1951 film
Cry, the Beloved Country is a 1951 British drama film directed by Zoltán Korda. Based on the novel of the same name by Alan Paton, it stars Canada Lee, Sidney Poitier, and Charles Carson. This film was Canada Lee's last film.
The film is unusual for its era as all the main characters are black, and the white roles are for supporting actors. However, the contemporary film posters chose to illustrate only the white supporting actors.
Plot
From the back country of South Africa, black minister Stephen Kumalo (Canada Lee) journeys to Johannesburg to help his sister, who has been reported to be ill, and to search for his son, who left home and has not kept in contact. He is also asked to visit the daughter of someone who has not heard from her for some time. With the help of fellow minister, Reverend Msimangu (Sidney Poitier), he discovers that his sister, who has a young son, who left home to find her husband who left in search of work, failed to find him and has been in prison and is a prostitute. He finds out that his son has got a young girl pregnant and is a thief and murderer. Both live in a poverty stricken urban community. The ministers confront the harsh reality of apartheid and its inimical effects on both white and black inhabitants.
Cast
Cast and characters are in order as listed by the British Film Institute.[3]
Production
Zoltan Korda's film was shot on location in South Africa, with interiors filmed in the UK at Shepperton Studios.[4] Since the country was then under apartheid (enforced racial laws including segregation), stars Sidney Poitier and Canada Lee and producer/director Korda devised a scheme where they told the South African immigration authorities that Poitier and Lee were not actors but were Korda's indentured servants; otherwise, the two black actors and the white director could have been arrested, and jailed without trial.[citation needed] It was the first time a major film was shot in the racially divided country. After the making of this film, Canada Lee planned to make a full report about life in South Africa: he was then called to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee to explain his actions, but died of heart failure before he could testify.
Critical response
The film holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[5] Those praising the film included Bosley Crowther in The New York Times who stated "It is difficult to do proper justice to the fine qualities of this film or to the courage and skill of Mr. Korda in transmitting such a difficult and sobering theme."[1]
