TCM’s Two for One is back with a double feature curated by none other than Brian Tyree Henry. The acclaimed actor joins host Ben Mankiewicz this Saturday, June 14th at 8 PM ET to present a pair of films that explore race and identity through vastly different lenses.
Henry’s selections, Douglas Sirk’s 1959 melodrama Imitation of Life and Gordon Parks’ 1969 coming-of-age drama The Learning Tree, represent distinct eras and approaches to storytelling—yet both grapple with complicated questions about race, class, and belonging in America. Imitation of Life follows a white actress and her Black friend as they chase fame and grapple with social barriers, while The Learning Tree, based on Parks’ semi-autobiographical novel, traces a Black teenager’s journey of self-discovery in 1920s Kansas.
The pairings on Two for One are always more than just a casual viewing experience. The series, hosted by film historian Mankiewicz, uses the curated double features as launchpads for deeper conversations about cinema’s power to reflect and shape cultural understanding. Henry’s presence adds another layer of insight.
Two for One airs Saturdays at 8 PM ET on TCM.
