A Patch of Blue
A Patch of Blue is a 1965 American drama film directed by Guy Green about the friendship between an educated black man (played by Sidney Poitier) and an illiterate, blind, white, 18-year-old girl (played by Elizabeth Hartman), and the problems that plague their friendship in a racially divided America. Made in 1965 against the backdrop of the growing civil rights movement, the film explores racism while playing on the idea that "love is blind."

Shelley Winters won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, her second win for the award, following her victory in 1959 for "The Diary of Anne Frank". It was the final screen appearance for veteran actor Wallace Ford.

Scenes of Poitier and Hartman kissing were excised from the film when it was shown in film theaters in the Southern United States. These scenes are intact in the DVD version. According to the DVD audio commentary, it was the decision of director Guy Green that "A Patch of Blue" be filmed in black and white although color was available.

The film was adapted by Guy Green from the 1961 book "Be Ready with Bells and Drums" by the Australian author Elizabeth Kata. The book later won a Writers Guild of America award. The plot differs slightly from the film in that it has a less optimistic ending.

In addition to the Best Supporting Actress win for Winters, the film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Elizabeth Hartman), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Black-and-White) (George Davis, Urie McCleary, Henry Grace, Charles S. Thompson), Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) and Best Music (Original Music Score). Hartman, 22 at the time, was the youngest Best Actress nominee, a record she held for 10 years before 20-year-old Isabelle Adjani broke her record in 1975.
Q707321
Guy Green
PER
Q104049
Sidney Poitier
PER
Q266451
Elizabeth Hartman
PER
Q48537
civil rights movement
Concept
Q202144
Shelley Winters
PER
Q106301
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
EVE
Q707986
The Diary of Anne Frank
MEDIA
Q1704485
Wallace Ford
PER
Q5363054
Elizabeth Kata
PER
Q1180240
Writers Guild of America
ORG
Q103618
Best Actress in a Leading Role
EVE
Q277751
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Black-and-White)
EVE
Q1508432
George Davis
PER
Q2500741
Urie McCleary
PER
Q1606794
Henry Grace
PER
Q5082300
Charles S. Thompson
PER
Q131520
Best Cinematography (Black-and-White)
EVE
Q488651
Best Music (Original Music Score)
EVE
Q106383
Isabelle Adjani
PER
Q223043
A Patch of Blue
MEDIA
1965-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1965
DATE
1965-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1965
DATE
1959-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1959
DATE
1961-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1961
DATE
1975-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1975
DATE
+18^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
18
NUMBER
+22^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
22
NUMBER
+10^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
10
NUMBER
+20^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
20
NUMBER
director
cast member
cast member
publication date
publication date
cast member
award received
cast member
after a work by
nominated for
production designer
nominated for
award received
winner
cast member
nominated for
nominated for
award received
nominated for