Drama

Stigma

The Stigma Company

United States of America

English

Philip Michael Thomas

Harlan Cary Poe

Josie Johnson

Peter H. Clune

William Magerman

Connie Van Ess

"Cousin Brucie" Morrow

Raina Barrett

Kevin Andre

Rhonda Fultz

Kathleen Joyce

Jean Parker

Edwin Mills

David E. Durston

Bernard Breitbart

Charles B. Moss Jr.

J. Boyce Harman Jr.

Irvin Carlton

Jacques Urbont

Robert M. Baldwin

Joe Masefield

Nancy Katz

Fred Kamiel

Murray Solomon

George Craig

David Boehm

**_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-

Blaxploitation Clip: Stigma (1972, starring Philip Michael Thomas)

STIGMA (1972) Trailer

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Stigma

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Cast

Philip Michael Thomas

Harlan Cary Poe

Josie Johnson

Peter H. Clune

William Magerman

Connie Van Ess

"Cousin Brucie" Morrow

Raina Barrett

Kevin Andre

Rhonda Fultz

Box office

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