Was Benson A Racist....?

Yes, the movie was ahead of it's time but because it was still made in it's time it was hamstrung by certain conventions. In 'real' life, Ralph and Ms. Crandall probably would have consummated their relationship without all dancing around but since it was made in the 50's the filmmakers still had to bow to the sensibilities of the time.

I wish I had watched 'Five' before this movie because the only reason I checked this out was because Belafonte was in it and wasn't expecting much more than that. I'm glad I was surprised because Inger Stevens ranks behind Simone Simon now on my list of classic screen beauties. Ms. Stevens was a true beauty and that smile was to die for. Too bad she died young but I'm grateful that I can go back and watch her other movies.

Thank you TCM!!

SPOILERS.In a sense all of the characters were motivated by the racism of the fifties. Early in the movie when Inger Stevens Harry Belafonte's characters have problems relating to each other, because they are constrained racial taboos of the era even though, in the context of this film Jim Crow laws, John Stennis, Orval Faubus, lynch mobs, Dixiecrat's and northern county club racism are dead and gone with most of man kind, its culture and customs. It is interesting Belafonte's first instinct is to try to find someone for Ms. Stevens even though, for all his character know, he may be the only male alive on the planet.

Then Benson enters the scene, more country club bigot then pathological Ku Klux Klan racist, and, as often happened id real life, thing escalate and he and Belafonte are trying to kill each other in the empty streets.

SPOILER!! There may or may not be some significance it is Belafonte"s character who ends it all by putting down his gun.


TAG LINE: True genius is a beautiful thing, but ignorance is ugly to the bone.