A Patch of Blue

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 daughter, 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., Shelley Winters won an Oscar for her portrayal of an overbearing mother in this sensitive and moving drama of a blind girl who falls for Sidney Poitier., Shelley Winters won an Oscar for her portrayal of an overbearing mother in this sensitive and moving drama of a blind girl who falls for a black man, played by Sidney Poitier., A poor, blind, white woman and a determined young black man forge a friendship, and he vows to help her leave her abusive home life. Shelley Winters won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as the young woman’s selfish, bigoted mother., A black professional man meets a blind white girl in the park one day. Her tray of beads has been turned over and he helps her pick them up. He sees that she has received almost no training in how to get around without assistance. He begins to explain the city to her, but her mother is not impressed with him at all.