Pinky

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Robert P @Superbad 18 hrs ago Pinky is a *3.5* star Movie! See more Ed . @RT01276001 Aug 29, 2025 When failing is not an option. See more Angel P @RT94339763 Jul 21, 2025 KEEPING IT THOUGHTFULLY HONEST: Although I saw the movie years ago, the Movie Pinky aroused emotional feelings . During that period in America, separation between Black and white was the standard tabu reality . Pinky, a beautiful young woman of character was caught in an opportunity for intimate loving relationship, but with problematic racial prejudical issues. This is about Pinky's deep emotionally personal inner struggle to decide to be who she was and /or wanted to be and it's long term consequences? Great film for that time. See more Ken R @RT36478503 Nov 8, 2021 Darryl F. Zanuck was certainly brave in bringing ‘Pinky' to the screen in the racial climate of 1948. And equally surprising (and pleasing) he managed to show a profit – proving that the American people, and the world, were able to share his vision of humanity and equality. Jeanne Crain was quite a revelation bringing her, black passing as white, character home with an outstanding performance (some may not approve of this casting today but hey it was, and is, ‘acting' not a documentary) While the finished product is impressive, I might have expected a better turn from both contributing directors (J.Ford/E.Kazan) with perhaps some touches tending to be lacking of their best works. Still, ‘Pinky' looks better with each viewing; it also features some standout sound design adding impressive atmos to several scenes. All three female leads deserved their accolades and adding to the main contributing attributes of greatness are the striking b/w visuals supplied by Master cinematographer Joseph MacDonald (The Sand Pebbles, Walk on the Wild Side) The screenplay adaptation, based on Cid Ricketts Sumner's 1946 novel Quality, flows naturally, always remaining believable. The Fox DVD release offers good images but voice reproduction leaves something to be desired, perhaps the Criterion Company (or other) may have fixed this up since? See more steve d @RT35616104 Jul 21, 2020 It has some good intentions but nothing in the film is effective enough to achieve them. See more Feb 7, 2020 "What's rational about prejudice?" This question, asked by "Pinky's" titular character to her fiancé summarizes the conflict, internal and external, of this excellent message film. In honor of such a ground breaking film, I wish I had more ground breaking commentary, but suffice to say this is a wonderful film dealing with such a negative repulsive subject and still worthy of consideration today. Now, many if not most of the technical aspects of Pinky would be different if filmed in this era, but those do not detract from the film's powerful message. As for messages, Pinky's tagline, "The poignant story of a girl who fell desperately in love," doesn't encapsulate the film at all. At its core, "Pinky'"s message concerns being true to who you are and standing up to bigotry no matter the consequences. The title character returns to the rural south in search of her true identity, despite a marriage proposal from a white doctor and the promise of a cushy life. In the end though, she becomes a tragic figure who regains her racial pride but loses the man she loves, who cannot understand Pinky's internal struggle. Its racial theme is treated in a fairly milquetoast manner by today's standards, but 1949 Hollywood was much more squeamish. I admit, though this go may far as any studio could go in 1949-so kudos to Daryl F. Zanuck. The choice of Jeanne Crain to play the title role is questionable to me, but the studio had to calculate white audience's attitudes. Dorothy Dandridge and Lena Horne, more authentic choices for the role of the mulatto Pinky, auditioned for the role. Both Ethel Barrymore as the aged white dowager and Oscar-nominated Ethel Waters, as Pinky's grandmother and conscience, are outstanding. DVD reviews must necessarily comment on the transfer's quality, and I assess this one to be very good. Many of the movie's sets will appear cheap to today's audience, but that standard of quality was acceptable in 1949 and does not detract from the film's message. In the final analysis Pinky deserves a 5 for its message and a 4 for casting and production values. It doesn't have the impact that "To Kill a Mockingbird" does, nor in my humble opinion does it quite measure up to "Gentlemen's Agreement" or "Crossfire" for 40s films depicting the evils of prejudice. It must have struck a chord with moviegoers; Pinky was Fox's top box office draw of 1949 and second-highest grossing film of that year. See more Read all reviews

Pinky

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