An elderly couple must come to terms with their prejudices
when their daughter reveals she's planning to marry a black man. DRAMA
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Guess Who's Coming
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Stanley Kramer is the same man behind Judgment at Nuremberg. He was a highly outspoken, compassionate man who believed in equality and humanity. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a film that deals with the idea of interracial marriage and how some families had to either accept or fight their true feelings about African Americans when their daughter or son brought home a black person. The cast is absolutely stellar, and everyone has impeccable chemistry. But more so, this film humanizes both sides of the coin in a way I've never seen before. Even though the parents don't initially approve, you understand why and it doesn't come from a place of hate.
Sidney Poitier had a very good 1967. With this film and In the Heat of the Night, his career was on cloud nine. I can't believe he wasn't up for either film. He should've won for this one. He plays Dr. John Prentice, an affluent, successful black doctor who falls in love with Joanna Drayton (Houghton), a white girl from a progressive family. But when Joanna introduces John to her parents, played to perfection by Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, a thick air of tension fills the room. Suddenly, Matt Drayton (Tracy) isn't as open-minded as he thought, and the tension just builds once John's parents are invited to dinner. It all culminates in one of the finest third acts I've seen in years, and a final monologue from Spencer Tracy, just days before his death, that will bring you to tears. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is one of the finest dramas of the 1960's and a masterclass in character, story, and dramatic tension. The entire film is a racially-charged buildup to the last half-hour, and it is totally worth it. Kramer was the best at developing thought-provoking and well-meaning societal dramas, and this was a complete joy to watch. |