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Story
June 29, 1957
The Tribune
Roanoke, Virginia
What is this article about?
In New York on June 10, Harry Belafonte revealed that 20th Century Fox officials instructed him to avoid mentioning his interracial romance with Joan Fontaine in the film 'Island in the Sun.' He expressed hurt over the request and downplayed the film's romantic elements, noting a subtle elbow touch and shared coconut scene marred by his cold.
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OCR Quality
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New York. June 10--Harry Belafonte admitted today that 20th Century Fox officials have told him "to keep quiet" about the interracial romance depicted between Joan Fontaine and him in the film "Island in the Sun".
Belafonte, who recently married a white dancer, said in an article in the new issue of Look Magazine, that he was hurt, but not surprised, when the studio requested him not refer to Miss Fontaine in any public statement he makes about the film, however discreet these statements might be.
"Here I am, one of the stars of the picture," he declared in the article. "trying to do a little publicity job the way all stars are expected to do. And they tell me to keep quiet."
Discussing the recently released picture, which deals with interracial alliances in the West Indies, Belafonte minimized the hubbub the romantic angle may raise.
He pointed out that "the tacit romance between Joan Fontaine and myself winds up with nothing," although the audience may get the feeling we're drawn to one another because at one point I even touch her elbow."
There is a scene in the picture, Belafonte said in Look, where Miss Fontaine and he are shown drinking from the same coconut.
"But the day we filmed that, I got a cold. I guess that's what happens in these interracial situations."
Belafonte, who recently married a white dancer, said in an article in the new issue of Look Magazine, that he was hurt, but not surprised, when the studio requested him not refer to Miss Fontaine in any public statement he makes about the film, however discreet these statements might be.
"Here I am, one of the stars of the picture," he declared in the article. "trying to do a little publicity job the way all stars are expected to do. And they tell me to keep quiet."
Discussing the recently released picture, which deals with interracial alliances in the West Indies, Belafonte minimized the hubbub the romantic angle may raise.
He pointed out that "the tacit romance between Joan Fontaine and myself winds up with nothing," although the audience may get the feeling we're drawn to one another because at one point I even touch her elbow."
There is a scene in the picture, Belafonte said in Look, where Miss Fontaine and he are shown drinking from the same coconut.
"But the day we filmed that, I got a cold. I guess that's what happens in these interracial situations."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Romance
What themes does it cover?
Love
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Interracial Romance
Film Publicity
Hollywood Censorship
Harry Belafonte
Island In The Sun
What entities or persons were involved?
Harry Belafonte
Joan Fontaine
Where did it happen?
New York
Story Details
Key Persons
Harry Belafonte
Joan Fontaine
Location
New York
Event Date
June 10
Story Details
Harry Belafonte admits studio pressure to silence mentions of his film's interracial romance with Joan Fontaine, discusses subtle romantic scenes including an elbow touch and shared coconut, humorously noting he caught a cold during filming.