I Passed for White (1960)

 The title says it all, 'I Passed for White' is part of a sub genra of mid century films in which a lite skinned black woman attracts a white lover who is unaware of her racial background. I think this is the 5th such movie I have personally seen so the plot is less interesting then the star. This is Sonya Wilde's only film role, the young actress had been the original Maria in West Side Story on Broadway. She ended her career early in 1962 to marry prominate East Tennesse banker Jake Butcher, later credited as the man who brought the Worlds Fair to Knoxville in 1982. Jake would go to prison in the mid 80's for fraud. The couple would have 4 children, Sonya is still with us at 85. The male lead Anthony Franciscus would later play the lead astronaut in the second Planet of the Apes film. This movie is awkward, highly wrought melodrama, just how long does she think she can realistically bluff this whole thing out post marraige? *1/2