7 Movies That Were Controversial in Their Time but Deserve to Be Admired Today ...

By Sabrina

I’ve always been a fan of classic films, especially movies that were controversial in their time. It fascinates me to see how different the world once was, even as recently as fifty years ago. Culture is constantly evolving, so many of the movies that were controversial in their time are now simply works of art. These are a few of my favorite films that, for varied reasons, received criticism when they were released.

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1

A Patch of Blue (1965)

Let me say that out of all of the movies that were controversial in their time, my absolute favorite is “A Patch of Blue”. This marvelous film tells the tale of a blind, white girl (Elizabeth Hartmen) with a racist mother (Shelley Winters) who befriends an educated, black man, (Sidney Poitier). Not only does this movie feature stellar acting and an emotional plot, but it reminds you of a time when equality didn’t mean what it means today. In fact, certain scenes from “A Patch of Blue” were cut out when it was first released, so as to avoid offending audiences.

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Another interesting fact about "A Patch of Blue" is that it was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address the topic of interracial relationships. This was a highly controversial subject at the time, and the film received backlash from some audiences and critics. However, it also received critical acclaim and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Elizabeth Hartman and Best Supporting Actress for Shelley Winters. Today, the film is recognized as a groundbreaking and thought-provoking piece of cinema that tackles important issues of racism and prejudice. Its message of acceptance and love still resonates with audiences today.

2

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (1967)

Another one of my favorites, this controversial film features Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, and Katharine Houghton. With a star-studded cast like that, this movie became an instant classic! What made this movie such a hot topic was the fact that Sidney Poitier’s character was engaged to Katharine Houghton. As in with "A Patch of Blue", world wide audiences had to wrestle with the concept of interracial relationships, and determine whether it was right or wrong.

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"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" was released in 1967, during a time when interracial relationships were still considered taboo in many parts of the world. The film's portrayal of a white woman engaged to a black man sparked controversy and debate among audiences. Despite this, the movie was a critical and commercial success, earning 10 Academy Award nominations and winning two. It also paved the way for more diverse and inclusive representation in Hollywood. Today, the film is recognized as a groundbreaking and thought-provoking piece of cinema that challenged societal norms and sparked important conversations about race and love.

3

The Defiant Ones (1958)

I think it’s clear now that I just have a thing for Sidney Poitier, who starred in this film alongside Tony Curtis. Most of Poitier’s films were controversial, as the screen was his medium for challenging unfair social standards. This particular film depicts two escaped convicts, one black and one white, who are chained together and must learn to cooperate as they try to run from the authorities. "The Defiant Ones" proved that race had nothing to do with a man’s right to freedom.

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In addition to being a powerful commentary on race relations, "The Defiant Ones" was also a groundbreaking film in terms of its casting. Poitier and Curtis were the first interracial pair to be featured as leads in a Hollywood film. This was a bold move at a time when segregation was still prevalent in society. The film was also nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two for Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography. It remains a significant film in the history of cinema and continues to be studied and admired for its social commentary and groundbreaking casting choices.

4

Imitation of Life (1959)

I only watched “Imitation of Life” recently, after months of my mother telling me it was a must-see. And she was 100% right! This film is worth watching today, despite its once controversial nature. "Imitation of Life" describes the lives of two women, one black and one white, who become close friends, live together, and raise their daughters together. While their lives are seemingly perfect, lurking beneath the surface are the grudges each daughter holds against her mother. Ultimately, the light-skinned black daughter rejects her mother and runs away, passing for white in 1950's America.

5

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

I don’t think there is a movie more controversial than “Suddenly, Last Summer”. Tennessee Williams was known for pushing the envelope with the themes of his plays, but "Suddenly, Last Summer", which was adapted from his one-act play, still took me by surprise. This movie is nothing short of a masterpiece, with Katherine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor as leading ladies, both of whom received Oscar nominations for their performances. Tennessee Williams wove mental illness, homosexuality, and even cannibalism into the script, creating a piece that would receive overwhelming criticism and curiosity from audiences around the world.

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One of the reasons why "Suddenly, Last Summer" was so controversial at the time of its release was due to its exploration of taboo topics such as mental illness and homosexuality. In the 1950s, these were still considered highly taboo and rarely portrayed on screen. Additionally, the movie's depiction of cannibalism also caused a stir among audiences. However, despite the controversy, the film received critical acclaim and has since been recognized as a groundbreaking work in its honest portrayal of these controversial themes. It also sparked important conversations and debates about these issues, making it a significant piece of cinema in its time.

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6

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Elizabeth Taylor is one of my favorite actresses. She was always so elegant, poised, and refined in her roles... that is until “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” premiered. This film redefined Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton as actors, forever changing fans’ views of these Hollywood royals. The academy award winning film dealt with alcoholism and severe mental illness without sugar-coating either. The entire plot takes place in one night, and is merely a glimpse at a bitter couple’s life, yet the film successfully roused much debate from its audience.

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"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" was not only controversial for its raw and unapologetic portrayal of alcoholism and mental illness, but also for its use of profanity and sexual themes. In fact, the film was initially given an X rating due to its explicit content. However, it went on to receive critical acclaim and multiple Academy Award nominations, including wins for Elizabeth Taylor and Sandy Dennis for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Today, it is considered a classic and a groundbreaking film for its time, breaking barriers and pushing the boundaries of what was deemed acceptable in cinema.

7

Splendor in the Grass (1961)

Splendor in the Grass, starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty, certainly earns a spot on the list of my favorite controversial movies. This film begins as a tale of forbidden love in a small Kansas town, but deals with heavy topics as the movie progresses. Natalie Wood plays Wilma Dean Loomis, a confused young woman who doesn’t know how to express the love she feels for her boyfriend within the limits of what her society deems respectable, ultimately leading to a mental breakdown. In my opinion, “Splendor in the Grass” deserves as much adoration today as criticism it received in the past.

I love any and all classic movies because they portray a certain charm most of our movies lack today. But, as difficult as it is for me to believe, there was a time when some of my favorite movies were disapproved of by audiences all the world over just for challenging social norms! Luckily, today these controversial films can be appreciated as the gems that they are. Which of these movies would you like to see? Are there any of your favorite films missing from my list?

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Another controversial well hidden movie is "The Children's Hour"- starring Katherine Hepburn. This classic touches on homosexuality in a very subtle way. A must see.

👏👏👏👏🌟🎞📽✌️👍👍~ SUPER stuff, “SUPER~Sabrina”!! LOVEEE Sidney Poitier!!

I love "Imitation of Life". If I am not mistaken, there are 2 versions of it.

Splendour in the grass made me depressed for a while after seeing this when I was 20, cause my bf had left me for another girl.

Psycho (1960) was the first of it's kind, inventing the slasher genre and creating some images and scenes that were pretty controversial and shocking at the time. A lot of early reviews deemed it obscene. Now it's considered to be one of the classics, and my personal fave of Hitchcock's.

The Manchurian candidate (the original with Frank Sinatra sr.) and rocky horror picture show

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