A Patch of Blue (1965)

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A Patch of Blue (1965)

A Patch of Blue was released on December 10, 1965, directed and written by Guy Green. The American drama film was based on the novel Be Ready With Bells and Drums by Elizabeth Kata (New York, 1961). [1] The storyline about a white illiterate-blind girl whose mother is a prostitute, having a friendship with an educated black man. The film starred Sidney Poitier and Elizabeth Hartman as the lead roles. Based on Rotten Tomatoes, A Patch of Blue received a rating of 89% from 9 reviews. [2]

Plot

A blind and an uneducated white girl, Selina D’Arcery, lives in a tiny Los Angeles apartment with her mother who works as a prostitute. The 18-years-old young lady became blind by accident when she was five by her mother. With her limitations, she strings beads to support her family’s income and does chores in most of her times. Selina does not have friends, never received an education, and rarely goes outside. On the fine afternoon, Selina, taken by her alcoholic grandfather, Ole Pa, to the local park and meets Gordon Ralfe, an educated, kind-hearted black man whose job as an office worker.

They happen to be good friends as they regularly meet in the park every afternoon without knowing that Gordon is black, which lately grows their relationship into romance.

At one day, Selina’s abusive mother, Rose-Ann, finds out about Gordon and their relationships. She forbids Selina to meet Gordon and have any relation with him because he is black.

Despite her mother’s fury, Selina continues to meet Gordon. Until Rose-Ann and Ole Pa come to the Park and confront Gordon. Gordon manages to take Selina away from the two, while Ole Pa stops Rose-Ann from chasing them, saying that Selina has grown up.

In Gordon’s apartment, Selina asks Gordon to marry her as she loves him. However, Gordon turns Selina down politely by saying that their relationship might not work, which leads their relationship to end for good.

A Patch of Blue, Gordon and Selina

Controversy

The film, of course, highlights the racial subject, relationship between two people with different colors and races. One big notion that this movie wants to tell that people need to be more tolerant and accept any kind of relationship, including friendship and even love between a black and a white person. Even Selina’s mother will do everything to put the friendships to an end. This also portrays the situations in the US in the 60s era where black people started to make their rights heard. [3]

This movie depicts how Selina’s blindness prevents her from seeing what black people describe in the mid-1960s as featured in Gordon’s : He is a black man. Gordon is aware how racial mixed relationships are judged by society, especially if it turns into love. [4]

References