One Potato, Two Potato
Directors
One Potato, Two Potato Film Details
Overview: Study of interracial marriage in the 1960’s. A white divorcée falls in love with and marries an African-American man. When her ex-husband sues for custody of her child, arguing that a mixed household is an improper place to raise the
Tagline: One of the HOTTER Topics Of Our Time…Now Scorches the Screen!
Review: I remember seeing this film in 1964 when I was young and single. At the time, I saw change coming at a furious pace and I remember that I did not like much of it. However, when it came to interracial love, marriage and family life, I felt that love defined a state of being and feeling, not a race or colour. That state of being and feeling is special to those who share them with each other and children who may result from their union or adoption by them. As a result, I felt not tears and sorrow, but anger and bitterness toward the ex-husband of Julie, the character played by Barbara Barrie, because he came to divide a loving family. Joe Cullen (the ex-husband played by Richard Mulligan) may have provided the semen that resulted in the birth of Mary Ellen Cullen, but he was not a father; Frank Richards (played by Bernie Hamilton) was a real father to that girl; with him and the baby boy that her mother and Frank had together she felt happy and part of a real family. When asked about what she found different about her sibling, she answered, very wisely and correctly, that he is a boy. His colour was absolutely unimportant to her. I also felt anger toward the judge (played by Harry Bellaver) who decided in favour of Joe Cullen having custody of the daughter he ignored for most of her life. Ironically, I liked the actors who portrayed the judge and Joe Cullen in roles that were very different: Harry Bellaver was always the patient, paternal, sympathetic, but strict cop, Officer Frank Arcaro, in “Naked City” and Richard Mulligan was so low-key, deadpan and hilarious in a number of television programmes; amongst them “Soap” and “Empty Nest” Years later, this film that I never forgot, really became special to me because I met, courted and married a woman of another race. We are still together, 29 years and 5 beautiful bi-racial children later. My cheers and appreciation to everyone involved in the making of that film for their courage and foresight to present an interracial family as normal and as loving as any family should be. I know it was an inspiration for me. One more note: the director of the film, Larry Peerce is the son of the late Jan Peerce, one of my favourite opera singers; Jan Peerce is best known, however, for his recording of the very beautiful and moving popular song “Bluebird Of Happiness” which celebrates life and love amongst all people, regardless of their status in society.
Country: United States
Language: English
Duration: 83 min
Genre: Drama
Also known as: O Processo de Julie Richards,Раз картошка, два картошка,Ruf nicht zu laut,El proceso de Julie Richards,Egy krumpli, két krumpli,Jedan krompir, dva krompira,Kafto aima,わかれ道(1963),One Potato, Two Potato,Giv mig mit barn,Czarne i białe,Kızımı vermem,Onnen hinta,Ich und Du…,1, 2, 3, du bist frei,La dura legge,Fallet Julie,Le Procès de Julie Richards,Le procès de Julie Richards,Víctima de la ley