A Patch of Blue (1965)

Director:

Guy Green

Writers:

Elizabeth Kata (novel)
Guy Green (written by)

Release Date:

10 December 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A man...a girl...captives in their own worlds...finding escape in each other...

Plot:

A blind, uneducated white girl is befriended by a black man, who becomes determined to help her escape her impoverished and abusive home life.

Plot Keywords:

Park | Grandfather | Prostitute | Beads | Friendship

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Gordon Ralfe
Shelley Winters	...	Rose-Ann D'Arcey
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Selina D'Arcey
Wallace Ford	...	Ole Pa
Ivan Dixon	...	Mark Ralfe
Elisabeth Fraser	...	Sadie
John Qualen	...	Mr. Faber
Kelly Flynn	...	Yanek Faber
Debi Storm	...	Selina, Age 5
Renata Vanni	...	Mrs. Favaloro
Saverio LoMedico	...	Mr. Favaloro
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vincent Chase	...	Man (uncredited)
Tom Curtis	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Fred Holliday	...	Man (uncredited)
Dorothy Lovett	...	Woman (uncredited)
Gregg Martell	...	Man (uncredited)
David Richards	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Neighbor (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Green

Writing credits
Elizabeth Kata		(novel "Be Ready With Bells and Drums")
Guy Green		(written by)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer
Kathryn Hereford	....	associate producer
Guy Green	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Robert Burks		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Rita Roland
Hal G. Davis		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
George W. Davis
Urie McCleary

Set Decoration by
Henry Grace
Charles S. Thompson

Makeup Department
William Tuttle	....	makeup creator

Production Management
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	assistant production manager: MGM (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hank Moonjean	....	assistant director
Bill Finnegan	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Herb Hirst	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bill Graham	....	prop (uncredited)
Robert Murdock	....	prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Franklin Milton	....	recording supervisor
Larry Hadsell	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Larry Jost	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Bruce Wright	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Robert R. Hoag	....	special visual effects

Stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenny Bell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Bobby Greene	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Lloyd Isbell	....	grip (uncredited)
Wes Shanks	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Leonard J. South	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Other crew
Dorothy Aldrin	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #20966) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:M | USA:Unrated | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Scenes of Sidney Poitier and Elizabeth Hartman kissing were excised from the film when it was shown in theaters in the American South, where many states still had laws against what they called "race-mixing".

Goofs:

Continuity: After Rose Ann slaps Selina in the beginning of the movie, she moves closer to her face and screams, "Do you feel like wow now?" At this point Rose Ann is about six inches away from Selina yet in the very next shot, she's about two feet away from Selina.

Quotes:

Selina D'Arcy:[Gordon kisses Selina on forehead] Was that a kiss?
Gordon Ralfe:[Nodding] It was a kiss.
Selina D'Arcy:Kiss me again.
[Gordon kisses her forehead again]
Selina D'Arcy:[Grabs Gordon's face and kisses him on the lips] Oh Gordon... Gordon... oh I wish I'd never been done over.
Gordon Ralfe:[Pulls her away] What did you say?
Selina D'Arcy:Nothing.
Gordon Ralfe:I'm sorry. You were much sinned against.
Selina D'Arcy:Are you angry with me. Do you think I'm bad... dirty?
Gordon Ralfe:No.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965)

A Patch of Excellence.

One of those genuinely moving and emotional films that toes the line to excellence and almost succeeds. Young Elizabeth Hartman (Oscar-nominated) is blind and has been a part of a household where she has been treated like a second-rate stranger and outcast by her cold mother (Shelley Winters is a smashing Oscar-winning turn). One day Hartman meets professional businessman Sidney Poitier in the local park and they become quick friends as Hartman is treated with love and respect by Poitier while Hartman's handicap means she does not know that Poitier is really African-American. Two pure hearts are able to overcome the cruelty of others in this fine American motion picture that is well worth one's time. It is one of the better films of the 1960s. Sidney Poitier was at the top of his career here. 4.5 out of 5 stars.