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Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters, Elizabeth Hartman, Wallace Ford, Ivan Dixon ... see more see more... , Elisabeth Fraser , John Qualen , Kelly Flynn , Debi Storm , Renata Vanni , Saverio LoMedico , Gregg Martell

Shelley Winters won an Academy Award for her searing performance as Rose-Ann d'Arcy in A Patch of Blue. The star, however, is not Winters but Elizabeth Hartman, cast as d'Arcy's blind, sensitive daugh... read more read more...ter, Selina. A venomous prostitute, Rose-Ann treats both Selina and grandfather Ole Pa (Wallace Ford) like dirt. Fortunately, Selina finds a way out via the kindly Gordon Ralfe (Sidney Poitier), who befriends Hartman and tries to open up doors for her previously closed by her selfish mother. Despite the objections of the bigoted Rose-Ann and of Gordon's brother Mark (Ivan Dixon), a bond stronger than physical love is forged between Gordon and Selina. Brilliantly avoiding gooey sentiment throughout, A Patch of Blue was adapted for the screen by director Guy Green, from the novel Be Ready with Bells and Drums by Elizabeth Kata. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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5,438 ratings

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6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Guy Green

Release Date: January 1, 2000

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DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003

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Stats: 328 reviews

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Sidney Poitier in A Patch of Blue Sidney Poitier & Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Sidney Poitier & Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Sidney Poitier & Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters in A Patch of Blue Elizabeth Hartman & Shelley Winters in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters in A Patch of Blue Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters & Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Elizabeth Hartman & Sidney Poitier in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters in A Patch of Blue Wallace Ford in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters, Elizabeth Hartman and Sidney Poitier Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters & Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters & Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters in A Patch of Blue Shelley Winters & Wallace Ford in A Patch of Blue
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Flixster Reviews (328)

  • 5oclockcoffee
    December 22, 2010
    5oclockcoffee
    Great lines and characters/performances.
    An amazing movie about tolerance and love.



  • FrizzDrop
    July 13, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Beautiful, and racially provactive, Blue is embarassingly raw and real.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 15, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    Love is color blind.
  • xxdebxx
    August 26, 2011
    xxdebxx
    Elizabeth Hartman plays the blind and childlike Selena Darcy living with her white trash promiscuous mother Shelley Winters and alcoholic grandfather Wallace Ford. She's got one miserable existence, living in an apartment she rarely goes out of, cleaning house and stringing beads... read more for necklaces to contribute to the family income. Her only joy is a trip to the park, where Selena sits by a tree and strings beads. One day she meets up with an articulate Gordon Ralfe (Sidney Poitier), an office worker who also likes the park. He is appalled that Selena is uneducated and has not even been taught the most rudimentary skills such as reading Braille (and has never enjoyed the simple pleasures of drinking pineapple juice, eating a roast beef sandwich and shopping in a supermarket before).

    It is amazing that Selena experiences so many new and wonderful things that we all take for granted. I understand the conflict with her friendship with Gordon because in that time period it really was frowned upon. (This movie came out during an era of intense racial unease, and so was probably very daring for its time.) Shelley Winters, of course, steals the show as the racist mother who horribly abuses her young daughter. Her character is loathsome, but she's the only one not dripping in goodness, thus giving the film a realistic touch. The subtle score works well with the relationship development and the black and white cinematography is great.

    Call me sentimental but watching this film brought tears to my eyes. I`ve always been a great admirer of Sidney Poiter having seen him in Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and To sir with Love and this movie is heartfelt and wonderful to watch. The world is a cold place, but Gordon offers his friendship and compassion as a small patch of blue in Selena's otherwise dark world (My interpretation). The ending might not have been one that I cared for but I think it adds to the greatness of the movie.
  • thirdway821
    September 13, 2011
    thirdway821
    A very warm and heartfelt picture. Poitier and Hartman have real on-screen chemistry.

    This picture has a lot of Machismo dialogue as when Hartman and Shelly Winters start a hammer blow of an argument then followed by Wallace Ford. It is probably the scene everyone remembers ... read morebut for me it is the tender scenes between Poitier and Hartman that brings the movie to justice.
  • alush1
    September 6, 2008
    alush1
    Excellent!
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    August 3, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    Love is Blind, Color Blindness, & Visual Blindness, are NOT Handicaps!
    Sadly Beautiful, Turbulent, & Important "Must See" of a Poignant Film that tackles Social Injustice,Racism, Abuse,& Blindness & the Confines Involved,with such an impact that you will never forget it.This is a... read more 2 Box Tearjerker from the start if you are a sensitive person, be warned.A Beautiful Blind Girl(a then unknown, Elizabeth Hartman)as Selina, blinded by her Mother,, is abused in every way by her morally questionable Mother(Shelly Winters).The Abuse is tolerated by her Drunken "Ole Pa"(Wallace Ford).Selina decides she needs to get some Fresh Air, & starts going to the Park, after her extensive Home Chores are done. There she befriends a man who changes her life & teaches her to be independent in her Challenge with her blindness, as she clearly has had no education whatsoever.The Interracial Issue, which she is oblivious to, becomes a large part of the story because of the times, but seems so silly today.Their Love is Color Blind. He gets her that badly needed Patch of Blue Sky in her Cloudy World of Repression(Education & Freedom from her Oppressors), but the Film leaves you hanging, I HATE that when that happens!!!
    Shelly Winters deservedly wins an Academy Award for playing this Reprehensible Mother.I believe Sydney Poitier, & Esp. the Newcomer who gave a performance of any actors lifetime,Elizabeth Hartman, deserved one even more!
  • brandankurtis
    January 2, 2011
    brandankurtis
    This sensitive film tells the bittersweet tale of the relationship between a young blind girl and a black man she meets in the park one day. The catch is, she doesn't realise he is black, and her slovenly mother is deeply racist.

    By the mid-sixties, Sidney Poitier must have been... read more wondering whether he would ever get a movie part in which the colour of his skin wasn't a major issue in the film (After 15 years in movies, THE BEDFORD INCIDENT, released in the same year as this flick, was to be his first in which his colour wasn't an issue). However, if he was getting tired of this it certainly doesn't show, as he gives a truly excellent performance as the object of blind girl Selina's affections. The manner in which their increasingly serious relationship develops is believably handled without ever veering towards overt melodrama or sentimentality, and serves to make the rather downbeat ending all the more poignant.

    All the major parts in this movie are a joy to watch, from Elizabeth Hartman in her debut role as Selina, to veteran character actor Wallace Ford (for who this would be one of his final roles) as her drunken grandfather. Shelley Winters is also superb as Selina's mother, a role for which she received a well-deserved academy award.

    Highly recommended.
  • moviegirl50
    June 8, 2010
    moviegirl50
    This a a beautiful story and I absolutely love it!! The black & white cinematography is very riveting & appealing as well as the characters all perfectly cast. Sidney Poitier is a master in these kinds of dramas and does not disappoint! I watched it again today and for me it ... read moreis a timeless movie of prejudice, compassion, justice, love and acceptance...one of my favorite movies and a must see! I was fortunate to recently purchase this on DVD because it has been discontinued! On "My Favorite Movies" list. DVD.
  • jam233
    August 20, 2009
    jam233
    Sidney Poitier, as usual, gives a sincere, classy and subtle performance. Elizabeth Hartman handles her role well but the stand out performance comes from Shelley Winters who is incredible and deservedly won her Oscar. A fine, well meaning film, simple and poignant.

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Critic Reviews

Wesley Lovell
August 15, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

A wonderful twist on the adage that love is blind. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 8, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

A beautifully moving film.

Ken Hanke
September 11, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Effective drama that was something of a breakthrough at the time.

Pat Graham
January 1, 2000
Pat Graham, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Cole Smithey
April 11, 2009
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Christopher Null
October 25, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 16, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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    • Gordon Ralfe: You cannot go on living the way you are. It's a dark age story.
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A Patch of Blue Trivia

  • In a "Patch of Blue", what was the juice Gordon Ralf gave Selina in the park?  Answer »
  • Which actor was in all these movies? A Patch of Blue To Sir With Love Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Lily of the Fields They Call me Mr. Tibbs In the Heat of the Night  Answer »
  • One of Shelley Winters' Oscars came for her performance in   Answer »
  • Who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in "A PATCH OF BLUE"?  Answer »
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