Dutchman (1966)

A disturbed blonde (Shirley Knight) spots a middle class black man (Al Freeman Jr.) in a nearly deserted subway car and proceeds to both seduce him and ridicule his conservatism and "white" ways. Based on the play by Amiri Baraka (writing under the name of Le Roi Jones) and directed by Anthony Harvey (THE LION IN WINTER). Written during the rise of black nationalism, Baraka's play is very much of its time. It's not a naturalistic play, even in 1966 it could only work as a stylized allegory. Knight's Lula is a crazy woman that any normal person would go out of their way to avoid yet Freeman's Clay not only seems attracted to her but engages in a dialog with her. Its symbolism is rather heavy handed as Knight munches apple after apple and offers them to Freeman as we think, "Ah, she is Eve and offering him the forbidden fruit that will be his downfall." We know it will be only be a matter of time before his black rage against the white man will come spewing forth. Meanwhile, the fellow passengers that have boarded all sit quietly like the background actors that they are ignoring the histrionics. What holds the film together now are the superb performances by both Knight and Freeman who inhabit their characters with a commitment that is impressive. The brief but highly effective underscore is by John Barry.