Sidney Poitier had the best year any actor ever had in 1967: not only GWCTD but also In the Heat of the Night and To Sir With Love. That's an amazing year!
The 'shock' value of a white woman and a black man togerher is what sold the movie. Pure and simple. Like it or not folks. Today it of course would not matter all that much, but back-in-the-day people were up & arms about such a sencitive subject.
- and yet, though some media (liberal by the way) tried to overdramatize and say Americans would reject it, it was a GIANT HIT. The people absolutely loved it then and still do now all these years later! As Katherine stated, it was the Hollywood STUDIO who were far more worried than the American people turned out to be!!!
15:45 -16:05 Yes. Mr. Poitier was big box office at the time, however the public was also very intrigued to see 'Tracy and Hepburn' paired again in a film. It had been 9 years or so since they made a film together. That also added great advance appeal for this film.
Indeed it did for some of the older generation of movie fans, but her point was on point - Mr Poitier was THE box office draw for the film at that time....the Tracy- Hepburn last hurrah reunion was a marvelous added ingredient, adding two of the best to ever do it, but without Poitier the movie never reaches that #1 all time box office revenue for Columbia. Ms Houghton makes an excellent point here with respect to Poitier's generosity with the billing - many in his position did not and would not have done it. Having said that...without masters Tracy and Hepburn, its hard to see this film reaching and sustaining its artistic heights. Who could have played the parents any better? Like all classics, the casting across the board was outstanding.
In addition to her fascinating story and view of this whole film and its time, her interviewer was quite capable, and also gracious enough to let her speak at length to his points.
Excellent interview! Ms. Houghton is a delight. "Joey" played perfectly the smart, loving, altruistic daughter that most parents hope to raise - despite the parent's baggage. Very Sixties, Yes. Very deep truth, yes. Very few could play opposite Portier and have such impact. Kudos for making a true classic!
GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER: I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it, and this year 2019 I'm still in love with it! It's the only love movie I really enjoy watching, thanks to that beautiful Katharine Houghton, and my brother Sidney Poitier, love them both!
You really were his brother Lennox! For this Australian, unacquainted with the racial tension in the US, it was revelatory and disappointing tbh, that an interracial marriage was so controversial. But I was unaware 🇦🇺 had a white Australia policy, so ignorant was I at 17 yrs. But your brother’s portrayal of his character (and it can’t be denied, his appearance) was unforgettable and pivotal in the cultures of the countries where it screened!
Ms. Houghton did not have a "hugely successful career" in the conventional sense after bursting onto the scene at the very top at age 22 in this iconic cinema classic. But I admire her so greatly -- because for at least the last decade or more, and now as we're at the fiftieth anniversary of this gem, she has offered herself here and elsewhere, as really the only available spokesperson, the only remaining connection, to GWCTD. She offers a priceless perspective and answers every question with thought, respect and insight. I own the 40th-anniversary DVD package, and was a bit disappointed to see that Sidney Poitier did NOT make himself available . . . but Ms. Houghton did, at length.
That had to be the most interesting and intellectual interview on a film I have ever seen - thanks for this -Katherine was in fine form and so articulate and the interviewer was so kind and polite - and smart questions - I got so much out of this- thank you again!
You have to remember that in large parts of Europe mixed race (specifically black&white) couples were not especially looked down on. They could have moved to France and spent a lifetime with little concern. While it certainly was not that way everywhere, it was worst in America & a few others like South Africa. Great insight at 8:32 and her reaction & concern was legitimate as well. The truth was a mixture of the two. They had to tone her down to divert the focus to Sydney and the racial problems. While they touched upon it with all three couples, the issue was not gender issues. It was about racial ones and learning to separate truth from ignorance. Truth is we are all human & our hearts are interchangeable. Another interesting point was when the delivery boy comes dancing and then leaves with the young black girl. The two of them dancing together (etc) without a care in the world for the troubles their predecessors were grappling with, showing the generation gap and the changing attitudes. The scene almost goes unnoticed and is treated almost as a cameo of the future.
I agree with Katherine about her character. I was a kid when this movie came out and I wondered, HOW in the world did she land herself this guy? I guess in 1967 it took an accomplished, flawless black man to be worthy enough to marry a silly, clueless, privileged white girl. That's how it came across to me. I wish Katherine had got to play her as she wanted having more accomplishments and being a little more intelligent than just being rich and white. But ok, the movie was trying so hard to send the right message. I did like the movie. My favorite speech was Beah Richards telling Spencer Tracy what was what about love.
The movie has aged with the times. A beautiful young girl, and a handsome black doctor would definitely fall in love today. Opposites attract. The character of Joey was portrayed as a giddy, pretty, young woman who admired her doctor. I certainly see it as real.
@Maxine Watermarked. What stupid accent. I've traveled all over the U.S. and quit frankly the world. Her manner of speech is how New Englanders speak. Please get out a little bit.
@Maxine Watermarked. What stupid accent. I've traveled all over the U.S. and quit frankly the world. Her manner of speech is how New Englanders speak. Please get out a little bit.
@@sadiegrill2846 Why would she have a New England accent when she was supposed to have been from San Francisco? What kind of acting is that? I thot her character was trite and predictable. All that gushing was stomach churning.
Hepburn and Kramer put their salaries in escrow to enable the film to be made, because Tracy was uninsurable due to his significant health problems. Tracy could only work in short sequences. The end speech was carefully edited together as he didn't have the stamina to complete it in an uninterrupted take. Towards the end of filming, Tracy told Kramer, If I died on the way home tonight, you have enough film of me to complete the picture. He died three weeks after production wrapped.
Yes...so sad. Speaks volumes about who they were and are, felt about this important film. I adore Spencer and Katharine! Always have. What a romance story they had too. This film had to be made, period. So grateful and respect to all of them. Live in peace and we love you. And now, Sidney passed... More love, grace and brighter light shines now.
Yes, Hepburn and Kramer put up $71,000 for the high insurance premium on Tracy if he died during filming. Tracy was happy to be working again, but told journalists visiting the set, that this would be his last movie because he was permanently retire after filming due to his health problems. Tracy only worked 2-3 hours a day. He completed his last scene on May 24 1967. And died 17 days later on June 10th of a heart attack. Brendan Gill if The New Yorker wrote that Tracy gave a faultless, and under the circumstances, a heartbreaking performance. The movie became Tracy's highest grossing picture. And the 9th that he and Hepburn made together. Hepburn never saw the completed film, saying that the memories it would invoke for her of Tracy were too emotional.
I'm 41. I watched this movie for the first time today. My father was in one of the 17 segregated states when this movie came out, and my mother desgregated her entire school district starting at the age of 6. The last 15 mins of this movie made me cry uncontrollably. What masterpiece of a novice. Katherine Houghten was phenomenally amazing in her ability to make us all believe in love without prejudice.
🤔 The dialogue between Poitier's character's mother and Spencer Tracey, were extremely powerful and pivotal.. a very close second to Tracey's dialogue in the final scene
I agree 100%. Ms. Houghton’s kind and respectful conduct is wonderful. And yes, articulate. Like millions, loved, loved the film. All of it, the writing, acting, directing, all of it.
@@silviataylor936 Her name is Katherine Houghton Grant, but she didn't use the "Grant" when she was acting. She is Katherine Hepburn's niece, and she played Hepburn's daughter in the movie. Katherine Hepburn's middle name was also Houghton, btw. It was another family name.
That guy asked great questions. In my opinion, a great interview is a give and take. He has a lot of knowledge of all the movies, and ask the questions with the right tone.
You make a nice point. I am always annoyed by some of the people hired today to do interviews who ask the most inane questions, especially when they're in the presence of a great like Robert Redford. Yes, this guy was thoughtful, sensitive and asked great questions.
Not trying to be petty but it would have been nice had he dressed a little more respectful of the moment. His appearance is a little slovenly and distracting. That said, he asked great questions and allowed her to answer without interrupting her. So many interviewers seem to be more interested in the sound of their own voice than the actual interview.
@@nylorij-Lori I tend to agree with you about his dress. Perhaps a better shirt would have been in order. Of course, I'm old school. But then, he probably feels much more comfortable in the way he dresses, which helped make the interview that much better. And I so enjoyed that interview.
I disagree with Katharine, and agree with Mr. Kramer. The appeal of her character wasn't that she was white. The appeal was what she glossed over as being unimportant....her innocence. Innocence is very attractive, and the fact of her innocence, and the fact of her not even seeing race was cutting edge. It is a game changer.
Marco Ringo I agree. What Dr Prentiss loved about Joey was her beautiful spirit, happy demeanor. She was completely unaffected by racial differences, never even occurred to her. She didn’t have to have ‘accomplished ‘ anything. It was about her soul.
Well she left out the part about Dr. Prentiss/Sidney Poitier having been married before, only to have lost his first wife and child in a horrible accident. I always interpreted his falling in love with Joanna/Katherine as a sort of getting lost in relationship that was so different from his marriage it could make him get over the pain. Don't forget: there was also an age thing between the two characters - he was at least 10 years older than her. I always thought of it as "Well yeah - now he's an older guy who wants his young sexy thang!"
@@rcruz4510 I remember a conservative radio talk show hostess say many years ago that that really should've been the "taboo" in the relationship...the fact that Dr. Prentice was 37 years old, and was courting a 22-year-old woman, and not so much the color issue.
Her innocence is a cornerstone of the film. We are all born this way, it is life that takes the innocence out of us. To play a 23-year-old woman who can't see skin color is remarkable. The physical resemblance to her aunt also makes her more credible.
@@MsMollah - Excellent point...agree with Ms Houghton that the film was largely well-written, but this scene was clearly written by someone not as knowledgeable in Afro-American history as needed. The remark about his father's generation being somewhat of a useless burden that had to get off his back was totally over the top. His father's generation is what is now commonly referred to as "The Greatest Generation." Blacks like his father had served with distinction in WWI, WWII, Korea, and battled thru a Great Depression and decades of nationwide terrorizing Jim Crow Segregation to achieve at the highest levels of all aspects of American society, despite the hate, roadblocks, and resistance. Indeed, it is the constant yeoman's work of his father's generation that made Dr Prentice's ability to even think about marrying a white woman possible. The son's speech lacked consideration for these essential factors and the writer would have been better served to have someone like a James Baldwin or others versed in Afro-American history to review the speech to make sure it took into account these factors. For example, Dr Alvin Poussaint, Harlem native, and for many years, Dean of Harvard Medical School, use to review all of "The Cosby Show" scripts before they were filmed, to ensure they were socially and culturally well-written and that character behavior was consistent with proper family interactions and exchanges. Writer William Rose ideally could have contacted one of many distinguished history/sociology professor's at a number of historically black colleges and universities and had one of them review the father-son scene to improve it. No travel required..could have all been done quickly via telephone/wire/mail. This is where staff diversity also helps; and if you don't have it in-house, seek it outside the organization.
@@waldolydecker8118 Great points. I come from a mixed background and had grandparents from different ethnic groups. They were also from the greatest generation. The things that Dr Prentice said to his father didn't go with the rest of Dr Prentice's character. He wasn't an impetuous teen- but an established man in his late 30s. He worked with charities and underprivileged nations with different cultures that would need empathy and understanding. He had lost a wife and child. There was nothing to indicate that the father had been abusive toward him- but that he had worked extremely hard in a very difficult time, encouraging his son to reach the height of his potential in a harsh, but changing reality. I can't imagine how African American of the greatest generation felt about the Civil Rights Act- I would guess many conflicting emotions- happiness, hope, suspicion- it must have been a lot to take in for people born in the 1910s-1920s. Dr Prentice could have been firm that he would marry his new love after years of being heartbroken over the loss of his wife and child, and miraculously having a new chance for love, and that he would pray that his father would come to accept it and be happy for them. I also thought it was strange that he was willing to just walk away if Joey's father wouldn't condone the marriage, but was so adamant, to the point of being verbally vicious to his own father. I actually thought this conversation was the weak point in the movie and agree that it would have been helpful to have African American experts weigh in on that segment of the script at least.
@@MsMollah - Excellent comments....I agree, the father-son scene was without a doubt the movie's low point. It was the one area where the writer simply had no intimate experience as a reference point to inform his writing. The dichotomy of how Dr Prentice dealt with the two fathers is also indicative of the movie being written for the white audience, as Ms Houghton noted.
The interviewer did a wonderful job, as did Katharine. I love that she is so real, so beautiful, articulate, well educated, and candid -- just like her aunt. Runs in the family.
She is so articulate and responsive these days. Yet, originally in the movie theater I found her performance the weak link. Seeing the film years later I feel her performance was marvelous and understated by her unquestioned commitment to portraying a beautiful optimist that led credulity to a magnificent film.
When I first saw the movie the first overwhelming emotional beautiful moment came when Spencer’s Matt Drayton is in his study trying to find an easy out by having Sidney’s character investigated only to find that he was very accomplished to Kate’s characters delight and goes into a speech that sends her to the window watching her daughter laughing with Sidney. “ happy As a baby , happy through childhood, but I don’t think I’ve seen her as happy as she is right now - I’m happy we made her referring to her earlier comment of “ we told her that there were no differences btw the white folks and black and when e did Matt , we never said “ But Don’t marry one “ and I’m happy Joey is Joey and that we helped make her - paraphrasing . Wow ! It’s common sense yet said so clearly that it’s impossible to argue with because it’s the truth . A universal truth . Love is love and who you live should not be decided by the color of one’s skin ( Matt’s speech “ a pigmentation problem ) lol
Kirk Barkley I was kinda stunned that this certainly once beautiful actress, today greatly resembles old Hollywood 30’s Zasu Pitts! So sorry, but if you know that actress, you can’t unsee this.
@@marjoriemargel1567 She does have a resemblance now to Za Zu Pitts and even sounds a little like her but such was definitely not the case when she made “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”. How would her movie family have reacted if the black guy she brings home is a salesman or baggage handler and not the highly educated, polished, and handsome physician? His manner and profession made his character more palatable and marriage more acceptable.
One of the greatest, and one of my top 3 fave films of all time.The couple's characters HAD to be 2 dimensional and 'fairy tale'. The impact wouldn't have been the same on the audience otherwise. The film, for that time, had to narrowly focus on the reactions of everyone else, or it would've been too distracting to the message. There was a clarity in how it was done.
I agree. I have wondered how it would have been if Sidney Poitier's character had been a nice, decent guy, but had been a postal employee like his Dad or a factory worker. I guess he had to be the educated and noble physician and have the fairy tale aspect for it to work. I thought it was interesting that Spencer Tracy's character said to his wife something to the effect- how did a postman produce such a brilliant, special person as Sidney Potier's character. Class snobbery showing too.
Great interview and her character was just a perfect foil to Sidney , its amazing that she couldnt see it . She was so ahead of her time and also i agree she portrayed a powerful female character as she stood up for herself and what she wanted , nothing more captivating in a modern woman 😍❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I love this film ...I love Sidney Poitier ( a true warrior for humanity)...the end of this interview is spot on...this film is more relevant than ever...(sad but true) let us continue to fight the good fight
Thrilled that the subject matter emotionally involved the interviewer because he treated her with the respect that she brought to the project. Her character has always been slaughtered by the critics through the years because the screenplay was so convincing on the matter that they needed to find something to pick on.( and it was usually her or how her character was written.). I think she was pleasantly surprised.
Really interesting to hear her insights from her fellow actors from movie. It was a “ fairy tale” but full of wisdom and beautiful performances from all.
This is great! She is incredible. And so honest, well spoken and love all the details of how it all came to be. Her respect to her fellow Actors, Writers, Director, Producer and Crew says alot about her. Thank you, for this treasure. She is the now only cast member still on earth. Bless you. ❤❤❤ About Sidney...He was in 56 motion pictures! for 50 plus years His work as a man has been represented in his characters. And vice versa. Integrity, strength of character, class and GRACE only begin to define him. He attributes this to his parents How blessed is that! Much love, blessings and hope to all of you reading this. ~ When asked, "Who are you?" Sidney responded, " I am who I choose to be" Powerful.
Thank you for the wonderful interview with Katherine Houghton, niece of Katherine Hepburn, who looked and sounded like her aunt, with the upper crust New England accent, only sweeter and, of course, younger in GWCTD. And, even more so, to see her as an older woman. She still has some of her good looks, as of 2017, at least. Nice retrospective on the making of the movie and the cast.
humble and adorable lady… very insightful exchange indeed… just watched the movie again this evening… Houghton defo did her part to help make the whole thing an instant classic… 🎬 massive appreciation in 2023 from London 🇬🇧
Of course they paired her with an actor 18 years her senior to be her love interest! Even in attempting to break racial barriers Hollywood still managed to be paternalistic.
Going back 5 generations ago, ,the character Joey did not have to equal Dr. Prentice's achievements, she just had to be a good wife. She had a lot of good qualities that I admire. She was always straight to the point. This is the Man I love and this is the Man I am going to marry. Sidney's character admired her youthful energy and optimism and fell in love. They had an age difference and fell in love very fast. The Oscar winning script was Brilliant. I always wanted to know what happened to K. Houghton. I have not seen her in any other film. I guess she wrote and acted for the stage.
Yes, it was kind of odd that he agreed to be engaged/married so fast at his age. It seems that he would have wanted her to experience a bit of life as a single young woman and to make sure marriage with him was what she wanted. It seemed kind of impetuous for a man that age with so many life experiences already.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is one of the greatest movies ever made, in tackling the subject of interracial couples. But...........having said that, It "WAS", my all time favorite movie until recently. I started watching old movies of Mr. Poitier during this quarantine era. Low and behold I came across, "A Patch of Blue", and it blew me away. How i missed it all these years is beyond me. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions while watching, "A Patch of Blue". It is now my absolute favorite movie, and has taken the top spot for me, over, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and The Color Purple". The acting by Sidney and Elizabeth Hartman set a bar for me. They were magical together on the screen, along with Shelley Winters, who made me hate her character because, Shelley made her character so believable, as did Ms. Hartman and Sidney. To me it is thee greatest, simple yet complex movie I've ever seen on a subject like "Integration/Interracial Couple/Racism and Bigotry, in America.
Saw a "Patch of Blue " as a young person when it came out. It certainly "set the bar" Hated racism growing up in the south,. That movie gave me so much hope it's impossible to voice it, even after all these ensuing decades. 🌹🕊️🐦
My sentiments, exactly! "Guess who's Coming to Dinner" starred three of my favorite actors, yet I've always found "A Patch of Blue" to be a much more poignant interracial love story. It dealt with racism on a much more subtle level, without being preachy or in your face, and even though racism was not the main focus of the movie ( I felt the love story was), it was there throughout the movie, and the statement it made was profound. I don't know if that makes sense, but that is how I viewed it.
"Paris Blues" is a wonderful Poitier movie with a quartet of amazing performances-Poitier, Paul Newman, Dianne Carroll, and Joanne Woodward! And the early 1960s Paris Jazz scene in all it's glory !!!!
And Hale Berry like their daughter.Hale is birracial and she was 18 months old when the movie was released but her parentes, according to her biography, were always arguing.
Interviewed her just before the release of `Guess Who`s Coming to Dinner`. Also saw her in `A Scent of Flowers` where I think she gives a stronger performance.
Love you, Katharine, but disagree. Joey was an absolutely wonderful sweetheart of a person who towered above racial prejudice. I actually don’t think she was unaware of the issues. That’s only part of what John fell in love with.
The critics never gave Katherine’s portrayal of Joey the credit she deserved. They called Joey rather simple and naive and they did not understand what Sidney did about the character. Sorry, Joey was absolutely perfect and Sidney proved everyone wrong. Saying that Joey needed to prove her worthiness to marry Dr. Prentice greatly underestimates the character of Joey AND her fiancée.
Thanks so much for filming this interview, just watched this film on bbc 2 for the first time, never heard of it or any of the actors, even of Sidney Poitier (Who I need to look into), we haven't come very far at all as a society looking at race relations and I am wondering why that is...
he's a very good interviewer. he asked question then let her speak. it's also interesting that the film was made it so that the young people were getting married then going off to start a life in switzerland. neutral space, the racism is perhaps not as virulent as it is and was when the film was made. just an observation.
Thank you, to all of you who had a part in this amazing film. You made history. You changed people's minds and changed lives. You should be so proud! Bravo Sidney! Spencer, Katherine, the entire cast, the writers, Directors, Producers, the Crew, Lighting, Gaffers, Grip, Makeup, Set Deco, Wardrobe, ALL OF YOU! ❤❤❤ This movie also made Columbia more money than any other film, at the time! Sadly, Spencer was very ill while filming this. But he insisted to do this film, he believed in it. He passed on 2 weeks after it was a wrap. We needed this film, more than was realized. And now, Sidney has passed on a few days ago. So many thoughts, emotions about this stellar Actor, distinguished person and beautiful spirit. He tore down walls and barriers in the film industry so that others could pursue their dreams, passions and enrich lives! He is a legend. Ground-breaking A man with natural grace, well spoken, a strong presence and so eloquent. Sidney was the star. He shines on forever and speaks to us. To never give up, to pursue, achieve your dreams, stay strong in spirit. To break down the barriers that should not stand. We are all connected and one. ~ Love is love. We see in people, not in color. Everyone is welcome at our dinner table! With much gratitude, respect and love to all of you. Dear Sidney, Live on In Peace. ❤☮🆓️
This video is an absolute treasure. Just so lovely hearing Katherine, after all these years. I used to keep hoping l would see her in another movie, but never did. I wonder what did she do after GWCTD. When she was telling us her concern with her role, I would love to have been able to tell her how I could totally connect to Joey's character, in this, my favourite movie of all time. She portrayed perfectly, how naive we can be, when brought up in a very idealistic family. Exactly how l evolved with my upbringing.
Since the time of the film, Ms. Houghton has starred in over fifty on and off Broadway and New England regional theater productions. She is also a playwright and amongst her credits are productions of: "Best Kept Secret", "Merlin", "The Marry Month Of May", "Mortal Friends", "On The Shady Side", "The Right Number", "Phone Play" and her translation of Anouilh's "Antigone". She also presents lectures: "Katharine X Three", "My Grandmother's House Near The River" and "The Secret Life of Louisa May Alcott". She is quite accomplished.
Wow, that is impressive.. I heard her refer to the theatre, at the beginning, and wondered if that is what she chose to continue with. Being related to Katherine Hepburn l assumed she had made a worthwhile contribution to some aspect of life. Thank you Laura, for filling this Aussie in. I have thought of her often over the years.
We need another film similar to how this one was written, but for women's rights as they're being attacked today. It can include the problem of racism as we're still dealing with it today too. It can also include the problem of poverty and homelessness and how poorly our politicians and lawmakers are dealing with it. I completely agree that a woman (of any color) should be shown as being accomplished and not being some flaky rich girl who relies on the color of her skin for her ability to move up in the world. Give her a desire to work in STEM. Yes, she can be nice, kind, thoughtful and fun, but also witty, intelligent, and forward-thinking, with progressive leanings that rub her parents the wrong way. One parent should be a liberal and the other a conservative, with the unique set of circumstances that comes with such a blending. She should be "undeclared" or otherwise "independent," regarding politics. She should be a humanitarian who has already done some things to help in the cause of homelessness during her teen years. To anyone who wants to make such a film, I ask the following of you: Show her parents telling her, as a 17 year old, "You can only go to the college we picked out for you if you want us to pay for it." That 4-year college should be in the same city and the parents should assume they can keep her at home, unwitting of the rules forcing her to live in a dorm anyway. Show how she's forced to agree to rat out any other female college student who sleeps with her boyfriend. Show how she's forced to work in the college laundry by the rules of the college itself that she has to have a job, and that's the only job left available on the campus. Show her raw, red hands, and show how she's struggling with sleep deprivation and being worn out at the same time in order to keep up with everything. Show her crazy roommate who lies to her about other students bad-mouthing her behind her back. Show how she gets treated by a male academic administrator who tells the technology instructors to use "subjective grading" to ruin her GPA and who changes the rules on her personally throughout a quarter where he teaches one of her core classes, so she can't get a decent grade in that class. Show what happens when her narcissistic parents advise her on what to do about all of that. Show her in her struggles to get a job in her chosen field after leaving school (graduated or not), and how she winds up having to live out of her car and do deliveries to make ends meet. She should have an Android WiFi phone (given her by her parents in her teen years) and a Skype account, at least at first, until she runs out of money even for that. Show her having to rely on social media and email for all her communications. She can use Starbucks' WiFi to use that phone setup to receive calls for interviews until she can't pay for a phone number anymore. She shouldn't have a PO box because she can't afford one, so she can't receive mail, even from the state, after she applies for welfare. Show her in her personal life, how it goes, and how she winds up as an unwed or even a formerly wed mother in a state that won't allow her to have an abortion after she finds out she's pregnant. Show what happens when she makes just $5 a month too much to qualify for her state's welfare programs that she still needs as she's still living out of her car and caring for a baby. Show her struggles to qualify for an apartment or to purchase a house, because that same income is too low to help her in either direction. Show how she can't meet all the expectations of HUD or other programs either. Show how she learns about narcissism, from advice given her first through friends she makes and later through TH-cam videos (real-world professionals can be shown here, with their cooperation). Show her learning about how it starts with the narcissistic parents and bleeds over into how she interacts with narcissistic SOs and friends alike, and gets sucked in by them. Show her not learning about narcissism until it's too late to extricate herself from it in the case of her parents. Show her efforts to try to live through and deal with that situation. Show the impossible choices she's forced to make, for the sake of her baby. Should she accept money from her narcissistic parents, who contact her, offer her money, but also choose to believe crazy, horrible things about her that clearly aren't true, so they won't ask her to come live with them (and wouldn't treat her right even if she did), or should she have complete freedom from them and force her baby to continue living on the streets? Show how she's given no third alternative to choose. Show how her car dies and she can't afford to fix or replace it, then she winds up with a misdemeanor for "littering" with it, so now she has a "record" and owes fines she can't pay. Show what happens when a new, non-religious family takes up her cause, helps her as she helps herself, sets the right boundaries with her instead of the wrong ones, and how she finally gets up on her own two feet and is able to raise her child, first in an apartment and later in a cottage with a small back yard. The family should be non-religious in order to avoid putting one religion over another. Show her as she winds up having to decide whether she wants to marry someone (man, woman, other, of whatever race, doesn't matter here) or remain a single, strong, and independent woman. Show the SO as someone who has problems of their own (doesn't matter which), and again, the hard choices she has to make while, this time, not using her child as a deciding factor, but instead, just looking at her own personal needs going forward. Leave her choice ambiguous in the end, so the audience is forced to think about her needs and the problems her SO is dealing with, not on whether she should marry or not. Focus on what's wrong in our society today, especially in its attitudes towards women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and towards the poor and homeless - and on what we ought to be thinking, feeling, saying, and doing instead. Use the child to give the sermon in "Hors d'oeuvres" throughout the film, and then the "main course" and the "dessert" at the end. Show it all, the complexities of the life of a young woman of today, and do it with as much intelligence and care as "Guess who's coming to dinner?" was given. Yes, there should be lightness and wit, but also key-point elements thrown in, and a lot of truth that people of today don't tend to like to face, including what we can do about the problems that real people like her face every day. If any of the above elements can't be shown, then they should be discussed in enough detail to give the audience the clear view of what she's going through.
Katharine is spot-on about her character. Joey is the blandest, most uninteresting character, way below the standards that Dr. Prentice should have. I literally cheered when she said Joey needed to “prove she’s worth her salt, that she doesn’t get Prince Charming just because she’s white.” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 If only the filmmakers had listened to her, the film overall would’ve been so much stronger.
Interesting analyzation of the movie! What an epic movie it was; yes, Sidney Poitier was the box office flyer !! 😎 I wish TH-cam would filter this in my view list tomorrow!
Sidney Poitier had the best year any actor ever had in 1967: not only GWCTD but also In the Heat of the Night and To Sir With Love. That's an amazing year!
The 'shock' value of a white woman and a black man togerher is what sold the movie. Pure and simple. Like it or not folks. Today it of course would not matter all that much, but back-in-the-day people were up & arms about such a sencitive subject.
- and yet, though some media (liberal by the way) tried to overdramatize and say Americans would reject it, it was a GIANT HIT. The people absolutely loved it then and still do now all these years later! As Katherine stated, it was the Hollywood STUDIO who were far more worried than the American people turned out to be!!!
She was sooo beautiful in "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner." I love watching the movie Just for her beauty. ❤
15:45 -16:05 Yes. Mr. Poitier was big box office at the time, however the public was also very intrigued to see 'Tracy and Hepburn' paired again in a film. It had been 9 years or so since they made a film together.
That also added great advance appeal for this film.
Indeed it did for some of the older generation of movie fans, but her point was on point - Mr Poitier was THE box office draw for the film at that time....the Tracy- Hepburn last hurrah reunion was a marvelous added ingredient, adding two of the best to ever do it, but without Poitier the movie never reaches that #1 all time box office revenue for Columbia. Ms Houghton makes an excellent point here with respect to Poitier's generosity with the billing - many in his position did not and would not have done it. Having said that...without masters Tracy and Hepburn, its hard to see this film reaching and sustaining its artistic heights. Who could have played the parents any better? Like all classics, the casting across the board was outstanding.
In addition to her fascinating story and view of this whole film and its time, her interviewer was quite capable, and also gracious enough to let her speak at length to his points.
Excellent interview! Ms. Houghton is a delight. "Joey" played perfectly the smart, loving, altruistic daughter that most parents hope to raise - despite the parent's baggage. Very Sixties, Yes. Very deep truth, yes. Very few could play opposite Portier and have such impact. Kudos for making a true classic!
She is beautiful! So graceful. God Bless. One of the best movies with a great cast.
I can never get enough of Sidnney Poitier
I feel the same about Sidney. I love his films.
GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER: I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it, and this year 2019 I'm still in love with it! It's the only love movie I really enjoy watching, thanks to that beautiful Katharine Houghton, and my brother Sidney Poitier, love them both!
You really were his brother Lennox! For this Australian, unacquainted with the racial tension in the US, it was revelatory and disappointing tbh, that an interracial marriage was so controversial. But I was unaware 🇦🇺 had a white Australia policy, so ignorant was I at 17 yrs. But your brother’s portrayal of his character (and it can’t be denied, his appearance) was unforgettable and pivotal in the cultures of the countries where it screened!
Ms. Houghton did not have a "hugely successful career" in the conventional sense after bursting onto the scene at the very top at age 22 in this iconic cinema classic. But I admire her so greatly -- because for at least the last decade or more, and now as we're at the fiftieth anniversary of this gem, she has offered herself here and elsewhere, as really the only available spokesperson, the only remaining connection, to GWCTD. She offers a priceless perspective and answers every question with thought, respect and insight. I own the 40th-anniversary DVD package, and was a bit disappointed to see that Sidney Poitier did NOT make himself available . . . but Ms. Houghton did, at length.
She had a great Broadway career though.
That had to be the most interesting and intellectual interview on a film I have ever seen - thanks for this -Katherine was in fine form and so articulate and the interviewer was so kind and polite - and smart questions - I got so much out of this- thank you again!
Hello from Dallas! Great interview! All focus on Ms. Houghton.
Blacks wasn’t crazy about mixed race back then either! Come on be honest!
Depends who you talked to. Not all "Blacks" have one unified opinion, nor do "Whites." Beware of absolutes. Add the word "some" and then you're safe.
It's shown in the movie .It may well be true but wholly different reasons
Her voice has not aged, she is still so lovely!
You have to remember that in large parts of Europe mixed race (specifically black&white) couples were not especially looked down on. They could have moved to France and spent a lifetime with little concern. While it certainly was not that way everywhere, it was worst in America & a few others like South Africa.
Great insight at 8:32 and her reaction & concern was legitimate as well. The truth was a mixture of the two. They had to tone her down to divert the focus to Sydney and the racial problems. While they touched upon it with all three couples, the issue was not gender issues. It was about racial ones and learning to separate truth from ignorance. Truth is we are all human & our hearts are interchangeable.
Another interesting point was when the delivery boy comes dancing and then leaves with the young black girl. The two of them dancing together (etc) without a care in the world for the troubles their predecessors were grappling with, showing the generation gap and the changing attitudes. The scene almost goes unnoticed and is treated almost as a cameo of the future.
God bless them at that time, years before their time
I agree with Katherine about her character. I was a kid when this movie came out and I wondered, HOW in the world did she land herself this guy? I guess in 1967 it took an accomplished, flawless black man to be worthy enough to marry a silly, clueless, privileged white girl. That's how it came across to me. I wish Katherine had got to play her as she wanted having more accomplishments and being a little more intelligent than just being rich and white. But ok, the movie was trying so hard to send the right message. I did like the movie. My favorite speech was Beah Richards telling Spencer Tracy what was what about love.
The movie has aged with the times. A beautiful young girl, and a handsome black doctor would definitely fall in love today. Opposites attract. The character of Joey was portrayed as a giddy, pretty, young woman who admired her doctor. I certainly see it as real.
Just 2.5 weeks later. Very tough indeed
Who is this wonderful interviewer? 10:55-
Agreed.
Why are y’all fighting about race in the comments..
Great movie
She's lost that stupid accent she used in the movie.
@Maxine Watermarked. What stupid accent. I've traveled all over the U.S. and quit frankly the world. Her manner of speech is how New Englanders speak. Please get out a little bit.
@Maxine Watermarked. What stupid accent. I've traveled all over the U.S. and quit frankly the world. Her manner of speech is how New Englanders speak. Please get out a little bit.
@@sadiegrill2846 Why would she have a New England accent when she was supposed to have been from San Francisco? What kind of acting is that? I thot her character was trite and predictable. All that gushing was stomach churning.
Such a great interviewer! He let her talk and didn’t interrupt her. That’s very rare. Very nice manners.
Excellent, thoughtful interviewer. Even more important n a historical context, that Poitier has passed on...
He actually listened to her answers and "piggybacked" on them as a good interviewer does.
He did a great job.
Agree totally...first rate interviewer
Wow - she's so beautiful - and not just her looks - but HER. One of my favorite films of all time...
Hepburn and Kramer put their salaries in escrow to enable the film to be made, because Tracy was uninsurable due to his significant health problems. Tracy could only work in short sequences. The end speech was carefully edited together as he didn't have the stamina to complete it in an uninterrupted take. Towards the end of filming, Tracy told Kramer, If I died on the way home tonight, you have enough film of me to complete the picture. He died three weeks after production wrapped.
Yes...so sad. Speaks volumes about who they were and are, felt about this important film.
I adore Spencer and Katharine!
Always have. What a romance story they had too.
This film had to be made, period.
So grateful and respect to all of them.
Live in peace and we love you.
And now, Sidney passed...
More love, grace and brighter light shines now.
😱😱😥😥😥
Yes, Hepburn and Kramer put up $71,000 for the high insurance premium on Tracy if he died during filming.
Tracy was happy to be working again, but told journalists visiting the set, that this would be his last movie because he was permanently retire after filming due to his health problems.
Tracy only worked 2-3 hours a day. He completed his last scene on May 24 1967. And died 17 days later on June 10th of a heart attack.
Brendan Gill if The New Yorker wrote that Tracy gave a faultless, and under the circumstances, a heartbreaking performance.
The movie became Tracy's highest grossing picture. And the 9th that he and Hepburn made together. Hepburn never saw the completed film, saying that the memories it would invoke for her of Tracy were too emotional.
Spencer Tracy was a wonderful actor, so sad that he died when he was only 67.
I'm 41. I watched this movie for the first time today. My father was in one of the 17 segregated states when this movie came out, and my mother desgregated her entire school district starting at the age of 6.
The last 15 mins of this movie made me cry uncontrollably. What masterpiece of a novice. Katherine Houghten was phenomenally amazing in her ability to make us all believe in love without prejudice.
Omgosh! When Katherine says she didn't feel her character was strong enough... she just didn't know how PERFECT she was! Perfect.
She seemed to be talking about how her character was written and not how she payed the character
@@taijusatomi-defoe42 Yes
Please read my comment on the OP to understand why she said what she did. There's fantasy and then there's reality.
Katharine gives a fine performance - despite the fact her part was seriously under written. She had to share the screen three iconic screen legends.
Tracy was a giant in that film and his last scene is the best of all time....period.
🤔 The dialogue between Poitier's character's mother and Spencer Tracey, were extremely powerful and pivotal.. a very close second to Tracey's dialogue in the final scene
The woman that played Poitier's mom in the movie was also with him in "In The Heat of the Night" movie
Ms. Houghton seems like a very articulate and nice lady...VERY interesting to hear her take on the character she portrayed in this great film...
Just like her aunt was..
I agree 100%. Ms. Houghton’s kind and respectful conduct is wonderful. And yes, articulate. Like millions, loved, loved the film. All of it, the writing, acting, directing, all of it.
Who is this lady ? She is not Katherine!
@@silviataylor936 Her name is Katherine Houghton Grant, but she didn't use the "Grant" when she was acting. She is Katherine Hepburn's niece, and she played Hepburn's daughter in the movie. Katherine Hepburn's middle name was also Houghton, btw. It was another family name.
@@Historian212 Katharine.
I can now see why Katharine Hepburn loves her niece so much.. such a graceful lady..
The closest thing Miss Hepburn had to a daughter .
Every words she says is absolute truth!!!yes, in deed, the writer was simply brilliant !!!!!!
That guy asked great questions. In my opinion, a great interview is a give and take. He has a lot of knowledge of all the movies, and ask the questions with the right tone.
You make a nice point. I am always annoyed by some of the people hired today to do interviews who ask the most inane questions, especially when they're in the presence of a great like Robert Redford. Yes, this guy was thoughtful, sensitive and asked great questions.
Not trying to be petty but it would have been nice had he dressed a little more respectful of the moment. His appearance is a little slovenly and distracting. That said, he asked great questions and allowed her to answer without interrupting her. So many interviewers seem to be more interested in the sound of their own voice than the actual interview.
@@nylorij-Lori I tend to agree with you about his dress. Perhaps a better shirt would have been in order. Of course, I'm old school. But then, he probably feels much more comfortable in the way he dresses, which helped make the interview that much better. And I so enjoyed that interview.
I disagree with Katharine, and agree with Mr. Kramer. The appeal of her character wasn't that she was white. The appeal was what she glossed over as being unimportant....her innocence. Innocence is very attractive, and the fact of her innocence, and the fact of her not even seeing race was cutting edge. It is a game changer.
Marco Ringod
Marco Ringo I agree. What Dr Prentiss loved about Joey was her beautiful spirit, happy demeanor. She was completely unaffected by racial differences, never even occurred to her. She didn’t have to have ‘accomplished ‘ anything. It was about her soul.
Well she left out the part about Dr. Prentiss/Sidney Poitier having been married before, only to have lost his first wife and child in a horrible accident. I always interpreted his falling in love with Joanna/Katherine as a sort of getting lost in relationship that was so different from his marriage it could make him get over the pain. Don't forget: there was also an age thing between the two characters - he was at least 10 years older than her. I always thought of it as "Well yeah - now he's an older guy who wants his young sexy thang!"
@@rcruz4510 I remember a conservative radio talk show hostess say many years ago that that really should've been the "taboo" in the relationship...the fact that Dr. Prentice was 37 years old, and was courting a 22-year-old woman, and not so much the color issue.
Her innocence is a cornerstone of the film. We are all born this way, it is life that takes the innocence out of us. To play a 23-year-old woman who can't see skin color is remarkable. The physical resemblance to her aunt also makes her more credible.
The scene between Dr Prentice and his father in Mr Drayton’s library was really powerful. It brought me to tears.
I thought he was a little rough on his father.
@@MsMollah - Excellent point...agree with Ms Houghton that the film was largely well-written, but this scene was clearly written by someone not as knowledgeable in Afro-American history as needed. The remark about his father's generation being somewhat of a useless burden that had to get off his back was totally over the top. His father's generation is what is now commonly referred to as "The Greatest Generation." Blacks like his father had served with distinction in WWI, WWII, Korea, and battled thru a Great Depression and decades of nationwide terrorizing Jim Crow Segregation to achieve at the highest levels of all aspects of American society, despite the hate, roadblocks, and resistance.
Indeed, it is the constant yeoman's work of his father's generation that made Dr Prentice's ability to even think about marrying a white woman possible. The son's speech lacked consideration for these essential factors and the writer would have been better served to have someone like a James Baldwin or others versed in Afro-American history to review the speech to make sure it took into account these factors. For example, Dr Alvin Poussaint, Harlem native, and for many years, Dean of Harvard Medical School, use to review all of "The Cosby Show" scripts before they were filmed, to ensure they were socially and culturally well-written and that character behavior was consistent with proper family interactions and exchanges. Writer William Rose ideally could have contacted one of many distinguished history/sociology professor's at a number of historically black colleges and universities and had one of them review the father-son scene to improve it. No travel required..could have all been done quickly via telephone/wire/mail. This is where staff diversity also helps; and if you don't have it in-house, seek it outside the organization.
@@waldolydecker8118 Great points. I come from a mixed background and had grandparents from different ethnic groups. They were also from the greatest generation. The things that Dr Prentice said to his father didn't go with the rest of Dr Prentice's character. He wasn't an impetuous teen- but an established man in his late 30s. He worked with charities and underprivileged nations with different cultures that would need empathy and understanding. He had lost a wife and child. There was nothing to indicate that the father had been abusive toward him- but that he had worked extremely hard in a very difficult time, encouraging his son to reach the height of his potential in a harsh, but changing reality.
I can't imagine how African American of the greatest generation felt about the Civil Rights Act- I would guess many conflicting emotions- happiness, hope, suspicion- it must have been a lot to take in for people born in the 1910s-1920s.
Dr Prentice could have been firm that he would marry his new love after years of being heartbroken over the loss of his wife and child, and miraculously having a new chance for love, and that he would pray that his father would come to accept it and be happy for them.
I also thought it was strange that he was willing to just walk away if Joey's father wouldn't condone the marriage, but was so adamant, to the point of being verbally vicious to his own father. I actually thought this conversation was the weak point in the movie and agree that it would have been helpful to have African American experts weigh in on that segment of the script at least.
@@MsMollah - Excellent comments....I agree, the father-son scene was without a doubt the movie's low point. It was the one area where the writer simply had no intimate experience as a reference point to inform his writing. The dichotomy of how Dr Prentice dealt with the two fathers is also indicative of the movie being written for the white audience, as Ms Houghton noted.
Beautiful scene and a very powerful scene
The interviewer did a wonderful job, as did Katharine. I love that she is so real, so beautiful, articulate, well educated, and candid -- just like her aunt. Runs in the family.
Indeed.
What a beautiful lady, I loved her character Joey
Spencer passed on 2 weeks after the movie. Live In Peace Spencer! We love you. 💕
Rest in peace, Sir Sidney Poitier
She is so articulate and responsive these days. Yet, originally in the movie theater I found her performance the weak link. Seeing the film years later I feel her performance was marvelous and understated by her unquestioned commitment to portraying a beautiful optimist that led credulity to a magnificent film.
When I first saw the movie the first overwhelming emotional beautiful moment came when Spencer’s Matt Drayton is in his study trying to find an easy out by having Sidney’s character investigated only to find that he was very accomplished to Kate’s characters delight and goes into a speech that sends her to the window watching her daughter laughing with Sidney. “ happy As a baby , happy through childhood, but I don’t think I’ve seen her as happy as she is right now - I’m happy we made her referring to her earlier comment of “ we told her that there were no differences btw the white folks and black and when e did Matt , we never said “ But Don’t marry one “ and I’m happy Joey is Joey and that we helped make her - paraphrasing . Wow ! It’s common sense yet said so clearly that it’s impossible to argue with because it’s the truth . A universal truth . Love is love and who you live should not be decided by the color of one’s skin ( Matt’s speech “ a pigmentation problem ) lol
Thought she was so pretty in her youth
Kirk Barkley I was kinda stunned that this certainly once beautiful actress, today greatly resembles old Hollywood 30’s Zasu Pitts! So sorry, but if you know that actress, you can’t unsee this.
@@marjoriemargel1567 She does have a resemblance now to Za Zu Pitts and even sounds a little like her but such was definitely not the case when she made “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”. How would her movie family have reacted if the black guy she brings home is a salesman or baggage handler and not the highly educated, polished, and handsome physician? His manner and profession made his character more palatable and marriage more acceptable.
@@marjoriemargel1567 Know ZaSu very well!
One of the greatest, and one of my top 3 fave films of all time.The couple's characters HAD to be 2 dimensional and 'fairy tale'. The impact wouldn't have been the same on the audience otherwise. The film, for that time, had to narrowly focus on the reactions of everyone else, or it would've been too distracting to the message. There was a clarity in how it was done.
I agree. I have wondered how it would have been if Sidney Poitier's character had been a nice, decent guy, but had been a postal employee like his Dad or a factory worker. I guess he had to be the educated and noble physician and have the fairy tale aspect for it to work. I thought it was interesting that Spencer Tracy's character said to his wife something to the effect- how did a postman produce such a brilliant, special person as Sidney Potier's character. Class snobbery showing too.
I don't know who this guy is but he is a great interviewer. And Katherine is a great guest.
Great interview and her character was just a perfect foil to Sidney , its amazing that she couldnt see it . She was so ahead of her time and also i agree she portrayed a powerful female character as she stood up for herself and what she wanted , nothing more captivating in a modern woman 😍❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Totally agree 🙏🏽
The best movie ever, seen it about 20 plus times.
Me too!
I also liked the actor who played the priest, Cecil...
I agree...it's way better than that stupid sequel with Ashton Kutcher ...😖
Katherine Houghton still looks beautiful
Only she could have played that part. Quite obvious .
I wholeheartedly agree. Katharine is still a beauty.
Well, no, she looks old. But then aren't we all, eventually.
Yes
@@keith536 I think a person can look "old" and beautiful.
Praise God times have changed so much for better not perfect but better!
James Baldwin thought all she had was that she was white? talk about missing the mark entirely.
I love this film ...I love Sidney Poitier ( a true warrior for humanity)...the end of this interview is spot on...this film is more relevant than ever...(sad but true) let us continue to fight the good fight
Thrilled that the subject matter emotionally involved the interviewer because he treated her with the respect that she brought to the project. Her character has always been slaughtered by the critics through the years because the screenplay was so convincing on the matter that they needed to find something to pick on.( and it was usually her or how her character was written.). I think she was pleasantly surprised.
I enjoyed watching this interview, Ms. Houghton is very well read, well spoken and very intelligent and very interesting. ❣️🙏
I wish Oprah would do a reunion with Sidney and Katharine. They should share some behind the scenes stories. This was a powerful movie
Sidney Poitier was a classic gentleman, such a joy to watch. I grew up with Sidney Poitier movies and he is a Pele, To Sir with love, ❣️
Sidney is still alive and well at 93 but Katharine Hepburn passed away in 2003 at 96.
Kyle Bradley They’re talking about Katharine Houghton.
Agree
Houghton does not do press type probing interviews. It therefore was not gonna happen. Good for her.
One of my favorite movies from the Sidney Poitier classic collection RIP SIDNEY🙏🙏🙏
Really interesting to hear her insights from her fellow actors from movie. It was a “ fairy tale” but full of wisdom and beautiful performances from all.
Top of my movie list - just a wonderful movie!
This is great! She is incredible. And so honest, well spoken and love all the details of how it all came to be.
Her respect to her fellow Actors, Writers, Director, Producer and Crew says alot about her.
Thank you, for this treasure.
She is the now only cast member still on earth.
Bless you. ❤❤❤
About Sidney...He was in
56 motion pictures!
for 50 plus years
His work as a man has been represented in his characters. And vice versa.
Integrity, strength of character, class and GRACE only begin to define him.
He attributes this to his parents
How blessed is that!
Much love, blessings and hope to all of you reading this.
~ When asked, "Who are you?"
Sidney responded,
" I am who I choose to be"
Powerful.
I always loved this film. She's a wonderful interview. I never saw this film as a comedy.
Thank you for the wonderful interview with Katherine Houghton, niece of Katherine Hepburn, who looked and sounded like her aunt, with the upper crust New England accent, only sweeter and, of course, younger in GWCTD. And, even more so, to see her as an older woman. She still has some of her good looks, as of 2017, at least. Nice retrospective on the making of the movie and the cast.
The same beautiful and lovely voice like in the movie, thank You 🌷
A lovely intelligent woman.I listened and learnt..
humble and adorable lady… very insightful exchange indeed…
just watched the movie again this evening… Houghton defo did her part to help make the whole thing an instant classic… 🎬
massive appreciation in 2023 from London 🇬🇧
Legendary movie
Wow, what a fantastic and fascinating interview! Ms. Houghton is incredibly self-aware and the interviewer is just terrific -- great questions!
Of course they paired her with an actor 18 years her senior to be her love interest! Even in attempting to break racial barriers Hollywood still managed to be paternalistic.
Going back 5 generations ago, ,the character Joey did not have to equal Dr. Prentice's achievements, she just had to be a good wife. She had a lot of good qualities that I admire. She was always straight to the point. This is the Man I love and this is the Man I am going to marry. Sidney's character admired her youthful energy and optimism and fell in love. They had an age difference and fell in love very fast. The Oscar winning script was Brilliant. I always wanted to know what happened to K. Houghton. I have not seen her in any other film. I guess she wrote and acted for the stage.
Shes been in plenty. Last airbender 2010
Well said
I think you mean 5 Decades, not Generations.
Yes, it was kind of odd that he agreed to be engaged/married so fast at his age. It seems that he would have wanted her to experience a bit of life as a single young woman and to make sure marriage with him was what she wanted. It seemed kind of impetuous for a man that age with so many life experiences already.
Awwwww, she was such a lovely girl in the movie.
Katherine Hepburn was related to the Houghtons who owned Corning Glass Works, now Corning Inc. in Corning, NY.
Yes, her mother was Katharine Houghton and all of her children's middle names were Houghton.
The Crystal City of the Southern Tier.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is one of the greatest movies ever made, in tackling the subject of interracial couples. But...........having said that, It "WAS", my all time favorite movie until recently. I started watching old movies of Mr. Poitier during this quarantine era. Low and behold I came across, "A Patch of Blue", and it blew me away. How i missed it all these years is beyond me. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions while watching, "A Patch of Blue". It is now my absolute favorite movie, and has taken the top spot for me, over, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and The Color Purple". The acting by Sidney and Elizabeth Hartman set a bar for me. They were magical together on the screen, along with Shelley Winters, who made me hate her character because, Shelley made her character so believable, as did Ms. Hartman and Sidney. To me it is thee greatest, simple yet complex movie I've ever seen on a subject like "Integration/Interracial Couple/Racism and Bigotry, in America.
Saw a "Patch of Blue " as a young person when it came out.
It certainly "set the bar"
Hated racism growing up in the south,.
That movie gave me so much hope it's impossible to voice it, even after all these ensuing decades.
🌹🕊️🐦
Thankyou for the suggestion , i will have to search for that film now . RIP Sidney ❤️🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
My sentiments, exactly! "Guess who's Coming to Dinner" starred three of my favorite actors, yet I've always found "A Patch of Blue" to be a much more poignant interracial love story. It dealt with racism on a much more subtle level, without being preachy or in your face, and even though racism was not the main focus of the movie ( I felt the love story was), it was there throughout the movie, and the statement it made was profound. I don't know if that makes sense, but that is how I viewed it.
What a wonderful and prolific actor that Sydney Poitier who had an engaging n intense style🙏🤩
"Paris Blues" is a wonderful Poitier movie with a quartet of amazing performances-Poitier, Paul Newman, Dianne Carroll, and Joanne Woodward! And the early 1960s Paris Jazz scene in all it's glory !!!!
I think its the best movie ever made I have watched it over 100 times
Katharine such a beautiful girl
Yes. Have a reunion while they are both still living.
oops.
Wonder why they never made a sequel how their life would be after they got married?
And Hale Berry like their daughter.Hale is birracial and she was 18 months old when the movie was released but her parentes, according to her biography, were always arguing.
You know why..
Interviewed her just before the release of `Guess Who`s Coming to Dinner`. Also saw her in `A Scent of Flowers` where I think she gives a stronger performance.
Love you, Katharine, but disagree. Joey was an absolutely wonderful sweetheart of a person who towered above racial prejudice. I actually don’t think she was unaware of the issues. That’s only part of what John fell in love with.
She was from a prominent and we'll off family. She would not have been interested in someone ordinary and not well traveled.
In the last scene, when Spencer made eye content with Kate the feeling was so strong of the love they shared for so many years. THAT'S EVERYTHING ❤
The critics never gave Katherine’s portrayal of Joey the credit she deserved. They called Joey rather simple and naive and they did not understand what Sidney did about the character. Sorry, Joey was absolutely perfect and Sidney proved everyone wrong. Saying that Joey needed to prove her worthiness to marry Dr. Prentice greatly underestimates the character of Joey AND her fiancée.
Thanks so much for filming this interview, just watched this film on bbc 2 for the first time, never heard of it or any of the actors, even of Sidney Poitier (Who I need to look into), we haven't come very far at all as a society looking at race relations and I am wondering why that is...
She said Quality of Soul. That is similar to the content of Their character.
Thanks so much for filming this interview !!!
he's a very good interviewer. he asked question then let her speak. it's also interesting that the film was made it so that the young people were getting married then going off to start a life in switzerland. neutral space, the racism is perhaps not as virulent as it is and was when the film was made. just an observation.
This is GOLD.
Precious Memories. ⚘🎚
Thank you, to all of you who had a part in this amazing film.
You made history.
You changed people's minds and changed lives.
You should be so proud!
Bravo Sidney! Spencer, Katherine, the entire cast, the writers, Directors, Producers, the Crew, Lighting, Gaffers, Grip, Makeup, Set Deco, Wardrobe, ALL OF YOU! ❤❤❤
This movie also made Columbia more money than any other film, at the time!
Sadly, Spencer was very ill while filming this. But he insisted to do this film, he believed in it.
He passed on 2 weeks after it was a wrap.
We needed this film, more than was realized.
And now, Sidney has passed on a few days ago.
So many thoughts, emotions about this stellar Actor, distinguished person and beautiful spirit.
He tore down walls and barriers in the film industry so that others could pursue their dreams, passions and enrich lives!
He is a legend.
Ground-breaking
A man with natural grace, well spoken, a strong presence and so eloquent.
Sidney was the star.
He shines on forever and speaks to us. To never give up, to pursue, achieve your dreams, stay strong in spirit.
To break down the barriers that should not stand.
We are all connected and one.
~ Love is love.
We see in people, not in color.
Everyone is welcome at our dinner table!
With much gratitude, respect and love to all of you.
Dear Sidney, Live on In Peace. ❤☮🆓️
I saw the resemblance immediately. She looks very much like her aunt.
phtevlin yes she does
Yes she does, A little like Spencer Tracy too. Kinda like if they had a secret daughter raised by a relative.
Nope don't see it.
I see it
I’m glad she had a problem with her character, I thought she came off as more a love struck teenager than a mature person. Kind of grating really.
Exactly. She was not well castcor the character was not well developed
This video is an absolute treasure. Just so lovely hearing Katherine, after all these years. I used to keep hoping l would see her in another movie, but never did. I wonder what did she do after GWCTD.
When she was telling us her concern with her role, I would love to have been able to tell her how I could totally connect to Joey's character, in this, my favourite movie of all time. She portrayed perfectly, how naive we can be, when brought up in a very idealistic family. Exactly how l evolved with my upbringing.
Since the time of the film, Ms. Houghton has starred in over fifty on and off Broadway and New England regional theater productions. She is also a playwright and amongst her credits are productions of: "Best Kept Secret", "Merlin", "The Marry Month Of May", "Mortal Friends", "On The Shady Side", "The Right Number", "Phone Play" and her translation of Anouilh's "Antigone". She also presents lectures: "Katharine X Three", "My Grandmother's House Near The River" and "The Secret Life of Louisa May Alcott". She is quite accomplished.
Wow, that is impressive.. I heard her refer to the theatre, at the beginning, and wondered if that is what she chose to continue with. Being related to Katherine Hepburn l assumed she had made a worthwhile contribution to some aspect of life. Thank you Laura, for filling this Aussie in. I have thought of her often over the years.
allymayful this was a really enjoyable interview
She was in the last airbender in 2010.
A blockbuster role
Beautiful classic movie at it's best.Love the cast as well.Enjoy the interview
Wonderful movie!!!!!!
I WANT TO MEET HER SOOOOOOOOOOOO BADLY! :'(
I love Katherine Houghton in her interviews, she's such a beautiful person......this is now one of my favorite movies of all time!
Amazing interview . Thank you
Great film. Got my own copy. Can watch it time & time again.
We need another film similar to how this one was written, but for women's rights as they're being attacked today. It can include the problem of racism as we're still dealing with it today too. It can also include the problem of poverty and homelessness and how poorly our politicians and lawmakers are dealing with it. I completely agree that a woman (of any color) should be shown as being accomplished and not being some flaky rich girl who relies on the color of her skin for her ability to move up in the world. Give her a desire to work in STEM. Yes, she can be nice, kind, thoughtful and fun, but also witty, intelligent, and forward-thinking, with progressive leanings that rub her parents the wrong way. One parent should be a liberal and the other a conservative, with the unique set of circumstances that comes with such a blending. She should be "undeclared" or otherwise "independent," regarding politics. She should be a humanitarian who has already done some things to help in the cause of homelessness during her teen years.
To anyone who wants to make such a film, I ask the following of you:
Show her parents telling her, as a 17 year old, "You can only go to the college we picked out for you if you want us to pay for it." That 4-year college should be in the same city and the parents should assume they can keep her at home, unwitting of the rules forcing her to live in a dorm anyway. Show how she's forced to agree to rat out any other female college student who sleeps with her boyfriend. Show how she's forced to work in the college laundry by the rules of the college itself that she has to have a job, and that's the only job left available on the campus. Show her raw, red hands, and show how she's struggling with sleep deprivation and being worn out at the same time in order to keep up with everything. Show her crazy roommate who lies to her about other students bad-mouthing her behind her back.
Show how she gets treated by a male academic administrator who tells the technology instructors to use "subjective grading" to ruin her GPA and who changes the rules on her personally throughout a quarter where he teaches one of her core classes, so she can't get a decent grade in that class. Show what happens when her narcissistic parents advise her on what to do about all of that.
Show her in her struggles to get a job in her chosen field after leaving school (graduated or not), and how she winds up having to live out of her car and do deliveries to make ends meet. She should have an Android WiFi phone (given her by her parents in her teen years) and a Skype account, at least at first, until she runs out of money even for that. Show her having to rely on social media and email for all her communications. She can use Starbucks' WiFi to use that phone setup to receive calls for interviews until she can't pay for a phone number anymore. She shouldn't have a PO box because she can't afford one, so she can't receive mail, even from the state, after she applies for welfare.
Show her in her personal life, how it goes, and how she winds up as an unwed or even a formerly wed mother in a state that won't allow her to have an abortion after she finds out she's pregnant. Show what happens when she makes just $5 a month too much to qualify for her state's welfare programs that she still needs as she's still living out of her car and caring for a baby. Show her struggles to qualify for an apartment or to purchase a house, because that same income is too low to help her in either direction. Show how she can't meet all the expectations of HUD or other programs either.
Show how she learns about narcissism, from advice given her first through friends she makes and later through TH-cam videos (real-world professionals can be shown here, with their cooperation). Show her learning about how it starts with the narcissistic parents and bleeds over into how she interacts with narcissistic SOs and friends alike, and gets sucked in by them. Show her not learning about narcissism until it's too late to extricate herself from it in the case of her parents. Show her efforts to try to live through and deal with that situation.
Show the impossible choices she's forced to make, for the sake of her baby. Should she accept money from her narcissistic parents, who contact her, offer her money, but also choose to believe crazy, horrible things about her that clearly aren't true, so they won't ask her to come live with them (and wouldn't treat her right even if she did), or should she have complete freedom from them and force her baby to continue living on the streets? Show how she's given no third alternative to choose. Show how her car dies and she can't afford to fix or replace it, then she winds up with a misdemeanor for "littering" with it, so now she has a "record" and owes fines she can't pay.
Show what happens when a new, non-religious family takes up her cause, helps her as she helps herself, sets the right boundaries with her instead of the wrong ones, and how she finally gets up on her own two feet and is able to raise her child, first in an apartment and later in a cottage with a small back yard. The family should be non-religious in order to avoid putting one religion over another.
Show her as she winds up having to decide whether she wants to marry someone (man, woman, other, of whatever race, doesn't matter here) or remain a single, strong, and independent woman. Show the SO as someone who has problems of their own (doesn't matter which), and again, the hard choices she has to make while, this time, not using her child as a deciding factor, but instead, just looking at her own personal needs going forward. Leave her choice ambiguous in the end, so the audience is forced to think about her needs and the problems her SO is dealing with, not on whether she should marry or not. Focus on what's wrong in our society today, especially in its attitudes towards women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and towards the poor and homeless - and on what we ought to be thinking, feeling, saying, and doing instead. Use the child to give the sermon in "Hors d'oeuvres" throughout the film, and then the "main course" and the "dessert" at the end.
Show it all, the complexities of the life of a young woman of today, and do it with as much intelligence and care as "Guess who's coming to dinner?" was given. Yes, there should be lightness and wit, but also key-point elements thrown in, and a lot of truth that people of today don't tend to like to face, including what we can do about the problems that real people like her face every day. If any of the above elements can't be shown, then they should be discussed in enough detail to give the audience the clear view of what she's going through.
Katharine is spot-on about her character. Joey is the blandest, most uninteresting character, way below the standards that Dr. Prentice should have. I literally cheered when she said Joey needed to “prove she’s worth her salt, that she doesn’t get Prince Charming just because she’s white.” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 If only the filmmakers had listened to her, the film overall would’ve been so much stronger.
Interesting analyzation of the movie!
What an epic movie it was; yes, Sidney Poitier was the box office flyer !! 😎
I wish TH-cam would filter this in my view list tomorrow!
BEA RICHARDS broke my heart
She is so wonderful and loved it