Sapphire (1959)

Starring:

• Nigel Patrick
• Yvonne Mitchell
• Michael Craig
• Paul Massie
• Bernard Miles
• Olga Lindo
• Earl Cameron
• Gordon Heath
• Jocelyn Britton
• Harry Baird
• Orlando Martins

Storyline
A college student named Sapphire Robbins is murdered in London's Hampstead Heath. When police superintendent Robert Hazard discovers that the victim was a light-skinned black woman passing as white, it upends his initial assumptions. Hazard and his openly racist assistant explore the city's racially tense underground jazz scene as they interview suspects, including Sapphire's white fiancé.

Imitation of Life (1959)

Starring:

• Lana Turner
• Juanita Moore
• Susan Kohner
• Sandra Dee
• John Gavin
• Robert Alda
• Dan O'Herlihy
• Karin Dicker
• Terry Burnham

Storyline
Lora Meredith (Lana Turner), a white single mother who dreams of being on Broadway, has a chance encounter with Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), a black widow. Annie becomes the caretaker of Lora's daughter, Suzie (Sandra Dee), while Lora pursues her stage career. Both women deal with the difficulties of motherhood: Lora's thirst for fame threatens her relationship with Suzie. At the same time, Annie's light-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner), struggles with her African-American identity.