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The movie's theme of racial co-operation was daring for its time. It was successful on release both commercially and critically and has since come to be regarded as a classic. It received eight Academy Award nominations and won two - for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
The acting is first class throughout with brilliant performances from Poitier and Curtis and fine support from the rest of the cast.
Main Cast
Tony Curtis ... John "Joker" JacksonSidney Poitier ... Noah Cullen
Theodore Bikel ... Sheriff Max Muller
Charles McGraw ... Captain Frank Gibbons
Lon Chaney, Jr. ... Big Sam
King Donovan ... Solly
Claude Akins ... Mack
Lawrence Dobkin ... Editor
Whit Bissell ... Lou Gans
Carl Switzer ... Angus
Kevin Coughlin ... Billy
Cara Williams ... Billy's mother
Credits
Director ... Stanley KramerProducer ... Stanley Kramer
Production Company ... Curtleigh Productions
Screenplay ... Nathan E. Douglas, Harold Jacob Smith
Cinemtography ... Sam Leavitt
Music ... Ernest Gold, William C. Handy
Distributed by United Artists
Release date ... 27 September 1958
Running time ... 97 minutes
Academy Awards
Two Wins:Best Cinematography, Black-and-White ... Sam Leavitt
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen ... Nathan E. Douglas (pseudonym of Nedrick Young ), Harold Jacob Smith
Seven Unsuccessful Nominations:
Best Picture ... Stanley Kramer
Best Director ... Stanley Kramer
Best Actor ... Tony Curtis
Best Actor ... Sidney Poitier
Best Supporting Actor ... Theodore Bikel
Best Supporting Actress ... Cara Williams
Best Film Editing ... Frederic Knudtson