Originally a play written by Philip Yordan, portraying a Polish-American family, the play was rewritten by American Negro Theater Director Abram Hill and director Henry Wagstaff Gribble for an all African-American cast.
After first being produced with an all African American cast, in 1944, with 957 performances. It also toured in Europe.
There was a white cast version of this movie made in 1949. It starred Paulette Goddard, who starred in the white cast version of the play that went to Paris. (c. 1947-8). The original play was with an African American cast.
The Black cast toured Europe in 1944. There was also a revival that performed in London in 1947. An all white cast (originally it was written for a Polish-American family) starring Paulette Goddard, also went to Paris.
Rosetta LeNoire's debut.