A 17-year-old housemaid navigates racial identity and scandal in a household of secrets.
HIGH YELLOW
The Explosive Story of the Year
Cynthia Wood, a 17-year-old, light-skinned black girl, tries to pass off as white after getting hired of a wealthy movie magnate Mr. Langley who has family problems with his spoiled wife and his promiscuous teenage daughter and son.
Quick Answer
High Yellow is a 1965 American drama directed by Larry Buchanan about a light-skinned black teenager who passes for white while working as a maid for a dysfunctional movie magnate's family.
Programmer's Pick
Larry Buchanan dives deep into mid-century psychodrama, giving us a soapy, scandal-fueled snapshot of class, race, and dysfunction. It's suburban melodrama with a shot of exploitation, and a cast of characters as crooked as the family silver.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Larry Buchanan
- Writer
- Larry Buchanan
- Release
- 1965
- Runtime
- 1h 23m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Drama
Why This Matters
Written and directed by Larry Buchanan, this 1965 film addresses the theme of racial passing, reflecting mid-20th-century American social tensions around identity and race.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
See how Cynthia navigates the fraught line between racial identities in 1960s America.
A fever dream of exploitation cinema, complete with accusations, blackmail, and drugged drinks.
From blackmailing handymen to rebellious teens, the Langley mansion is a who's-who of melodramatic suspects.
Interracial relationships, sexuality, and class collide in this drama of forbidden passions and tragic choices.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was High Yellow released? +
High Yellow was released in 1965.
Who directed High Yellow? +
High Yellow was directed by Larry Buchanan.
How long is High Yellow? +
High Yellow has a runtime of 83 minutes.
What genre is High Yellow? +
High Yellow is a drama.
Where can I watch High Yellow? +
You can watch High Yellow on SassyFlix.
