Pinky main backdrop
Pinky main poster

7.1/10 • 45

1949-09-281h 42m

Drama

The poignant story of a girl who fell hopelessly in love!

Pinky, a light skinned black woman, returns to her grandmother's house in the South after graduating from a Northern nursing school. Pinky tells her grandmother that she has been "passing" for white while at school in the North. In addition, she has fallen in love with a young white doctor, who knows nothing about her black heritage.

Directors
Elia Kazan
Editors
Harmon Jones

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Jeanne Crain

    Jeanne Crain

    Patricia "Pinky" Johnson

  2. Ethel Barrymore

    Ethel Barrymore

    Miss Em

  3. Ethel Waters

    Ethel Waters

    Dicey Johnson

  4. William Lundigan

    William Lundigan

    Dr. Thomas Adams

  5. Basil Ruysdael

    Basil Ruysdael

    Judge Walker

  6. Kenny Washington

    Kenny Washington

    Dr. Canady

  7. Nina Mae McKinney

    Nina Mae McKinney

    Rozelia

  8. Griff Barnett

    Griff Barnett

    Dr. Joe McGill

  9. Frederick O'Neal

    Frederick O'Neal

    Jake Walters

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jul 9, 2022

7/10

Jeanne Crain is the eponymousous young nurse - of mixed race - trying to get by in her grandmother's Southern town. She takes a shine to local (white) doctor "Adams" (William Lundigan) but when her ethnicity becomes better knows, however, that all goes awry. Determined to head back to the more enlightened territories in the North, she is persuaded to stay and tend to a wealthy infirm lady "Miss Em" (Ethel Barrymore). Initially frosty, the two women gradually start to respect one and other, and she also begins to earn the appreciation of her doctor "McGill" (Griff Barnett). The old lady's death and subsequent will leaves "Pinky" and the whole town in a quandary that highlights bigotry and greed in equal measure. This is a powerful story with a strong ensemble cast. I could have done with some more of Barrymore - if only to further exemplify how these two characterful women developed their relationship, but there are good contributions from Ethel Walters and Even Varden as the rather odious "Melba" to compensate a little. The production is fine, it flows well with succinct dialogue and Elia Kazan makes the most of the original Sumner novel. The racism that this reflects is writ large and makes for a powerful piece of cinema.

Media

  • Pinky poster
  • Pinky poster
  • Pinky poster
  • Pinky poster
  • Pinky poster
  • Pinky poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
loveracismwillnursingold southpassing for white