known for creating movies that reflected his views on moral problems in society.
Like Kramer's other movies, the message was extremely straightforward. It's so forward that it could be called blunt, but I don't mean that in a negative way. It's just a product of the film's plot, and it wouldn't be possible to deliver it in any other way.
The film revolves around Joanna and Dr. John Prentice (played by Sidney Poitier!), a young white woman and a renowned black doctor who works for the World Health Organization. Joanna and Dr. Prentice fall in love after he gives a seminar in Hawaii, and Joanna makes Dr. Prentice meet her parents just ten days after they meet.
Joanna also tells her parents of their plans to marry. What's important is that Joanna's father is championed as a journalist with unwavering support for the rights of African Americans and other minorities. However, he and his wife are initially stunned by the fact that their daughter wants to marry a black man.
The movie shows that Joanna's father is not the "enlightened liberal" that his public appearance presents. While some of his concern is for the couple's safety, a scene where he angrily complains about not being able to travel a block without seeing a black man shows that there really is racism within him.
Dr. Prentice's father is also against marriage, but his reasoning is harder to make out. This is probably due to him having less screen time and Kramer wanting to focus on the idea of a false outward appearance presented by American liberals at the time.
In the end, Joanna's father approves of the marriage and convinces Dr. Prentice's father (presumably) through a speech. It was a pretty enjoyable watch, but the plot was not very exciting. I'd call it a "feel-good" movie, it feels good to see Dr. Prentice and Joanna win.
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