Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

 Stanley Kramer's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"


With civil rights and racial tensions heating up in the 1960s, Hollywood made an effort to reflect the state of social life in America. One such example of a film is 1967's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn, the film centers around a mixed-raced couple introducing their partners to their parents for the first time.

The film is a far cry from Poitier's "In the Heat of the Night" from the same year. Outright, even dangerous, racists aren't the issue here. Rather, its the fear of public perception by progressive parents. The dramatic differences between these two films require their respective genre and approach to the subject matter. In this case, the trepidation of the characters must be ironed out through consistent discussion and consideration (whereas the former mostly deals in action). 

For the most part, the film succeeds in creating a discussion - an environment to consider the issues from all perspectives. Not to say that the objecting perspective is morally correct, simply that the discussion of the other side is transparently illumed. These types of discussions are a retrospective reflection of the social temperament of the time.

To me, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" is engaging from beginning to end. The dynamics between the various characters and their perspectives are thoroughly interesting to observe, especially given that the performances are brought to life by all-star actors. Clearly, there is a moral certainty at the heart of the film, with both the film and the audience knowing what the 'right thing to do is.' This kind of clarity isn't normally welcomed. However, in the context of this film, it is perhaps all too necessary.



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