Edge of the City (aka A Man is Ten Feet Tall)

+ intro and Q&A

Sidney Poitier earned rave reviews for his performance in this enthralling drama, playing a stevedore who befriends a drifter.

We are delighted that this screening will be introduced by season programmer Jonathan Ali and will be followed by a Q&A with Ryan Calais Cameron, writer of the play Retrograde and Ivanno Jeremiah, who stars as Sidney Poitier in the play.

  • Director

    Martin Ritt

  • With

    Sidney Poitier, John Cassavetes, Jack Warden, Ruby Dee

  • USA 1957. 85min

  • 35mm

  • Certificate

    12A

  • A BFI National Archive print

This gritty film sees Poitier play Tommy Tyler, an ebullient New York City dockworker who takes John Cassavetes’ new hire under his wing. But a racist colleague soon threatens their friendship. Adapted from TV drama (with a role written specifically for him), Tommy is the embodiment of the self-sacrificing hero that defined this stage of the Poitier’s career.

Contains violence, racist language and outdated racial terms.

Retrograde is the Kiln Theatre’s acclaimed production which transfers to the West End playing at the Apollo Theatre from 8 March to 14 June 2025. Ryan Calais Cameron’s gripping thriller captures the moment when a young Sidney Poitier is about to sign a career-defining Hollywood contract that could make him a star. But there’s a catch...

See other screenings of Edge of the City.

Film on Film