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Bright Road

  • 19531953
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
679
YOUR RATING
Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
Based on the story, See How They Run (The Ladies' Home Journal June 51), and subsequently won that year's Christopher award. The story was written by Mary Elizabeth Vroman, a 4th generation schoolteacher from the British West Indies.
Play trailer2:41
1 Video
23 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
Based on the story, See How They Run (The Ladies' Home Journal June 51), and subsequently won that year's Christopher award. The story was written by Mary Elizabeth Vroman, a 4th generation ... Read allBased on the story, See How They Run (The Ladies' Home Journal June 51), and subsequently won that year's Christopher award. The story was written by Mary Elizabeth Vroman, a 4th generation schoolteacher from the British West Indies. Jane Richards, a young 4th grade teacher in th... Read allBased on the story, See How They Run (The Ladies' Home Journal June 51), and subsequently won that year's Christopher award. The story was written by Mary Elizabeth Vroman, a 4th generation schoolteacher from the British West Indies. Jane Richards, a young 4th grade teacher in the South, faces a challenge in the form of 11 year-old C.T. Young, a backward boy, whose pr... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
679
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gerald Mayer
  • Writers
    • Emmet Lavery(screenplay)
    • Mary Elizabeth Vroman(story "See How They Run")
  • Stars
    • Dorothy Dandridge
    • Philip Hepburn
    • Harry Belafonte
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gerald Mayer
  • Writers
    • Emmet Lavery(screenplay)
    • Mary Elizabeth Vroman(story "See How They Run")
  • Stars
    • Dorothy Dandridge
    • Philip Hepburn
    • Harry Belafonte
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:41
    Trailer

    Photos23

    Bright Road (1953)
    Vivian Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Vivian Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Philip Hepburn in Bright Road (1953)
    Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Dorothy Dandridge and Philip Hepburn in Bright Road (1953)
    Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road (1953)
    Philip Hepburn in Bright Road (1953)
    Harry Belafonte and Philip Hepburn in Bright Road (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dorothy Dandridge
    Dorothy Dandridge
    • Jane Richardsas Jane Richards
    Philip Hepburn
    • C.T. Youngas C.T. Young
    Harry Belafonte
    Harry Belafonte
    • Mr. Williams - School Principalas Mr. Williams - School Principal
    Barbara Randolph
    Barbara Randolph
    • Tanya Hamiltonas Tanya Hamilton
    • (as Barbara Ann Sanders)
    Robert Horton
    Robert Horton
    • Dr. Mitchellas Dr. Mitchell
    Maidie Norman
    Maidie Norman
    • Mrs. Hamilton - Tanya's Motheras Mrs. Hamilton - Tanya's Mother
    Rene Beard
    • Booker T. Jonesas Booker T. Jones
    Howard Louis McNeely
    • Boydas Boyd
    • (as Howard McNeeley)
    Robert McNeely
    • Lloydas Lloyd
    • (as Robert McNeeley)
    Patti Marie Ellis
    • Rachel Smithas Rachel Smith
    Joy Jackson
    • Sarahlene Babcockas Sarahlene Babcock
    Fred Moultrie
    • Rogeras Roger
    James Moultrie
    • Georgeas George
    Carolyn Ann Jackson
    • Mary Louiseas Mary Louise
    Doris Ake
    • Teacher at Meetingas Teacher at Meeting
    • (uncredited)
    Willa Pearl Curtis
    • Mrs. Youngas Mrs. Young
    • (uncredited)
    Vivian Dandridge
    • Miss Nelsonas Miss Nelson
    • (uncredited)
    Marion Darlington
    • Bird Whistling Soloas Bird Whistling Solo
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Gerald Mayer
    • Writers
      • Emmet Lavery(screenplay)
      • Mary Elizabeth Vroman(story "See How They Run")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Harry Belafonte.
    • Quotes

      Jane Richards: I like to be gay once in a while.

    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Dorothy Dandridge: Little Girl Lost (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Church in the Wildwood
      (uncredited)

      Sung by Dorothy Dandridge

    User reviews27

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A very underrated and overlooked Gem
    It is no coincidence this movie was written by a seasoned School Teacher. What this award-winning story essentially does - in the unusual context of a Hollywood movie - is to present an "outside-the-box" approach to dealing with the disciplinary and behavioral problems of a young male school student. By tapping into and encouraging the talents and interests of young rambunctious C.T., school teacher Ms. Richards (played by Dorothy Dandridge), is able to show how superficial negative classroom behavior can be evaluated and properly re-channeled to achieve positive results. Where the typical reaction to the student in our school system today by teachers and school administrators is to issue non-rehabilitating disciplinary action or suspension, the constructive approach demonstrated in this movie results in a "win-win" solution for all involved. Not a bad lesson for both our overcrowded and dysfunctional school and judicial systems to learn some 50 years later as they both still routinely devour the C.T.'s of the world without a care to the horrendous social cost-benefits resulting from excessive or unnecessary punitive action.

    Harry Belafonte (in his first film role) also stars as the supportive school Principal. In a poignant scene beautifully worked into the story, he premieres one of his original compositions, "Suzanne."
    helpful•35
    2
    • ecapital46
    • May 9, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La esencia de la vida
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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