David Desser writes: " But this "real" race is surely more complicated, viz. the example of Susan Kohner, or, say, Ben Kingsley when he played GANDHI. Similarly, do we not become very "racialist" when we hold race itself as an inherent quality existing "out there" and inhering within the body, the image, of an actor?" Well put, and Kingsley is an interesting case in point. He is, if I remember correctly, of partial Indian ancestry himself, but he has played Englishmen, an Italian, an Italian(?)-American chess player, a Polish Jew, and a South American (presumably Chilean) doctor, all just within the last few years--and done a creditable job with each. Yet somehow, this chameleon-like aspect of his acting doesn't seem to attract the kind of overt attention that was given to people who either were "stretching" to new roles, like Robert Donat in INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS, or demonstrating their "versatility," like Brando in TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON, or showing off their "craft," like Paul Muni (in numerous films). And what to make of the relationship with theaters that practice "colorblind" casting (along the lines of Denzel Washing- ton in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING)? It's a complicated and interesting topic--I think some historical perspective is probably necessary in order to begin to come to terms with it all. Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN) ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]