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 Suppo

Elizabeth Hartman made her film debut with A PATCH OF BLUE ('65) which led to her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress. To prepare for the role, she visited a Braille school for the blind and wore opaque contact lenses that deprived her of sight in real life during the film. A PATCH OF BLUE ('65) was one of the 4 films Sidney Poitier worked on that year. The film ended up being one of Poitier's most successful roles as an actor, as he agreed to a salary cut for 10% of the film's gross earning

In 1967, America was at the height of the civil rights movement and the country's biggest star was Sidney Poitier. With the release of three films that year: TO SIR WITH LOVE, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT and GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?, he was at the top of his game. #BlackHistoryMonth #LetsMovie | Turner Classic Movies: TCM