Stigma

"The curse that begins with a kiss."

1972 1h 33m EN

😐

5.2

MID

★5.2TMDB · 8

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A black doctor ex-convict returns to the all-white town he knows as home and discovers a deadly disease threatening the citizens. He must fight prejudice and time if he is to save the town.

“The curse that begins with a kiss.”

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Where to watch · US

Shout! Factory Amazon ChannelSubscription

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Cast

Philip Michael Thomas
Dr. Calvin Crosse
Harlan Cary Poe
Bill Waco
Josie Johnson
D.D. Whitehead
Peter H. Clune
Sheriff Whitehead
William Magerman
Jeremy
Connie Van Ess
Tassie
"Cousin Brucie" Morrow
"Cousin" Bruce Morrow
Raina Barrett

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: David E. Durston
Writers: David E. Durston
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

54 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by David E. Durston, shot by Robert M. Baldwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jacques Urbont. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Murray Solomon shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Philip Michael Thomas and Harlan Cary Poe and Josie Johnson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The curse that begins with a kiss.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0069312 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

David E. Durston directs. Robert M. Baldwin behind the camera. Jacques Urbont scores. Murray Solomon cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

154 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by David E. Durston, shot by Robert M. Baldwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Jacques Urbont. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Murray Solomon shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Philip Michael Thomas and Harlan Cary Poe and Josie Johnson carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "The curse that begins with a kiss.".
8IMDB entry: tt0069312 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert M. Baldwin
Original score: Jacques Urbont
Editing: Murray Solomon
Makeup / hair: Irvin Carlton
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Stigma (1972)

Also by

David E. Durston

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2023-11-24
★ 7/10
The kiss of death on a Massachusetts Island A young black doctor (Philip Michael Thomas), who made the mistake of performing an abortion that went wrong, travels to an isolated coastal community for a gig with a mentor whereupon he faces unforeseen challenges, including prejudice and a mysterious outbreak. “Stigma” (1972) is a drama with some seedy aspects despite taking place in a traditional white bread community. While not a blaxploitation flick, the protagonist angle was obviously influenced by that genre, à la the soon-to-come “The Beast Must Die.” The set-up is reminiscent of “In the Heat of the Night” with some elements that would influence “The Wicker Man,” which (surprisingly) wouldn’t debut until the next year. Then there’s the youthful “free love” aspect of, say, “The Harrad Experiment,” which also came out the next year. The film features a little comedy, an anti-racist message, a bit o’ softcore nudity and some thrills in the last act, but the public service announcement concerning VD is laid on a little too thick. Less is more. Still, Philip Michael Thomas is very good as the protagonist and seems older than 22 (which was his age during shooting). At the end of the day, it’s an interesting window into life in America in 1971, when the flick was shot. The zenith of the “free love” counterculture era was just two years prior and “Stigma” shockingly shows the natural consequences of that mentality and lifestyle. The writer/director took a maverick Indie approach to the material and should've gone on to greatness, but he didn't, unfortunately. Thankfully, we have this unique flick to remember him by. The movie runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot entirely in Massachusetts—Cambridge, Boston, Cape Cod (island town) and Nantucket. GRADE: B-

Production companies