I don't know at what point it was in the movie but I remember thinking that I wouldn't be surprised if Daphne was supposed to be biracial, and I know the thought only occurred to me cos I knew Beals herself was mixed. Anyway, I was just wondering if the same thing happened to anybody else?
share**SPOILER ALERT**
I never thought Jennifer Beals appeared "Caucasian" and had thought the casting decision was a poor choice. There were many "blacks" who were light enough tp pass and often did to escape the horrifically soul depleting racism that existed in American society during the era. But, to be honest, I don't think she (the actress) would have passed as a white woman successfully during the forties. Perhaps a "white" actress should have been cast for the part.
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@film 74h
Yes, she would have passed for a white woman during the forties, simply because most white folks of that era in segregated L.A. weren't around black people enough to know that black folks come in ALL colors,shapes and sizes. She didn't have to be blond and blue-eyed to pass as white---hell, look at Essie Mae Washington (the racist senator Strom Thurmond's secret daughter) or actress Fredi Washington (star of the original IMITATION OF LIFE)both of whom could have easily passed for white in that era. Hell, so could actress Rashida Jones or Jessica Szohr (both modern biracial actresses.) And to say a white actress should have played the role pretty much defeats the whole person---it wouldn't have made any sense for one to,considering the plot point/twist.
@activista
Hmmm...
I think it's a stretch, but I'll go with it because I didn't consider that Los Angeles is a different geographic area than the south.
But as far as the south is concerned, Jennifer Beals and the other actresses you mentioned probably would have been out-ted by a discerning White person. White America was insane with the "one drop rule" during the forties and for good reason, any suspicion could have resulted in destroyed lives and/or even violence.
Read J.A. Rogers' books such as "Sex and Race", Volume Two. He documents this weird phenomena. BTW, he does mention that there were mainstream Hollywood actresses who were passing for White during the thirties and forties. He wouldn't reveal his suspicions but any film buff of Hollywood's black and white film era might have a good idea of some possibilities.
In fact, there is a famous present day actress who is bi-racial and not confirming it. There is pointedly no photos of her French actress mother available. I won't say any more.
In response to:
"Yes, she would have passed for a white woman during the forties, simply because most white folks of that era in segregated L.A. weren't around black people enough to know that black folks come in ALL colors,shapes and sizes. She didn't have to be blond and blue-eyed to pass as white---hell, look at Essie Mae Washington (the racist senator Strom Thurmond's secret daughter) or actress Fredi Washington (star of the original IMITATION OF LIFE)both of whom could have easily passed for white in that era. Hell, so could actress Rashida Jones or Jessica Szohr (both modern biracial actresses.) And to say a white actress should have played the role pretty much defeats the whole person---it wouldn't have made any sense for one to,considering the plot point/twist. "--activista
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Jennifer definitely would've passed for white back then. Quit kidding yourself. She could pass now.
share<<As far as mixed race people go, she does look as white as you can get tbh >>
Beals looks white to me, but mixed race people can look whiter. Have you ever seen Eartha Kitt's daughter, Kitt Shapiro? She's super white for a white person. Here's a link
http://i43.tinypic.com/1252se9.jpg
http://www.zimbio.com/Eartha+Kitt/articles/223/EARTHA+KITT+DAUGHTER+REMEMBERS+LAST+MOMENTS
I have to say, I am starting to find the whole idea of race incredibly confusing. Kitt Shapiro, for example is clearly white, but her mom isn't. So what is race? Heck if I know. I don't have time to think about it, because I have to go buy a birthday present, for the silky-blond-haired, blue-eyed son of my friend -- she who looks as white as Jennifer Beals, and her mother looks like Whoopie Goldberg (both she and her mother married white men).
I didn't know much about Jennifer Beals when I watched the movie, and I had no idea that she was of mixed origin. She looked white to me (really, there are plenty of Mediterranean women who look like that, if anything I'd think she was of Italian or Spanish origin), so the twist came as a surprise.
Who would you have cast?
The funny thing is, if they had cast a white actress, people would be complaining about that, just like they complained about the casting of Anthony Hopkins in... that movie whose title I can't mention because it would spoil it for someone who hasn't seen it ;) even though that was a completely absurd criticism since it's near impossible to find an actor in his late 60s/early 70s who's all these things at the same time: 1) biracial but can pass for white, 2) accomplished enough to carry a movie like that, but still 3) so little known that the public at large doesn't know about his origin, as anything else would spoil the twist.
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In the book Daphne had blonde hair and I think blue eyes too. And even Easy had no clue she was black/mixed. So when Jennifer was cast I was disappointed. She didn't look the part at all.
shareThis is no doubt because I've never read the book, but I thought Beals was perfect.
Within the context of the film, at least.
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Look closely , Beals has pronounced nigra features. Nose, nostrils , jaw. Skin tone known as high yella. Funny enuf , racism more rampant in blax community. High yellas looked down as too white , darkies too blax n apelike. Crazy ass pipin neggaz ! Friggin *beep* !
shareFck off, you ignorant a** racist troll.
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