A Patch of Blue Blu-ray - Sidney Poitier

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Directed by Guy Green
USA 1965

Selina D'Arcey is blind, yet she sees the world anew through the eyes of kindly Gordon Ralfe (Academy Award® winner* Sidney Poitier). An awkward Cinderella raised by a bigoted, abusive mother, Selina is white. She does not know that the man helping her learn to dial a pay phone or find the restroom is black. Elizabeth Hartman's luminous screen debut as Selina earned her a Golden Globe® Award as Most Promising Newcomer. On the veteran side as Selina's blowsy, bitter mother, Shelley Winters won her second Oscar.®** As directed by Guy Green (Oscar®-winning cinematographer for Great Expectations, 1947), the performances are timeless in A Patch of Blue. So is this fine film's heart-soaring impact.

***

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.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 10th, 1965

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Review: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:45:15.559
Video	2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 35,579,235,203 bytes Feature: 32,605,446,144 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1991 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1991 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1986 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1986 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Archive 2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 35,579,235,203 bytes Feature: 32,605,446,144 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary by director Guy Green • A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (6:34) • Trailer (2:01) Blu-ray Release Date: May 28th, 2019 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive Blu-ray (June 2019): Warner Archive have transferred Guy Green's A Patch of Blue to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. While occasionally showing some inconsistency - the overall image is quite pleasing in 1080P. Contrast shows decent layering and black levels. The 2.35 widescreen looks impressive and the image quality seems to reach the limits of the format for the source provided. There is marginal grain texture and acceptable detail in close-ups. It's not a dynamic look but works well for the film via this HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 25 more large resolution Warner Archive Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It sounds very crisp and authentically flat with a beautiful score by Jerry Goldsmith (Link, Breakout, The Salamander, The Mephisto Waltz, Seconds, Hoosiers, The Blue Max, Breakheart Pass, The Omen) echoing the sentimentality of the story. Warner Archive offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

Warner include a commentary by director/writer Guy Green where he quietly details some of the production facets including the cast selection. A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965) is a 7-minute documentary that describes how Elizabeth Hartman was auditioned and chosen for the part of Selina in "A Patch of Blue". There is also a trailer.

A Touch of Blue is a heartbreaking film with themes of tolerance and bias with beautiful performances exporting Selina's naiveté, Gordon's cool responsibility and Rose-Ann's (Shelley Winters) brutal selfishness. It's an emotional and highly impacting viewing experience. The Warner Archive Blu-ray also has value with an HD presentation of this amazing film and the, included, commentary. The film is worthy of being labeled as human-interest masterpiece and it continues to age well.

Gary Tooze

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Distribution Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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