I think Kazan would have liked to have done more with the story, but by the racial standards of the day, he really couldn't; so we have a very muted ending with Pinky losing her fiancé but helping the people of her community. Well, at least she didn't die as so often happened in the "tragic mulatto" trope, so that's a step up.
You're exactly right, Bill. In fact, Pinky had to be portrayed by a white actress because she kisses her white fiancé and the production code at the time would not permit "racial mixing" of actors. Hence, Jeanne Crain plays Pinky, Ava Gardner plays the "tragic mulatto" in Show Boat, Luise Ranier plays a Chinese woman in The Good Earth...the list goes on.
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Always liked Jeanne Crain.
Me, too, and I even remember this movie's original showing in my hometown.
I think Kazan would have liked to have done more with the story, but by the racial standards of the day, he really couldn't; so we have a very muted ending with Pinky losing her fiancé but helping the people of her community. Well, at least she didn't die as so often happened in the "tragic mulatto" trope, so that's a step up.
When that film was made, there was no way she was going to marry her fiancé, I'll bet.
You're exactly right, Bill. In fact, Pinky had to be portrayed by a white actress because she kisses her white fiancé and the production code at the time would not permit "racial mixing" of actors. Hence, Jeanne Crain plays Pinky, Ava Gardner plays the "tragic mulatto" in Show Boat, Luise Ranier plays a Chinese woman in The Good Earth...the list goes on.
Even more amusing, after I saw Showboat as a kid, I thought Ava Gardner really was a mulatto.
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