Bright Road (1953)

Director:

Gerald Mayer

Writers:

Emmet Lavery (writer)
Mary Elizabeth Vroman (story)

Release Date:

17 April 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The award story from the ladies' home journal has become the most unusual picture of the year!

Plot:

Based on the story, "See How They Run" written by Mary Elizabeth Vroman, a fourth-generation school teacher from the British West Indies...

Plot Keywords:

School Principal | Beautiful Woman | Teacher Inspires Students

Cast

Dorothy Dandridge	...	Jane Richards
Philip Hepburn	...	C.T. Young
Harry Belafonte	...	School Principal
Barbara Ann Sanders	...	Tanya
Robert Horton	...	Dr. Mitchell
Maidie Norman	...	Tanya's Mother
Rene Beard	...	Booker T. Jones
Howard McNeeley	...	Boyd
Robert McNeeley	...	Lloyd
Patti Marie Ellis	...	Rachel Smith
Joy Jackson	...	Sarahlene Babcock
Fred Moultrie	...	Roger
James Moultrie	...	George
Carolyn Ann Jackson	...	Mary Louise

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16176)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Harry Belafonte's movie debut.

Quotes:

Jane Richards: I like to be gay once in a while.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Church in the Wildwood

The teacher

"Bright Road" is a film that Hollywood decided to present with an almost all black cast, something that was not done often prior to the fifties and the arrival of such stars as Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, and the man that would make it all possible for other performers of color: Sidney Poitier! The film is based on a story by a real teacher and Gerald Mayer, the son of Louis B. Mayer, the famous head of MGM, directed with a light touch. Gerald Mayer, who had been romantically linked to the star of the film, used the right approach for this movie.

The story is simple, and yet, it speaks volumes of what a good teacher can do to inspire the young people in her charge. Jane Richards is such a person. She sees the good bottled inside C.T. Young, the rebellious poor boy that, deep inside, is a wonderful young who has had no luck with other teachers in the school, who have made him repeat two years and haven't really seen the potential in him.

Dorothy Dandridge makes a sweet, yet firm Jane Richards. She was a star that could do anything, as proved by her other films, most notably in "Carmen Jones". She was a beautiful presence in this film, who with her positive attitude changes and inspires her students. Harry Belafonte is seen as the Principal in his screen debut. Of course, the film star was Ms. Dandridge, and he had limited chances in which to show how good he was. Philip Hepburn played C.T. Young with conviction for such a small child.

"Bright Road" is a charming film thanks to Ms. Dandridge and the direction of Mr. Mayer.