RICHARD WIDMARK does nothing to tone down his performance as a nasty racist capable of making crude racial remarks to doctor SIDNEY POITIER in this stark, way ahead of its time shocker, a B&W classic that also gives LINDA DARNELL a role outside her usual glamor girl parts.
In fact, Linda is so deglamorized that she's hardly recognizable as the girl with the meltingly beautiful face who played so many ingenue roles opposite stars like Tyrone Power at the start of her career. She gives a hard edge, tough quality to her role and is most convincing.
But it's Widmark and Poitier who occupy most of the screen time, with Widmark as a patient at a busy hospital whose gunshot wounds need attention from doctor Poitier. The racial tension arises when Widmark utters curses and hostile resentment against being treated by a black man.
Daring racial drama still packs a punch today. Hardly a pleasant film to watch, but very hard-hitting performances from the entire cast.
In fact, Linda is so deglamorized that she's hardly recognizable as the girl with the meltingly beautiful face who played so many ingenue roles opposite stars like Tyrone Power at the start of her career. She gives a hard edge, tough quality to her role and is most convincing.
But it's Widmark and Poitier who occupy most of the screen time, with Widmark as a patient at a busy hospital whose gunshot wounds need attention from doctor Poitier. The racial tension arises when Widmark utters curses and hostile resentment against being treated by a black man.
Daring racial drama still packs a punch today. Hardly a pleasant film to watch, but very hard-hitting performances from the entire cast.