Themes: Culture Clash, Fighting the System, Race Relations
Main Cast: Godfrey Cambridge, Estelle Parsons, Howard Caine, D'Urville Martin, Mantan Moreland
Release Year: 1970
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
African-American activist and actor Melvin Van Peebles directed this comedy-drama starring Godfrey Cambridge as Jeff Gerber, a white, middle class husband to Althea (Estelle Parson) and father of two who is also a mild bigot. One morning, Jeff wakes up to discover that he has become a black man overnight. After trying in vain to remove his new pigment, Jeff ventures out into the world, only to discover the hostility he once engendered himself. After his neighbors petition to get him out of the neighborhood, his boss (Howard Caine) tries to use his new identity to the company's advantage and his doctor suggests he seek medical care elsewhere, Jeff comes to see the many sides of racism. The only rays of hope in his situation are the friendship of several fellow black people, including a bus driver (D'Urville Martin) and a restaurant counter man (Mantan Moreland). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Kay Kimberly - Erica; Kay Kuter - Dr. Wainwright; Ray Ballard - 3rd Passenger; Mae Clarke; Rhodie Cogan - Mrs. Johnson; Robert Dagny - 2nd Passenger; Scott Garrett - Burton Gerber; Charles Lampkin - Dr. Catlin; Karl Lukas - 2nd Policeman; Hazel Medina - Widow; Ralph Montgomery - Drugstore Boss; Erin Moran - Janice Gerber; Lawrence Parke - 1st Passenger; Irving Selbst - Mr. Johnson; Emil Sitka - Delivery Man; Frank Farmer - Andy Brandon; Donna Dubrow - Receptionist; Erik Nelson - Doorman; Paul Williams - Employment Office Clerk
Credit
Malcolm C. Bert - Art Director, Sydney Z. Litwack - Art Director, Sheldon Schrager - First Assistant Director, Melvin Van Peebles - Director, Carl Kress - Editor, Leon Mirell - Executive Producer, Melvin Van Peebles - Composer (Music Score), Ben Lane - Makeup, W. Wallace Kelley - Cinematographer, Herman Raucher - Cinematographer, John B. Bennett - Producer, Leon Mirell - Producer, John Burton - Set Designer, Les Fresholtz - Sound/Sound Designer, Herman Raucher - Screenwriter
