Pinky (1949 movie) - Definition and Overview

Pinky is a 1949 film which tells the story of a young lightskinned African American woman passing as white, who becomes torn between the needs of her grandmother and the love of a white doctor. It stars Jeanne Crain, Ethel Barrymore and Ethel Waters.

The movie was adapted by Philip Dunne and Dudley Nichols from the novel by Cid Ricketts Sumner. It was directed by Elia Kazan and John Ford. Although Lena Horne and other black actresses were considered for the role, Darryl F. Zanuck chose to cast a white actress for box-office reasons.

Because of its subject matter, Pinky was a controversial movie, and was even banned by the city of Marshall, Texas because it portrayed an interracial couple, a violation of the city's censorship code. The city was sued and the case went all the way to the US Supreme Court which over turned the city's censorship law.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jeanne Crain), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Ethel Barrymore) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Ethel Waters).