Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Quantum Leap
S1.E7
All episodes
All
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Color of Truth - August 8, 1955

  • Episode aired May 3, 1989
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 48m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
644
YOUR RATING
Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap (1989)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
As the black chauffeur of an elderly southern woman, Sam must overcome prejudice to prevent the death of a black woman.As the black chauffeur of an elderly southern woman, Sam must overcome prejudice to prevent the death of a black woman.As the black chauffeur of an elderly southern woman, Sam must overcome prejudice to prevent the death of a black woman.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
644
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Vejar
  • Writers
    • Donald P. Bellisario
    • Deborah Pratt
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • Dean Stockwell
    • Susan French
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Vejar
  • Writers
    • Donald P. Bellisario
    • Deborah Pratt
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • Dean Stockwell
    • Susan French
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

    Susan French in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Susan French in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Royce D. Applegate and Howard Matthew Johnson in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula and Susan French in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap (1989)
    Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in Quantum Leap (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Scott Bakula
    Scott Bakula
    • Dr. Sam Beckettas Dr. Sam Beckett
    Dean Stockwell
    Dean Stockwell
    • Admiral Al Calaviccias Admiral Al Calavicci
    Susan French
    Susan French
    • Miz Melny Traffordas Miz Melny Trafford
    Royce D. Applegate
    Royce D. Applegate
    • Sheriff Blountas Sheriff Blount
    Michael D. Roberts
    Michael D. Roberts
    • Willis Tyleras Willis Tyler
    James Ingersoll
    • Clayton Traffordas Clayton Trafford
    Kimberly Bailey
    Kimberly Bailey
    • Nell Tyleras Nell Tyler
    Michael Kruger
    • Billy Joe Bobas Billy Joe Bob
    Jeff Tyler
    • Toadas Toad
    Jane Abbott
    • Miz Pattyas Miz Patty
    Elyse Donalson
    • Nurse Ethelas Nurse Ethel
    Howard Matthew Johnson
    • Jesse Tyleras Jesse Tyler
    • (as Howard Johnson)
    Christopher J. Keene
    • Doctoras Doctor
    J.T. Solomon
    • Effieas Effie
    Scott Menville
    Scott Menville
    • Cameron Wilsonas Cameron Wilson
    • (uncredited)
    Deborah Pratt
    Deborah Pratt
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Vejar
    • Writers
      • Donald P. Bellisario
      • Deborah Pratt
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The town square 'set' at the beginning of this episode is the same set used in the Back To The Future trilogy. It is also used in later episodes as well.
    • Goofs
      Miss Melanie claims that August 8, 1955 is a Saturday. In actuality, it was a Monday.
    • Quotes

      [Sam and Miz Melny are discussing civil rights issues]

      Miz Melny: Nobody's gonna change the way things are.

      Sam: But they will. Blacks are gonna unite...

      Miz Melny: "Blacks"?

      Sam: Blacks. That's what they'll- That's what we'll be called instead of Negroes.

      Miz Melny: What's in God's name's wrong with being called a Negro?

      Sam: Maybe it's just a little too close to nigger.

      Miz Melny: [sternly] I've *never* used that word, Jesse. Not to your face or behind your back.

    • Connections
      Featured in Quantum Leap: Camikazi Kid - June 6, 1961 (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      We Shall Overcome
      (uncredited)

      Written by Charles Albert Tindley

      Performed by Dean Stockwell

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    The Color of Truth - August 8, 1955
    This is probably one of the best remembered episodes of Quantum Leap. It was also shown just after the Oscar winning Driving Miss Daisy was released in the cinemas.

    Sam leaps into the body of Jesse Tyler in the Deep South in 1955. Sam neglects to check whose body he has leapt into and sits in the chair at a diner.

    It is a whites only diner and Jesse is an old black chauffeur for elderly Miz Trafford whose food order he was supposed to pick up.

    Sam's actions arouses racial hatred and his family is targeted. Al thinks that Sam is there to prevent Miz Trafford being involved in a car accident, but Sam gets involved in civil rights.

    I guess that the producers thought that Quantum Leap could be used as a history lesson and highlight prejudice and racial hatred in the past. The youthful me who watched this when the episode was first broadcast would had agreed with them.

    The older more cynical and jaded me these days, less so. I did think the writing was clunky. Sam Beckett is supposed to be so clever yet he has zero knowledge of segregation in 1950s America. Drinking from a whites only fountain is just plain unforgivable and led to his granddaughter nearly being killed.

    Of course the other reason why i'm so caustic is. For years I have heard sci fi fans going on about how progressive shows like classic Star Trek and Quantum Leap were. How they used stories to highlight issues of race and sex.

    Yet a vocal section of the same fans never stop going on about political correctness gone mad in current shows like Star Trek: Discovery or a female led Doctor Who.

    These so called fans are happy to ride on the coattails from the risks Roddenberry or Bellisario took in the past.
    helpful•7
    16
    • Prismark10
    • Mar 12, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 3, 1989 (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Belisarius Productions
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.