Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Review)

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, & Katharine Hepburn
Year of Release: 1967


What’s It About

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy meets parents. Boy is black, girl is white. Boy oh boy…

Thoughts

At the time of this films release, interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 states in the US. I wanted to throw this little fact out there because I want you to understand, really, how important this film was for it’s time.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner has many elements that just work so well. Though it’s a drama piece, it knows when it can be funny and lighthearted and when it needs to be serious to send its message across. There is absolutely never a dull moment on screen, and that’s saying a lot considering that 95 percent of the movie takes place in one house!

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, (Both recognized as the best actors of all time), were just so believable as a couple struggling with the idea of their daughter dating a black man. Sidney Poitier, the man who is unfortunately the source of the conflict, played his part with so much class and charm that it does not allow the audience to have anything negative to say about him, other than his skin color (Remember what I stated about America’s attitude at the time.). Katharine Houghton as the naïve girlfriend who just can’t seem to understand what all the fuss is about, was the only sore spot for me. She just irritated me, and although I assume that was part of the filmmaker’s intent, I believe a more seasoned actress could have pulled this off better.

Memorable Moment

The speech that Spencer Tracy gives at the end and the reaction he gets from his costar Katharine Hepburn. It could possibly have you in tears.

FYI

You wouldn’t know by watching this, but Spencer’s health was so bad, he was literally counting his last days while filming. He died 17 days after shooting this film.

Score

8 out of 10

*A special thanks goes out to my friend, Megan Beasley, who introduced me to this film. Thanks roomy.*