The 1951 film Native Son, based on Richard Wright’s novel and starring the author, was shot in Argentina to escape Hollywood’s McCarthy-era segregation. It was banned in the U.S. for 70 years

Native Son (also known in Spanish-speaking countries as Sangre negra) is a 1951 drama and film noir movie directed by French filmmaker Pierre Chenal. It holds great historical and cultural value, notable for being filmed mainly in Argentina in the English language because American studios at the time refused to produce it due to its strong themes regarding racism.

The film faced severe censorship in the United States. About 30 minutes of footage were cut (800 meters of celluloid), removing scenes of violence, racial tension, and interracial sexuality. It was banned entirely in several U.S. states.

After spending decades mutilated and semi-lost, the U.S. Library of Congress and entities like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) managed to reconstruct and restore a complete, uncut copy using Argentine and Puerto Rican reels. This full version finally premiered in theaters and festivals starting in 2016.