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Black Like Me

  • 19641964
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
708
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sorrell Booke, Lenka Peterson, and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
  • Drama
Based on the true story of a white reporter who, at the height of the civil-rights movement, temporarily darkened his skin to experience the realities of a black man's life in the segregated... Read allBased on the true story of a white reporter who, at the height of the civil-rights movement, temporarily darkened his skin to experience the realities of a black man's life in the segregated South.Based on the true story of a white reporter who, at the height of the civil-rights movement, temporarily darkened his skin to experience the realities of a black man's life in the segregated South.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
708
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Carl Lerner
  • Writers
    • John Howard Griffin(book)
    • Carl Lerner(screenplay)
    • Gerda Lerner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Whitmore
    • Sorrell Booke
    • Roscoe Lee Browne
Top credits
  • Director
    • Carl Lerner
  • Writers
    • John Howard Griffin(book)
    • Carl Lerner(screenplay)
    • Gerda Lerner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Whitmore
    • Sorrell Booke
    • Roscoe Lee Browne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos9

    James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    Sorrell Booke and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    Al Freeman Jr. and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    Dan Priest and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    Roscoe Lee Browne and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
    Al Freeman Jr. and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Whitmore
    James Whitmore
    • John Finley Hortonas John Finley Horton
    Sorrell Booke
    Sorrell Booke
    • Dr. Jacksonas Dr. Jackson
    Roscoe Lee Browne
    Roscoe Lee Browne
    • Christopheras Christopher
    Al Freeman Jr.
    Al Freeman Jr.
    • Thomas Newcombas Thomas Newcomb
    Will Geer
    Will Geer
    • Truckdriveras Truckdriver
    Robert Gerringer
    Robert Gerringer
    • Ed Saundersas Ed Saunders
    Clifton James
    Clifton James
    • Eli Carras Eli Carr
    John Marriott
    John Marriott
    • Hodgesas Hodges
    Thelma Oliver
    • Georgieas Georgie
    Lenka Peterson
    Lenka Peterson
    • Lucy Hortonas Lucy Horton
    • (as Lenka Petersen)
    P. Jay Sidney
    • Frank Newcombas Frank Newcomb
    • (as P.J. Sidney)
    Billie Allen
    • Vertellas Vertell
    Alan Bergmann
    Alan Bergmann
    • Charles Maynardas Charles Maynard
    Stanley Brock
    Stanley Brock
    • Salesmanas Salesman
    Heywood Hale Broun
    Heywood Hale Broun
    Sarah Cunningham
    Sarah Cunningham
    • Mary Saundersas Mary Saunders
    David Huddleston
    David Huddleston
    Eva Jessye
    • Mrs. Townsendas Mrs. Townsend
    • Director
      • Carl Lerner
    • Writers
      • John Howard Griffin(book)
      • Carl Lerner(screenplay)
      • Gerda Lerner(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Black Like Me is the true account of John Griffin's experiences of passing as a black man. John Horton takes treatments to darken his skin and leaves his home in Texas to travel throughout the South. At one stop, Horton encounters a black shoeshine man, Burt Wilson, who befriends him and shows him how to "act right" to fit more easily into the African American culture. Through Wilson, Horton learns the art of shining shoes. Most of his encounters with whites are quite degrading and disturb him. As a hitchhiker, John meets several white men who refer to black men and women in disparaging ways that anger him. Throughout the movie, John is harassed and persecuted by whites without reason. In one of his many stops throughout the South, John finds himself on a park bench sitting by a white woman. A white man walks by and says, "You'd better find another place to sit." Although he had a college degree, menial jobs were all that he could find. John meets Frank Newcomb whose son Tom is arrested for civil-rights demonstrations. John tells Tom about his "passing for black" in the South, and Tom becomes enraged. Tom feels that John could have served the plight of the black man in the South better as a white man. Frank asks John if people would believe the story. Tom says, "I don't know, but I'll tell them." —Broncine G. Carter
    • south
    • reporter
    • passing for black
    • african american
    • blackface
    • 22 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "I changed the color of my skin... now I know what it feels like to be BLACK!"
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film of Ralph Dunn.
    • Goofs
      When Horton, after meeting the PhD student, opens his wallet to pay in the diner, something falls out of it near the counter. No one notices or refers to it.
    • Connections
      Featured in Classified X (1998)

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    Poorly ...
    Griffin's book, which I highly recommend reading, is not well reflected in this movie. The book is an important one- the movie failed to portray the events deeply and meaningfully. While the book draws one into the experience and emotion of one living as an Arfican-American in the South during this time, the film leaves one feeling little more than a disconnected witness of a poor narration.

    Poorly directed, poorly cast, abysmally lit and acted, often to the extent that Griffin's message is lost in the morass. At times the director has taken such creative license as to change Griffin's character, adding nothing, distracting from the premise and in so doing disconnects the viewer from the protagonists world.This movie screams to be remade as the important bridge in cultural understanding that the book remains.
    helpful•5
    4
    • SkepticalEye
    • Apr 21, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 20, 1964 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • No Man Walks Alone
    • Filming locations
      • Tampa, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • The Hilltop Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $273,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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    Sorrell Booke, Lenka Peterson, and James Whitmore in Black Like Me (1964)
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