Racism | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Sonya Wilde	...	Bernice Lee / Lila Brownell
James Franciscus	...	Rick Leyton
Patricia Michon	...	Sally Roberts (as Pat Michon)
Isabel Cooley	...	Bertha (as Isabelle Cooley)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lon Ballantyne	...	Chuck
Elizabeth Council	...	Ann Leyton
Phyllis Cox	...	Nurse
Griffin Crafts	...	Mr. Leyton
Edmund Hashim	...	Club Patron (as Ed Hashim)
Temple Hatton	...	Eddie, Friend of Bernice
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Dr. Merritt
Calvin Jackson	...	Eddie, in Dance School
Ray Kellogg	...	Bartender
Jimmy Lydon	...	Jay Morgan
Max Mellinger	...	Mr. Gordon
Freita Shaw	...	Gram

Runtime:

USA:93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Fred M. Wilcox Enterprises Inc.

Quotes:

Ann Leyton: She's not natural. She's like a cat in a strange attic.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sleazemania on Parade (1992) (V)

There are many today living this life

I saw this movie when it was released in 1960, I was 16 at the time. I'm not sure why I went to see it unless it was because I liked, actor, James Franciscos, (sorry we lost him). I had a great friend that lived this very story only her husband's family was not wealthy or socialites. I didn't understand all this racial crap at that age but as I grew to learn what LIFE is all about, I began to understand why people that are bi-racial make the choice they do to live a life more "acceptible" by the social standards we determine as such. This movie was very moving to me and although, at l6, I had not fallen in love as yet, I could feel her fears and concern for losing someone she loved in the discovery of her "Dark" secret. I seem to recall being disappointed by the ending when she returned to her mother or grandmother. I believe that LOVE is a powerful entity and emotion and if it TRULY exists can overcome almost anything, including death. I would love to see this movie again and highly recommend it for anyone but especially for anyone who is bi-racial enough to cross the color line and chooses to live the life of the dominant race. I refuse to believe doing so is a sell out but a CHOICE that each person has the RIGHT to make...Who's life or business is it anyway? Perhaps those who persecute are jealous they can not elect to make the same choice. I believe the character left her husband without every revealing what she was (A mistake if it cost her happiness) rather than risk shame and rejection. It is a heart-warming and tear-jerker revelation of reality. I enjoyed it immensely, even at a naive 16 and again, would recommend it to anyone! Would love to have it or see it televised again.