Pinky

Pinky (1949)

  • 67% of critics liked it
    (9 reviews)

  • 67% of users liked it
    (987 ratings)

Elia Kazan directed this, one of Hollywood's early attacks on racism, starring Jeanne Crain as Patricia "Pinky" Johnson. Patricia is a light-skinned black woman who is studying nursing at a New England medical institute. A white doctor, Thomas Adams (William Lundigan), has fallen in… More

Unrated,
Directed By
Written By
Dudley Nichols
Genres
Drama, Classics
In Theaters
Sep 29, 1949 Wide
On DVD
Jan 10, 2006

Critic Reviews

  • Bosley Crowther, New York Times

    Vivid, revealing and emotionally intense.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    The results are uneven, though fitfully interesting.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Kazan's liberal tale of a black girl passing as white is rather simple and Jeanne Crain is weak in the lead, but it's worth seeing Zanuck's message picture for the strong acting of the two Oscar-nominated Ethels (Waters and Barrymore).

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    This is a groundbreaking film despite its absurdly stiff way at looking at how blacks and whites interact.

  • , TV Guide's Movie Guide

    This is a mature film, with great respect for the humanity of people who are able to transcend social barriers and care for one another.

Read all 7 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Bruce B


    Sad to see a white actor play the part of a light skin black women, But excellent story line showing life in the United States, most people think it was limited to the south which it was not. A movie that will never be seen on TV today and should be watched by all. Any film lover… More

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Cast

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