From the back country of South Africa, black minister Stephen Kumalo journeys to Johannesburg to help his sister, who has been reported to be ill, and to search for his son, who left home and has not kept in contact.

[2] As South Africa was under apartheid, stars Sidney Poitier and Canada Lee and producer/director Zoltan Korda informed the South African immigration authorities that Poitier and Lee were not actors but were Korda's indentured servants.

After his work on the film, Lee planned to prepare a full report about life in South Africa.

He was called to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee to explain his actions but died of heart failure before he could testify.

[4] Those praising the film included Bosley Crowther in The New York Times, who stated: "It is difficult to do proper justice to the fine qualities of this film or to the courage and skill of Mr. Korda in transmitting such a difficult and sobering theme.