In the back country of South Africa, black minister Stephen Kumalo (Canada Lee) journeys to the city to search for his missing son, only to find his people living in squalor and his son a criminal. Reverend Msimangu (Sidney Poitier) is a...
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Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Canada Lee | ... |
Reverend Stephen Kumalo
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| Charles Carson | ... |
James Jarvis
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| Sidney Poitier | ... |
Reverend Msimangu
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| Joyce Carey | ... |
Margaret Jarvis
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| Geoffrey Keen | ... |
Father Vincent
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Vivien Clinton | ... |
Mary
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| Michael Goodliffe | ... |
Martens
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Albertina Temba | ... |
Mrs. Kumalo
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Edric Connor | ... |
John Kumalo
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Lionel Ngakane | ... |
Absolom Kumalo
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Charles McRae | ... |
Sibeko
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Bruce Meredith Smith | ... |
Captain Jaarsveldt
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Bruce Anderson | ... |
Frank Smith
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Ribbon Dhlamini | ... |
Gertrude
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Daniel Adnewmah | ... |
Young Man, Client of Gertrude (uncredited)
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| John Arnatt | ... |
Prison warden (uncredited)
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Lucius Blake | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Henry Blumenthal | ... |
Arthur Jarvis (uncredited)
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| Martin Boddey | ... |
Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited)
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Cecil Cartwright | ... |
Mr. Harrison (uncredited)
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Max Dhlamini | ... |
Father Thomas (uncredited)
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Michael Golden | ... |
Second reporter (uncredited)
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Berdine Grünewald | ... |
Mary Jarvis (uncredited)
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Tsepo Gugushe | ... |
Gertrude's Child (uncredited)
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Scott Harrold | ... |
Police superintendent (uncredited)
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Eldica Joachim | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Bari Jonson | ... |
Accused man (uncredited)
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Andrew Kay | ... |
John Harrison (uncredited)
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Cyril Kwaza | ... |
Matthew Kumalo (uncredited)
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Clement McCallin | ... |
First reporter (uncredited)
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Evelyn Nayati | ... |
Mrs. Lithebe (uncredited)
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Reginald Ngcobo | ... |
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
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Emily Pooe | ... |
Mrs. Ndela (uncredited)
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Shayiaw Riba | ... |
Father Tisa (uncredited)
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Stanley Van Beers | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Zoltan Korda | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Alan Paton | ... | (novel) |
| Alan Paton | ... | (screenplay) |
| John Howard Lawson | ... | (screenplay) (originally uncredited) |
Produced by
| Zoltan Korda | ... | producer |
| Alan Paton | ... | producer |
Music by
| Raymond Gallois-Montbrun | ... | (as R. Gallois Montbrun) |
Cinematography by
| Robert Krasker | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| David Eady | ||
Editorial Department
| Valerie Leslie | ... | assistant editor |
| Teddy Darvas | ... | trainee assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Wilfred Shingleton | ||
Costume Design by
| Maisie Kelly | ||
Makeup Department
| Peter Evans | ... | makeup artist |
| William Bell | ... | key makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Jack Swinburne | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| John Bremer | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Lee Doig | ... | dubbing editor |
| Jack Drake | ... | dubbing editor |
| Max Elliott | ... | dubbing editor |
| Red Law | ... | sound recordist |
| John W. Mitchell | ... | sound recordist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Peter Lang | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Gerry Massy-Collier | ... | camera operator (as C. Massy-Collier) |
| David Millin | ... | camera operator: second unit (as David Millen) |
| Gerry Fisher | ... | assistant camera: interiors (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Hubert Clifford | ... | musical director |
| Raymond Gallois-Montbrun | ... | music arranger (as R. Gallois Montbrun) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Maisie Kelly | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Frank Rogaly | ... | African advisor |
| Norma Garment | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- British Lion Film Corporation (1951) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Lopert Films (1952) (United States) (theatrical)
- Filmimport A/S (1952) (Norway) (theatrical)
- National Telefilm Associates (NTA) (1955) (United States) (tv)
- Channel 4 (1992) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Monterey Home Video (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2018) (Australia) (DVD)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Monterey Movie Company (VHS package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the back country of South Africa, black minister Stephen Kumalo (Canada Lee) journeys to the city to search for his missing son, only to find his people living in squalor and his son a criminal. Reverend Msimangu (Sidney Poitier) is a young South African clergyman who helps find his missing son-turned-thief and sister-turned-prostitute in the slums of Johannesburg. Written by alfiehitchie |
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| Taglines | Filmed in Africa...Where It Was Lived! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The film was shot in South Africa. Since the country was ruled by strict apartheid (enforced racial separation) laws, Sidney Poitier and Canada Lee and Producer and Director Zoltan Korda cooked up a scheme where they told the South African immigration authorities that Poitier and Lee were not actors, but were Korda's indentured servants; otherwise, the two black actors and the white Director would not have been allowed to associate with each other while they were in the country. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Cry, the Beloved Country (1974). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile See more » |