Sapphire (film)

Sapphire
UK release poster
Directed by	Basil Dearden
Produced by	Michael Relph Earl St. John (executive producer)
Written by	Janet Green
Starring	Nigel Patrick Yvonne Mitchell Michael Craig Paul Massie Earl Cameron Bernard Miles
Music by	Philip Green
Cinematography	Harry Waxman
Editing by	John D. Guthridge
Release date(s)	21 April 1959 (1959-04-21) (United Kingdom)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

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.^[1] It was a progressive movie for its time.^[2]

Earl Cameron who played the part of Dr Robbins her brother ^[3] would appear two years later in another English film dealing with racial issues, the 1961 film Flame in the Streets.^[4]

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.

Plot

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 then becomes evident to the police officers that this girl has been passing for white.^[5] This film reveals the underlying insecurities and fears of ordinary people that exist towards another race.^[3]

Cast

• Nigel Patrick as Superintendent Robert Hazard
• Michael Craig as Inspector Phil Learoyd
• Yvonne Mitchell as Mildred
• Paul Massie as David Harris
• Bernard Miles as Ted Harris
• Olga Lindo as Mrs. Harris
• Earl Cameron as Dr. Robbins
• Gordon Heath as Paul Slade
• Jocelyn Britton as Patsy
• Harry Baird as Johnnie Fiddle
• Orlando Martins as Barman
• Rupert Davies as Jack Ferris
• Yvonne Buckingham as Sapphire Robbins

References

1. ^ Awards for Sapphire at the Internet Movie Database
2. ^ Britmovie.co.uk Features, Sapphire (1959) by David Cairns
3. ^ ^{a b} screenonline Sapphire (1959)
4. ^ Britmovie.co.uk Flame in the Streets
5. ^ Britmovie.co.uk Features, Sapphire (1959) by David Cairns

External links

• Sapphire at the Internet Movie Database
• New York Times review