MovieChat Forums > Lost Boundaries (1949) Discussion > In real life, it was an unhappy ending, ...

In real life, it was an unhappy ending, alas.

posted 12 years ago by susenet
6 replies | jump to latest

I was looking for a photo of the doctor whose story was made into "Lost Boundaries". I found one and he doesn't look like Mel Ferrer. He kind of looks like the wife's father in the movie.

Apparently, in contrast to the film's happy ending, there wasn't such a nice tolerant ending for the actual doctor in New Hampshire. He was fired from his hospital post in 1953. (I assume that the picture of him as a G.P. was poetic license in the film. In this article and in his obituaries, he is listed as a radiologist.) This article was on a flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vieilles_annonces/1209636288/#/photos/vie illes_annonces/1209636288/lightbox/

In case it disappears, here's what it says:
"'Lost Boundaries' Doctor Ousted, Charges Bias
Dr. Albert C. Johnston, Negro physician in Keene, N. H., whose story of passing for white was told in the movie Lost Boundaries, was fired from his post as radiologist at Keene's Elliott Community Hospital. Chester Kingsbury, hospital board president, said racial prejudice was not the reason for the dismissal, cliaimed that Dr. Johnston could not devote full time to the job. Dr. Johnston said he would not seek reinstatement, explained there was "no doubt whatsoever" that he was fired because of the film of his life. "They have been picking on me ever since my story came out (in 1949). I don't give a darn for the job itself, but I'm concerned over the fact that I was fired because I'm a Negro," he declared. the physician said he learned that the hospital was looking for a ne radiologist soon after he let his children know their racial identity in 1947, added that "somebody began knifing me."

[–] OhmsLaw 12 years ago

And then what happened? I am curious what became of this family in the years that followed. The movie ending made it appear that everything was fine.

And can someone tell me why the daughter moves slowly out of the church at the end, and starts walking around looking depressed like she was earlier with that faithful dog? I missed what occurred just before that scene, besides the pastor talking. What caused her to leave?

[–] andrewwjohnson 12 years ago

As noted Dr. Albert Johnston was forced out of his position at the the hospital shortly after "Lost Boundaries" was released. He and his wife, Thyra, ultimately decided to move to Hawaii which they viewed as racially tolerant because of it's diverse population.

Unlike in the movie Johnston did not explain to his wife and four children, three sons and a daughter, why he was refused a commission in the Navy until three years later in 1948.

Far from getting upset and going to Harlem Johnston's youngest son, Albert Jr. embraced his racial background and became some of a campus activist. He and another student approached W.L. White with an idea a for a book about George Washington Carver. When White learned the story about the Johnston family passing for white he decided it would be a better subject for a book leading to the publication of "Lost Boundaries".

Significantly when the three Johnston brothers, even Albert Jr., joined the Army they based for white. While the military ended segregation in 1948 it was still easier. In a recent interview Albert Jr., know in his eighties, said most of neighbors didn't know he is black.

There isn't much on line about the Johnston's real life daughter. In the ending of the film the Carter's daughter walks out of the sermon before it is finished. In a notation on the script this scene is described as giving the story an ambiguous ending. It could be argued she had used a racial slur when she learned her brother was retuning from college black friend. She didn't like black people and know, suddenly, she, along with her family, were now black. She was having problems dealing with it.

TAG LINE: True genius is a beautiful thing, but ignorance is ugly to the bone.

[–] Kelea7 12 years ago

At the time the movie was made I guess it still was a happy ending. I saw the movie a few weeks ago and it just so happened tonight I came across this. I intended to look the family up but had since forgotten.

http://books.google.com/books?id=QEMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=refus e+to+pass&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dkczT87MC8me0gGk_dnPAg&ved=0CD oQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=refuse%20to%20pass&f=false

And can someone tell me why the daughter moves slowly out of the church at the end, and starts walking around looking depressed like she was earlier with that faithful dog? I missed what occurred just before that scene, besides the pastor talking. What caused her to leave?

I take it as her maybe deciding to pass, unlike her family. She had lived her life as white, and maybe she couldn't handle being black? But I don't know, it was a bit confusing as I wasn't paying particular attention in a couple of the scenes you mentioned as well. I'm going to try to see this again some time.

Edit: I didn't look at the link in the OP, had no clue it was from the same magazine. Turns out I did read that blurb somehow. Anyway, there are a few articles about the family in Jet. They ended up in Hawaii.

Rest in Peace Johnny Otis, Etta James, a Rhythm & Blues legend & a true artist you will be missed.

[–] dgniewek 9 years ago

The family seems to have led a happy life in Keene and Hawaii.
Here are some links:

http://www.mixedracestudies.org/wordpress/?tag=albert-chandler-johnsto n

http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2013/pr-passing-as-white-121713.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/28/obituaries/albert-johnson-87-focus-o f-film-on-race.html

[–] doug7347 8 years ago

Mrs. Johnston's 1995 obituary noted:

"there was virtually no social backlash, and Dr. Johnston's practice actually grew, until he accepted a lucrative offer to move to Hawaii in 1966".

When they died, the Johnston's also chose to be buried in Keene, NH, in spite of residing for many years in Hawaii.

[–] avjudge 8 years ago

(I assume that the picture of him as a G.P. was poetic license in the film. In this article and in his obituaries, he is listed as a radiologist.)

I grew up in the next town to & went to school in Gorham in the 60s & 70s and didn't know of the story, but while "home" this weekend the local paper had an article about the lovely Queen Anne-style Noyes house being put on the NH Register of Historic Places, with a second article about its "most famous residents" - the Johnston family. And about the book & movie based on their life, which brought me here!

Apparently at least for the decade he was here, he was a GP, not a radiologist. Gorham is a town of a couple thousand with no hospital, and that's the only kind of doctor we had. There is - and was - a hospital in the nearby small city of Berlin, but the article states that in 1929 "he was told that a general practitioner in Gorham had recently died and there was an opening for a young doctor."

I'm editing to add - I'm now watching the movie and see that to simplify the story they smooshed together the two New Hampshire towns in which he worked, Gorham and Keene, into "Keenham."