The film is about an interracial couple played by Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton. The two plan to get married right away but not after getting both their parents blessings. They decide to settle this at Dinner but will their parents accept an interracial marriage?
The acting and characters are both fantastic and outstanding. Sidney Poitier as our main character is brilliant. His character is classy and very intelligent and he's once again playing his role naturally and yes he does have some very good scenes in this film. He should have been nominated for an Oscar. Katharine Houghton (Who in real life is Katharine Hepburn's niece, who also stars in the film) plays this optimistic and happy girl so well that you just got to love her. The relationship between the two (especially for the time) is so beautiful, so powerful and treated in such a positive way that you hope that these two get together at the end. This on screen couple did get a controversial look at the time and this is also during the time when it was illegal to have interracial marriage in some states.
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy as the girls parents are perfect. Katharine Hepburn always keeps a sad and nervous face throughout the film and while being in shock, she still supports her daughter. Her performance is both emotional and classy and by God it's wonderful seeing her on screen and yes she does deserve the Academy Award. Too bad she refused to see the film cause of her painful memories and it really stinks that she didn't show up for her Oscar. Spencer Tracy in his last film role is marvelous. He plays this cranky and puzzled old man so well, that he too deserves an Oscar. He's funny, he's dramatic and his last scene where he gives a big speech is very moving and a great way to end his career in acting. By the way, I love their facial expressions when they meet Sidney Poitier.
Next we have the parents of Sidney Poitier played by Roy E. Glenn and Beah Richards. Beah Richards plays her character just as well as Hepburns. She's shocked but instead of crying or looking nervous like Hepburn, she's calm and at ease and wants whats best for her son. Roy E. Glenn, again plays his character as well as Spencer Tracy. He doesn't approve of it like Tracy, he's as angry as Tracy is and his best scenes is when he's with Tracy, since the two feel the same way. Again, love their facial expressions when they meet Katharine Houghton.
The supporting characters and actors are all great and memorable. Cecil Kellaway as the jolly happy Priest is perfect as the character and I love how he tries to bring peace to the situation. By the way, I love how he tries to sing "We Can Work It Out" by The Beatles. Isabel Sanford as the maid is as great as Hattie McDaniel. She's tough, funny at some points and receives a controversial line about Martin Luther King Jr. coming to dinner, that was edited out in theaters when Martin Luther King Jr. got shot. Virginia Christine as the bigoted friend may not have to much screen time but you know she's against it and how Hepburn handles her is really great and well acted out. The little characters such as the young hot African American maid, the delivery boy, the African American who gets his car totaled by Tracy, and even the waitress are all memorable and likable.
The film it self has a great score (Especially when it plays an Instrumental of "The Glory Of Love"), a great theme song, nice shots, edits and atmosphere but the acting steals the whole film and this film has acting at it's finest.
RATING 5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment