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My Baby Is Black!
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Wikipedia article
'My Baby Is Black!' (Original French title: 'Les lches vivent d'espoir', "Cowards Live on Hope") is a 1961 French romantic drama film retitled for exploitation release in the U.S. in 1965. The film was written and directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert and starred Franoise Giret, Gordon Heath and Aram Stephan, with music by Michel Magne. It was intended to examine society's view on race in the early 1960s.
Overview
In Paris, a white college student named Franoise gives birth to a black child. The events leading to the baby's birth are revealed, including the mother's courtship by a black medical student named Daniel and the horrors of bigotry that she faces as her family and peers turn their backs on her. In addition to the strong focus on the social taboo of interracial romance and sex, the film shows Daniel's experiences as a victim of racism in their neighborhood.
Originally a romantic drama with sociological undertones, the film was released in the United States as an exploitation film. It was advertised for its shock value and shown in drive-in theaters but was not particularly successful, as the product bore little relation to the exploitative picture promised by its advertising campaign
Cast
*Gordon Heath as Daniel
*Franoise Giret as Franoise
*Aram Stephan as The Professor
*Mag-Avril as The Concierge
*Claude Berri as The Painter
*Herv Watine as The Guitarist
*Fred Carault as Franoise's Father
*Viviane Mry as Franoise's Mother
Critical reception
Allmovie called the film "More thoughtful and less exploitive than its American release title would lead one to expect."
References
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