Guess Who's Coming To Dinner 1967 Review

1967 . . . Summer of Love.   More of the top singles of the year  # 5 was  The Monkees with I'm a Believer,  #4  was the Association with  Windy  and #3 was Bobbie Gentry with  Ode to Billie Joe  which many years later they made a tearjerkin' sappy movie out of starring Robby Benson... (remember him?)

What do  you think the Top 10 films of 1967 were?  #10 was To Sir With Love;  #9 Wait Until Dark  #8  Thoroughly Modern Millie;  #7  Jungle Book,  #6  You Only Live Twice.   #5  The Dirty Dozen,  #4 Valley of the Dolls  #3  Bonnie Clyde  and #2 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ?   #1?   Do you care to guess what #1  is?  It is. . . ..   The Graduate.  Review of that coming right up.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is not a dated film because of its message-but rather how it is presented.  It was quite dated when it was first released, but unfortunately, director Stanley Kramer was right-American audiences needed this film.  

The good news is there are several solid performances in the film.  Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn both knew it would be Tracy's last movie.    That makes you pay closer attention and appreciate Tracy more.

This is not a Tracy -Hepburn romantic comedy, but a message movie about mixed marriages.  It is NOT Spike Lee's Jungle Fever.   It  is a well intentioned film, full of ‘heart'.   Doesn't love conquer all?    Why should the color of skin matter when people love each other?

Yet it does of course.

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn (who loved each other in real life even through Tracy was married and would never leave his family)  play the very successful Matt and Christina Drayton, who live in an expensive penthouse in San Francisco and ae waiting for their daughter Joanna (played by a rather bland Katherine Houghton-Hepburn's actual neice) to return home after a long vacation.   Jo has brought along a friend, a very caring special doctor  by the name of John Prentice.  They intend to get married .   The news comes as a shock to the parents, because not only did the couple just recently meet, but John is black.     Sidney Poitier plays John Prentice.   He is superb in his role but oddly enough did not get nominated for an Oscar (he had won previously for  Lillies of the Field. ) 

Christina is okay with the marriage, but they would have to break it to Matt very carefully and in the right way.  Then we need to have the parents meet each other.  

 The film was nominated for 10 Oscars, as Hollywood patted itself on the back for delivering such a well made and socially responsible film with a message everyone should be aware of .   Hepburn, Tracy, screenwriter Rose  and  Cecil Kellaway who plays a monsignor that has no problems with the marriage were among those nominated.  It was also Best Picture and Best Director as well.

There's a bit of humor in the situation as it develops and it plays like a drawing room comedy drama.  Very talky, often pretty witty, and very well acted.  The parents get together to talk about the situation and what it means for the young couple.  The issue of race is delicately handled but is raised in a very direct fashion  by Roy E. Glenn Sr.  who plays  Mr. Prentice.  Of course it's debated with an air of proper academia mixed with the power of love.  

As the movie progresses it gets less frothy and much more serious and responsible (in big capital letters). There are a few lines that are pretty politically incorrect and you'll shake your head remembering an uncle, or grandparent perhaps.    You also have to put up with one of the worst musical scores ever written for a mainstream film by Frank De Vol  which features ‘Glory of Love'.

The ending allowed audiences to decide for themselves.  It was called by some a cop-out  and by others a great way to end the film.

See it for the performances.  

Yes, it bothers me that this film was celebrated as something very important and that it won many awards, when Hollywood clearly practiced discrimination and bigotry refusing to let minorities hold positions of authority in Hollywood for decades.

But... let's forget all that. We have a very talky, preachy, dated, message film filled with charismatic and entertaining performances from an excellent cast.   The message is indeed an important one.  It was made with the very best and most noble of intentions.

3.5 stars  rounded up

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner   1967  Directed by Stanley Kramer