We are all colored people

We’re all colored people - I watched an interesting and powerful film. It was hailed as being a milestone in courageous picture making, by Variety. The film I’m talking about is Darryl F. Zanuck’s Island in the Sun. The story was by Alec Waugh and directed by Robert Rossen. The screenplay was written by Alfred Hayes. The film stars, James Mason, Joan Fontaine, Dorothy Dandridge, Joan Collins, Michael Rennie, Diana Wynyard, John Williams, Stephen Boyd, Basil Sydney and Harry Belafonte as Boyeur. Such a cool name, but it turns out to be his last name in the film. It reminded me of the name of one of my characters in Pieces of Reality. Hollywood magic made things seem possible. Once again life imitates art or vice versa. The film is set on a Caribbean island in 1957. Politics, murder, interracial relationships and scandal make this film worth a look. It’s funny how people look at films and videos today and talk about the girls half naked. Maybe because the women appeared to be more lady like justified them walking around half naked? Maybe it’s the fact that they are beautiful and the girls that we see in videos come across as sluts. Although Joan Collins and Dorothy Dandridge look glamorous, walking around half naked leaves something to the imagination. All the subtleties of what might be a kiss turns into a hug or the faces come within inches of each other to display intimacy. Harry Belafonte doesn’t kiss Joan Fontaine and Dorothy Dandridge doesn’t kiss John Justin. Harry Belafonte gets to sing which is no surprise. He also sings the title song; Dorothy gets to do the limbo and quite gracefully. This film was not received well in the South upon it’s first weeks of release. The whites were depicted as adulterers, murderers and scandalous, while the blacks were depicted as kind and noble. Quite a switch from the stereo type most people have come to know. I miss the days when people used to dress up. This film brings that back. Even seeing Belafonte in a pair of blue jeans or Dandridge in a sarong is very stylish. The cinematography in this film is so artistic and the imagery is insatiably erotic. As the films of old, that cast black actors in leads, come to light. Please check them out. Cabin in the Sky, Hallelujah, and Purlie Victorious, all come to DVD in honor of black history month. Hey, we’re making history everyday. Check out some old films and see what today’s Hollywood is missing. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Here are some recommendations: Giant, Gone with the Wind, Carmen, and Stormy Weather.