My Review

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 believeable. 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 glamourous, she's very believeable 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?