On Saturday May 2nd/Sunday May 3rd at 1 am EST, Turner Classic Movies airs the 1964 drama One Potato, Two Potato. Starring Barbara Barrie ("Nana" on Suddenly Susan), Bernie Hamilton (Capt. Dobey in the series Starsky and Hutch), and Richard Mulligan (Soap and Empty Nest), the film is one of the earliest to deal with interracial marriage. Barrie stars as a white divorcée with a young daughter who marries a black co-worker (Hamilton). Things are fine until her ex-husband (Mulligan) returns and sues for full custody of their daughter, claiming that a mixed racial household is an improper environment to raise the child.I saw this film years ago on cable and really enjoyed it. If you've seen One Potato, Two Potato already or check it out tonight, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
7 comments:
Not only had I never seen this movie I've never heard of it! So I'm going to check it out this weekend, thanks to you Malcolm. Wasn't "Guess who's coming to dinner" touted as the first movie re: interracial marriage??
And do you remember the "first" interracial kiss on tv - Captain Kirk and Uhura on the episode called "Plato's Stepchildren" - remember that?
I heard of the film, but never saw it. It reminds of a film about the same topic starring Phillip Michael Thomas and Leslie Anne Warren. I will definitely be setting my DVR.
I haven't heard of this film either, but I will DVR it and check it out.
Excellent flick! Sad ending though. I hate when a film leaves use to make up our own ending. Did the woman get her daughter back, was the interracial marriage able to stand the impact of the loss of a child, was the daughter childhood scarred as a result of being snatched away from her mother. So many unanswered questions, but it was still worth seeing. The acting was very good. I had never really seen Richard Mulligan in a serious role before, but he was good in it. Barrie is always good in every role she takes on. I am still waiting for "Pinky".
Pop Art Diva: You're welcome. I hope you were able to see "one Potato, Two Potato". I'm not sure if ""Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" was touted as the first movie about interracial marriage. If it was, it's clear that the "touters" were wrong. :-)
As for the Kirk and Uhura kiss being the first interracial one on TV, that's true in the context of black and white. However, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo broke the so-called taboo years earlier on "I Love Lucy". I have often wondered why "I Love Lucy" doesn't get more credit in regards to breaking down that barrier. Maybe it's because Lucy and Desi were married in real life.
Pjazzy: I had forgotten all about the Phillip Michael Thomas and Leslie Anne Warren you are talking about (A Fight For Jenny). I saw it on Lifetime several years ago. I'd enjoy seeing that again.
Yes, that ending was powerful. I liked the fact that they didn't "Hollywoodize" the ending by having the judge rule against the Richard Mulligan character. I think a lot of films leave unanswered questions if one really thinks about it. Unless there is a sequel or the film does an onscreen epilogue (ala "Cooley High" or "Animal House"). Having said that, I too was asking myself the same exact questions as you.
Although I remembered that "One Potato, Two Potato" was good, it was even better than I recalled. Good call on Richard Mulligan and Barbara Barrie. Three things I didn't know:
1. Robert Earl Jones (the actor who played Bernie Hamilton's father) was the real-life father of James Earl Jones
2. The actress who played Bernie's mother wrote and directed "Your Arm's Too Short To Box With God". When I looked up her name (Vinnette Carroll), it came to me because I remember hearing it in commercials for the play when I was a kid.
3. The actor who played Bernie's friend and carpool partner is the brother of Jack Weston
By the way, if and when TCM or AMC shows "Pinky", I am all over it.
Rock Chick: Since "One Potato, Two Potato" aired before you commented, hopefully TCM will be showing it again soon. My guess is that they will because it made its premiere on TCM the other night.
"One Potato, Two Potato" will be re-aired this Friday, Nov. 20, at 8:00 p.m. on Turner Classic Movies: http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=253402
Anon: Thanks for stopping by. I had seen that TCM was re-airing "One Potato, Two Potato" a few days earlier. However, I appreciate the heads up.
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