Bright Road

This is the most beautiful story I've ever seen about a young Black boy in America. I could definitely relate to C.T. Young, who is played by Philip Hepburn. Hepburn really captivates me to no end. I would love very much to have this movie in my collection of favorites. It's Number One. What I especially enjoy about this movie is that it takes place in a schoolhouse setting. Dorothy Dandrige plays the teacher, and she's fabulous. She is a new teacher in the district, and the attention that she gives to pupil C.T. Young is an excellent example of what a teacher should be, which is one who encourages a student, and not discourage a student. She takes her time with C.T. Young and it pays off, because Young is such a beautiful and intelligent young man. Dandride plays a teacher who gives a lot of positive reinforcement to her students. I really really really love this movie. It's a very positive movie, which is quite refreshing.

I just seen this movie and although this can not compare to the dynamic duo performance of Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte performance in Carmen Jones, this was indeed a great family film with a powerful message. What is most important is that this movie showcases black actor and actress that are educated and didn't talk with nonsense like actors Stephen Fitchit and the ignorant Amos and Andy and Beulah Show. Dorothy and Harry really stood out in this movie, but we all know what she is remembered for.This movie dealt with real situations, even though it seems a little watered down at times , this movie is truly special and should receive a lot more recognition.This movie should be on everyone's to watch list.

It is no coincidence this movie was written by a seasoned School Teacher. What this award-winning story essentially does - in the unusual context of a Hollywood movie - is to present an "outside-the-box" approach to dealing with the disciplinary and behavioral problems of a young male school student. By tapping into and encouraging the talents and interests of young rambunctious C.T., school teacher Ms. Richards (played by Dorothy Dandridge), is able to show how superficial negative classroom behavior can be evaluated and properly re-channeled to achieve positive results. Where the typical reaction to the student in our school system today by teachers and school administrators is to issue non-rehabilitating disciplinary action or suspension, the constructive approach demonstrated in this movie results in a "win-win" solution for all involved. Not a bad lesson for both our overcrowded and dysfunctional school and judicial systems to learn some 50 years later as they both still routinely devour the C.T.'s of the world without a care to the horrendous social cost-benefits resulting from excessive or unnecessary punitive action.

Harry Belafonte (in his first film role) also stars as the supportive school Principal. In a poignant scene beautifully worked into the story, he premieres one of his original compositions, "Suzanne."

This film falls into that genre of movies which celebrate education and the power of great teaching to influence and develop young minds and hearts especially through the medium of the fine arts. Besides the several films which your other reviewers cited I could add How Green Was My Valley, Renaissance Man, Konrack, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Chorus, etc. In this film the arts were represented by the students' staging of Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, just as in Renaissance Man by the Shakespeare plays, in Mr. Holland's Opus by the ensemble music they all performed together, in The Chorus by all the music the students sang together, etc.

The CT character was admirably strong. Since he was by age a 7th grader in a 4th grade class he had already reached the stage of disillusionment and could strongly insist on the non-existence of Santa Claus as well as of a god in whose image they were all supposedly made but who had failed to solve the conundrum of two different images: white and black. CT wasn't having any of that and walked out.

I discovered that this was Harry Belafonte's first movie. Indeed he seemed rather stiff in his acting and delivering his lines.

I was surprised that the segregated school the students attended was a smart looking brick building. I always imagined them as wooden shacks. Was I wrong? A jarring note in the film was the white doctor at Tanya's bedside. It implied that black people weren't smart enough to become doctors, or more likely were prevented from being so.

I found the movie a rather sugar-coated version of black life in the south, but still, all the African-American characters were treated with respect and without condescension which I found admirable.

This was really a good movie. I wish there was a sequel. I wish more teachers were like Dorothy Dandridge's character. Obviously we have many problem children now and we need more understanding teachers who are willing to have a heart, instead of just going to earn a paycheck and bark out orders and schoolwork. No wonder we have so many angry children who grow up to be angry adults, they get no love at home nor at school. I feel if you want to be a teacher, you got to realize you're more then a teacher, you got to be a parent too. You got to find a special gift, hobby, or talent in a problem child and make that child feel special and in that way, that'll help them be better in other activities and schoolwork.

Everyone in this movie touched my heart, especially the children, for kids who never acted before they were so natural and believable. In those days work for black children in movies was rare so I'm not surprised most of the black children in the movie didn't appear in any other films but I want them to know their appreciated for their appearances and I hope some of them will post on this forum to let us know what became of them.

The girl who played Tanya (Barbara Ann Sanders) had such a sweet face and tears came to my eyes when she died. I can't help but think what could have became of all these children if their were acting opportunities for black children. The boy who played C.T. (Phillip Hepburn) was amazing and his acting was so believable. Even in today's era there are many boys just like C.T. who are misunderstood and just need extra tender, loving, and care.

I noticed many black dancers/actresses who had been in Hollywood films as dancers and maids for years in this film, that weren't credited but had small parts, such as, Louise Franklin, Doris Ake, Jeni LeGon, Vivian Dandridge, Dorothy's sister. Maidie Norman was wonderful as Tanya's mother. All these black actresses didn't have the fair chance to really shine in films. They were left out because of Hollywood not wanting to give too many black women a chance in films. Lena Horne and Dorothy got a chance, but even they struggled.

Last but not least, Dorothy was wonderful as a caring teacher who won't give up on C.T. Dorothy is very pretty but not overly glamorous, she's very believable as a teacher.

See this movie if you get a chance, with all the junk out today, you can spare 66 minutes to see an inspirational film about not giving up on anyone. Sometimes people will be a problem just to test you to see if you really care. There's a scene where C.T. shows he really knows the answers to his math but he won't reveal he's really smart to the teacher. He wants her to show she cares first.

If you like this film, you will love "Take A Giant Step" starring Johnny Nash and Ruby Dee, made in 1959 or 1960. After seeing "Bright Road," I feel "Take A Giant Step" might have been a sequel to this movie. Take A Giant Step is about a troubled teenage black boy trying to find acceptance and his place in a unfair world. It's very good. Johnny Nash even resembled what an older C.T. might have looked like. There's an actress in the film who the teenage boy is in awe of and I think because he reminds her of Tanya, but that's just my take.

Anyways, you'll love both films. Why don't they make films like these anymore?