MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day, Dec, 12, 1967, comedy blockbuster “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” was released in theaters.

Starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn and Milwaukee native Spencer Tracy, the movie was a box office success in 1968 throughout the United States.

The movie focused on an interracial couple and their families’ gradual acceptance of their relationship.

Tracy played the role of Matt Drayton, the father of main character Joanna Drayton, who was dating a Black man at a time when it was taboo to do so.

During filming, Spencer Tracy’s health was failing. All of his scenes were filmed between 9 a.m. and noon to accommodate his schedule.

He died two weeks after he completed his work on the film. The film was first shown on US television on Sept. 19, 1971.

It was

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