Lost Boundaries

Director: Alfred L. Werker Alfred L. Werker

Overview

Until the House Un-American Activities Committee horned in, several postwar Hollywood films dealt with touchy "liberal" subject matter. Lost Boundaries stars Mel Ferrer as a light-skinned African-American, whose family is "passing" in an all-white New England community. When the truth comes out, the more bigoted neighbors demand the expulsion of Ferrer and his family. Considered pretty potent stuff in 1949, Lost Boundaries appears fairly conventional today, especially in its reluctance to cast a genuine black actor in the lead.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2009
UPC:	0883316126349
Original Release:	1949
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W, Full Frame]
Time:	1:39:00
Sales rank:	57,263

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Beatrice Pearson	Marcia Carter
Mel Ferrer	Dr. Scott Carter
Richard Hylton	Howard Carter
Susan Douglas	Shelley Carter
Canada Lee	Lt. Thompson
Robert Dunn	Rev. John Taylor
Grace Coppin	Mrs. Mitchell
Carleton Carpenter	Andy
Seth Arnold	Clint Adams
Wendell Holmes	Mr. Mitchell
Parker Fennelly	Alvin Tupper
William Greaves	Arthur Cooper
Leigh Whipper	Janitor
Alexander Campbell	Mr. Bigelow
Edwin Cooper	Baggage Man
Royal Beal	Detective Staples
Emory Richardson	Dr. Howard
Margaret Barker	Nurse Richmond
Peter Hobbs	Actor
Morton Stevens	Dr. Walter Brackett
John Gerstad	George Turner

Technical Credits

Eugene Ling

Charles Palmer

Virginia Shaler

Alfred L. Werker	Director
Herbert Andrews	Art Director
Louis Applebaum	Score Composer
Louis de Rochemont	Producer
Dave Kummins	Editor
Eugene Ling	Screenwriter
William J. Miller	Cinematographer
Charles Palmer	Screenwriter
Jack Shaindlin	Musical Direction/Supervision
Virginia Shaler	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Although it has badly dated, particularly in the area of casting, Lost Boundaries is deserving of note as one of the small cycle of "passing for white" films that came along after the second World War. Essentially message picture, these films were an attempt to address the problem of racial division in America and as such hold a special place in film history. The problem with many message pictures is that the message very often takes precedence over dramatic qualities, and this is the case in Boundaries - but to a lesser extent than one might imagine. While the film has its flaws, including presenting a leading couple who are pretty much without flaws, it also has a decently sturdy dramatic screenplay: it's a bit predictable, and ultimately a bit rose-colored, but it nevertheless holds together. Alfred L. Werker's direction is sensitive and effective, and the cast - especially Mel Ferrer and Beatrice Pearson - performs well. Yet modern audiences may still find it a bit hard going because of the fact that white performers were cast to play black people passing for white; in 1949, this was the only way such a film could be made, but modern sensibilities may still find it too jarring to get past.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler