Joseph L. Mankiewicz was in the middle of one of the all-time career hot streaks when he was working under Zanuck at Fox. He takes a break from cocktail swilling sophisticates for this still-raw tale of racism. Richard Widmark and his brother have committed a robbery and been injured; they're bought into hospital where the brother dies under the care of a black (the characters here all use the word "negro"... the nasty ones say "n*gger") doctor. Widmark is determined to get revenge.
It's hotly anti-racism but Mankiewicz knows the importance of a good story and characters. Sidney Poitier (looking oh so young) actually has a decent role to play instead of just a noble, wronged black - his young doctor is insecure, anxious about his own abilities. And there's a decent mystery plot with Poitier and colleague Stephen McNally trying to prove Poitier's ignorance.
Richard Widmark is brilliant as the racist. I understand he got sick of playing baddies and wanted to play heroes but he only every an above-average hero whereas he was an all-time-great villain, and proves that here. Linda Darnell is on hand as his trashy sister in law, proving again what a fine actor she could be.
There are some downsides - Stephen McNally's liberal white doctor is irritating; the movie dragged on too long (it felt as though it should end soon after the race riot but there's a whole other bit to go). Not the classic I was hoping to see (I'd read some pieces rating it highly) but it's got the novelty of young Poitier, electrifying Widmark and still shocking use of the "n" word.
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