Cry, the Beloved Country (African Fury) (1951)

47% of users liked it
(78 ratings)

This deliberately paced British film about a black rural priest and a white landowner whose paths cross in 1940s South Africa remains one of the most powerful cinematic statements on racism. Based on Alan Paton's landmark novel, Cry the Beloved Country is, in hindsight, naïve in its belief that… More This deliberately paced British film about a black rural priest and a white landowner whose paths cross in 1940s South Africa remains one of the most powerful cinematic statements on racism. Based on Alan Paton's landmark novel, Cry the Beloved Country is, in hindsight, naïve in its belief that apartheid would be easier to overcome than history proved it to be, but its intentions are certainly in the right place and it never trivializes the importance of the issue. To the credit of both Paton and director-producer Zoltan Korda, the film maintains a dignity and relevancy that is not always true of other "message" movies from the 1940s and '50s. Partly, this is because the characters, both black and white, are much more fully developed than a Hollywood production would have allowed them to be. Another factor is that the filmmakers do not resort to heavy-handedness, and instead allow the story to speak for itself. Knowing that the film was actually shot on location in South Africa during the height of apartheid only compounds the impact of this film. Canada Lee, as the priest Kumalo, and Charles Carson, as the farmer Jarvis, give stunning, multi-layered performances as two men who must go through a wrenching emotional experience. The solid supporting cast includes Joyce Carey as Jarvis' wife and a twenty-something Sidney Poitier as a Johannesburg priest. More than forty years later, after apartheid's fall, Cry the Beloved Country was remade with James Earl Jones and Richard Harris. ~ Bob Mastrangelo, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Zoltan Korda
Genres: Drama

On DVD: Feb 20, 1992

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Well-intentioned engaging drama about South Africa's evil system of apartheid in the 1940s.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An eloquent and moving screen interpretation of Alan Paton's classic 1948 novel set in South Africa and dealing with the transforming power of forgiveness.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

            Canada Lee as Stephen Kumalo

            Charles Carson as James Jarvis

            Sidney Poitier as Rev. Maimangu

            Joyce Carey as Margaret Jarvis

            Geoffrey Keen as Father Vincent

            Michael Goodliffe as Martens

            Edric Connor as John Kumalo

            Lionel Ngakane as Absalom

            Vivien Clinton as Mary

            Albertina Temba as Mrs. Kumalo

            Bruce Anderson as Farmer Smith

            Bruce Meredith Smith as Captain Jaarsveldt

            Andrew Kay as Harrison Jr.

            Ribbon Dhlamini as Gertrude Kumalo

            Shayiaw Riba as Fr. Tisa

            Jsepo Gugusha as Gertrude's Child

            Michael Golden as 2nd Reporter

            Clement McCallin as 1st Reporter

            Stanley Van Beers as Judge

            John Arnatt as Prison warden

            Scott Harrold as Police Superintendent

            Henry Blumenthal as Arthur Jarvis

            Cyril Kwaza as Matthew Kumalo

            Charles MacRae as Kumalo's Friend

            Reginald Ngaeabo
            
See full cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started