Tomorrow's Children
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Donald Douglas
John Preston
Carlyle More Jr.
Sterling Holloway
W. Messenger Bellis
Sarah Padden
| Tomorrow's Children | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:Release_Poster_"Tomorrow's_Childern".jpeg) | |
| Directed by | Crane Wilbur |
| Written by | Wallace Thurman |
| Produced by | Bryan Foy |
| Starring | Diane Sinclair Donald Douglas John Preston Carlyle More Jr. Sterling Holloway W. Messenger Bellis Sarah Padden |
| Cinematography | William C. Thompson |
| Edited by | Arthur Hilton |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 50 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Tomorrow's Children, also known as The Unborn in the United Kingdom, is a 1934 American drama film written by Wallace Thurman and directed by Crane Wilbur. The film partially criticizes the eugenic policies in practice in the United States during those times. The film was widely deemed "immoral" and "tending to incite crime".[1]
The film follows the nature vs. nurture story of Alice Mason, played by Diane Sinclair, who wants nothing more than to settle down with her fiancé Jim and raise a family. This goal crumbles when her parents are forced to undergo sterilization or lose their welfare checks. Alice represents the only real beneficial family member; her aging parents are lazy alcoholics and her siblings have physical and mental disabilities, or criminal ties. But she is told that she too must be sterilized, as their family's corrupt bloodline must end.
Alice's parents grudgingly accept the court order, but she flees the house. Unfortunately, the police soon catch her. Her fiancé Jim makes a bold case to Dr. Brooks, who testifies on Alice's behalf, but it doesn't change the court's decision. Meanwhile, another ally of Alice and Jim, Father O'Brien (played by director Crane Wilbur), begs Mrs. Mason to reconsider the sterilization decision. She refuses, desperate to keep receiving welfare, but she becomes so drunk that she reveals that Alice was a foundling the Masons took in, so she actually isn't of their blood. Father O'Brien races to stop the procedure with the new information. Dr. Brooks is ultimately able to stop the procedure in time.
Cast
- Diane Sinclair as Alice Mason
- Donald Douglas as Dr. Brooks
- John Preston as Dr. Crosby
- Carlyle Moore Jr. as Jim Baker
- Sterling Holloway as Dr. Dorsey
- W. Messenger Bellis as Dr. McIntyre
- Hyram A. Hoover as Spike
- Constance Kent as Nurse
- Lewis Gambart as Jeff
- Crane Wilbur as Father O'Brien
- Arthur Wanzer as Mr. Mason
- Sarah Padden as Mrs. Mason
Production
The film was the sound film directorial debut of Crane Wilbur. Its subject matter was considered unacceptable in the film industry of the time, and did not meet the standards of the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Instead of being backed by this organization, Foy Productions was forced to present the film to state censorship boards located in New York, Ohio, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland.
The film received negative attention for its prominent themes of genetic alcoholism, deformed offspring, and sterilization. The film was approved only in Pennsylvania and Ohio.[2] Since Tomorrow’s Children deliberately ignored the standard rules of the industry of leaving these controversial topics alone, the film was denied its license and there was a lot of effort devoted to the delaying of its production. The Producers’ Association was responsible for most of the obstacles in the film’s course.[3]
The original decision to ban the film came from censor Irwin Esmond and Dr. Frank Graves in the State Education department. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court backed Esmond and Graves with three votes in favor of the ban and two against it. Years later in 1938, Foy Productions urged the US appeals court to revisit Tomorrow’s Children, especially in New York. Frederick Crane, of the appeals court, screened the film along with six others to decide its future in the empire state.[4]
