A Reel Retro Review: A PATCH OF BLUE (1965)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

Increasing diversity in film has been a priority for Hollywood as of late. It’s been a long, rough road for the industry…one that took several steps forward thanks to the career of Sidney Poitier. As the first black male and Afro-Bahamian actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, Poitier blazed a trail that is followed to this day. One of his early efforts came in 1965 with Guy Green’s A PATCH OF BLUE. 

 

Gordon (Poitier), befriends and starts a romance with Selina (Elizabeth Hartman); a young blind girl who is an abusive situation thanks to her bigoted mother Rose-Ann (Shelley Winters), and her good-for-nothing, always-drunk grandfather, Ole Pa (Wallace Ford). 

 

Based on the 1961 novel Be Ready with Bells and Drums and directed by Guy Green, A PATCH OF BLUE is a film that carries the heavy themes of inter-racial relationships and abusive families. Selina is in a tough spot. Blinded by an accident as a little girl (thanks to her mother’s drunkenness), she basically lives life as a slave; spending her days preparing meals, threading beads, and catering to her mother’s every wish. A chance meeting with Gordon changes things for her. And they begin a secret relationship with Selina not knowing Gordon’s skin color. 

 

The romance between Gordon and Selina is an on-the-nose telling of the love-is-blind idea, and it works well. The banter between the two is natural, with Gordon acting as a teacher and mentor in the early going; teaching her how to navigate city streets and simple things like grocery shopping. With Selina being blind to color, she is a character of acceptance, which is a strong contrast to her parents, who seem to be blind to that idea. 

 

Director Guy Green builds a sweet film, but isn’t shy on the tragedy. His clever camerawork and editing when showing how Selina lost her sight is stunning, and isn’t afraid to show the ugliness of bigotry and abuse. The pacing is nice and tight, the humor well-timed, and the score by the late great Jerry Goldsmith is very good. 

 

Sidney Poitier is excellent as he always is; playing a perfect gentleman with a big heart. Elizabeth Hartman is tremendous, as is Shelly Winters who comes in as a formidable, and despicable villain. 

 

There are only two things that Selina wants to do; escape her home-life, and to be with Gordon. At the movie’s end she only gets one of them, making for a bitter-sweet finale that is rooted in reality and doesn’t go for the big Hollywood sunset-ending.  History doesn’t remember A PATCH OF BLUE as a landmark, but it was one of those necessary entries on that long, rough road still to be taken. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

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Reel Facts: Scenes of Gordon and Selina kissing were removed from prints that were shown in the Southern United States. The film would be nominated for five Oscars, with Shelly Winters winning for Best Supporting Actress. Winters’ career would span almost 60 years, and she would later appear in popular films such as THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972), and PETE’S DRAGON (1977).