Pinky
“The poignant story of a girl who fell hopelessly in love!”
Synopsis
Pinky, a light skinned black woman, returns to her grandmother's house in the South after graduating from a Northern nursing school. Pinky tells her grandmother that she has been "passing" for white while at school in the North. In addition, she has fallen in love with a young white doctor, who knows nothing about her black heritage.
Top Cast
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Jeanne Crain
Patricia "Pinky" Johnson
Ethel Barrymore
Miss Em
Ethel Waters
Dicey Johnson
William Lundigan
Dr. Thomas Adams
Basil Ruysdael
Judge Walker
Kenny Washington
Dr. Canady
Nina Mae McKinney
Rozelia
Griff Barnett
Dr. Joe McGill
Frederick O'Neal
Jake Walters
Evelyn Varden
Melba Wooley
Raymond Greenleaf
Judge Shoreham
Fred Aldrich
Townsman (uncredited)
Shelby Bacon
Boy (uncredited)
Rene Beard
Teejore (uncredited)
Arthur Berkeley
Townsman (uncredited)
Mildred Boyd
Nurse (uncredited)
Margaret Brayton
Nurse (uncredited)
Paul Brinegar
Western Union Clerk (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 28, 1949
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Elia Kazan
- Screenplay & Story
- Philip Dunne, Dudley Nichols
- Original Score
- Alfred Newman
- Original Title
- Pinky
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Elia Kazan
Philip Dunne, Dudley Nichols, Cid Ricketts Sumner
Alfred Newman
Joseph MacDonald
Harmon Jones
Darryl F. Zanuck
Department Leadership Roster
Elia Kazan
Director
Philip Dunne
Screenplay
Dudley Nichols
Screenplay
Darryl F. Zanuck
Producer
Joseph MacDonald
Director of Photography
Harmon Jones
Editor
Alfred Newman
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Pinky.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pinky
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Pinky about?
Pinky, a light skinned black woman, returns to her grandmother's house in the South after graduating from a Northern nursing school. Pinky tells her grandmother that she has been "passing" for white while at school in the North. In addition, she has fallen in love with a young white doctor, who knows nothing about her black heritage.
Who directed Pinky?
Pinky was directed by Elia Kazan.
Who stars in Pinky?
The principal cast of Pinky includes Jeanne Crain, Ethel Barrymore, Ethel Waters, William Lundigan, Basil Ruysdael.
When was Pinky released and how long is it?
Pinky was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
Who composed the musical score for Pinky?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Pinky was composed by Alfred Newman.
Is Pinky based on a book or true story?
Pinky is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Cid Ricketts Sumner".