- published: 04 Jun 2015
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Sapphire is a 1959 British crime drama. It focused on racism in London toward immigrants from the West Indies. The film was directed by Basil Dearden, and stars Nigel Patrick, Earl Cameron and Yvonne Mitchell. It received the BAFTA Award for Best Film and screenwriter Janet Green won a 1960 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Foreign Film Screenplay. It was a progressive movie for its time.
Earl Cameron who played the part of Dr Robbins, Sapphire's brother, would appear two years later in another English film dealing with racial issues, the 1961 film Flame in the Streets.
Dearden and Green later also collaborated on another 'social problem' film, Victim, although this one was focused on blackmail of gay men before the passage of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 provided limited decriminalisation of male homosexuality.
The film is about a pregnant girl found stabbed on Hampstead Heath. Although she appears to be white, her brother (Earl Cameron) arrives at the police station to give evidence and he is black. It becomes evident to the police officers the girl has been passing herself for white. This film reveals the underlying insecurities and fears of ordinary people that exist towards another race.
A very unusual British police procedural from the 1950s, 'Sapphire' begins with the murder of a young music student. What could have been a very ordinary 'B' movie is transformed by its exposure of racial bigotry in post-War Britain. 'Sapphire' is no masterpiece and its stereotyped characters and wooden dialogue haven't aged well, but this film certainly deserves a DVD release.
A famous scene from Basil Dearden's 'Sapphire', as Nigel Patrick and Michael Craig try and locate 'Johhny', whilst hearing about 'lilyskins'
Clip from Basil Dearden's Sapphire (1959), clip shot outside Chelsea Police Station
http://www.youtube.com/MajesticFlexx Shadows (1959 Full Movie) (A Danny Whitfield - Majestic Flex Production) Shadows is a film about interracial relations during the Beat Generation years in New York City, directed by John Cassavetes. The film stars Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni and Hugh Hurd as three African-American siblings, though only one of them is dark-skinned. the Film also features Lynn Hamilton (born April 25, 1930) who made her film debut in the movie. She is best known for her recurring role as Donna Harris, a role she played on the sitcom Sanford and Son, from 1972 to 1977 as Fred Sanford's girlfriend and fiancee. The film was initially shot in 1957 and shown in 1958. It depicts two weeks in the lives of three siblings on the margins of society, two brothers who are stru...
I miss you more than words can say
What I would do just for one more day
To be lost in your eyes
And at the mercy of your touch
Ever since I've been without you
My world has turned a dark and stormy hue
And I don't know if I wanna stay here anymore
Sapphire
I have nothing to live for
Sapphire
I have nothing to breathe for
Everywhere I look I see
Constant reminders of you and me
But if I close my eyes
I see you staring back at me
If the way I feel is wrong
Then I will sing the sinner's song
I would sell my soul