A few words about…™ A Patch of Blue — in Blu-ray

4 Stars Cinematographer Robert Burks (yes you've seen his name in credits) created a beautifully scaled image

A Patch of Blue, directed by the great Guy Green, is a gorgeous black & white film (Mr. Green knew something about that) featuring a newly discovered talent, the delightful Elizabeth Hartman.

Cinematographer Robert Burks (yes you’ve seen his name in credits) created a beautifully scaled image, working for the former DP turned director.

For those who may be unaware, Mr. Green was the first British cameraman to win the Academy Award, for his black & white work on a small UK production, Great Expectations (1946). He worked for the same filmmaker several times, on Madeleine, This Happy Breed, and In which We Serve, working in 3-strip Technicolor along the way.

A Patch of Blue is a wonderful film about blindness, and color blindness, and deserves your attention.

Did I mention Sidney Poitier and Shelley Winters?

The pity is that Ms Hartman only appears in eight films, inclusive of The Beguiled, and The Group.

Image – 5

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

Upgrade from DVD – Absolutely

Highly Recommended

RAH

Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.

His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.

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Robert Crawford

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A truly great film that I'm looking forward to revisiting in 1080p. Amazon still hasn't shipped my disc yet, but hopefully I get it this week, but you never know about Amazon and Warner titles. Thank you for your fine review.
 

Robert Harris

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Let’s not forget Ms. Hartman’s wonderful and insane Barbara Darling in Coppola’s “You’re a Big Boy Now!”

Terrific film. Didn’t mention it I presumed no one would know of it. Big Boy is how I spent much of my summer vacation, and an educational experience.
 

lark144

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Terrific film. Didn’t mention it I presumed no one would know of it. Big Boy is how I spent much of my summer vacation, and an educational experience.
Mr. Harris, were you a crew member on YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW? That film also has my favorite Elizabeth Hartman performance. I saw YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW just before I moved to Manhattan, and the images of that film has kind of become intermixed with my own memories, especially of Times Square and the bowels of the Reading Room of the New York Public Library, where I used to hang out in-between double features at the New Amsterdam and the Lyric.
 

Robert Harris

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Mr. Harris, were you a crew member on YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW? That film also has my favorite Elizabeth Hartman performance. I saw YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW just before I moved to Manhattan, and the images of that film has kind of become intermixed with my own memories, especially of Times Square and the bowels of the Reading Room of the New York Public Library, where I used to hang out in-between double features at the New Amsterdam and the Lyric.

Gopher
 

lark144

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Exciting. Walked the dog, let actors know they were needed on stage, filed permits...

Some extraordinary people worked on that film. One of the most interesting, and open was Michael Dunn.
I know very little about Michael Dunn. The only film of his I own is SHIP OF FOOLS, and while there are many great and moving performances in that film, his character stands out, possibly because of the way he is both inside and outside the film, in addition to the persona he projects, which exudes inner strength and a strong sense of purpose, while also being somewhat self-effacing. I wonder if he was like that in person.
 
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Robert Harris

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I know very little about Michael Dunn. The only film of his I own is SHIP OF FOOLS, and while there are many great and moving performances in that film, his character stands out, possibly because of the way he is both inside and outside the film, in addition to the persona he projects, which exudes inner strength and a strong sense of purpose, while also being somewhat self-effacing. I wonder if he was like that in person.

Quite. First time we met, he noted my discomfort, and hopped up on a table. Once we were eye to eye, he smiled and asked if that was better. We went on to chat about college. As I recall, he had spent time at Univ of Miami, where I had spent a year. An immediate education in maturity, respect and understanding others, who might be a bit different.

A very fine gentleman. And talented, to boot.
 

lark144

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Quite. First time we met, he noted my discomfort, and hopped up on a table. Once we were eye to eye, he smiled and asked if that was better. We went on to chat about college. As I recall, he had spent time at Univ of Miami, where I had spent a year. An immediate education in maturity, respect and understanding others, who might be a bit different.

A very fine gentleman. And talented, to boot.
Thank you Mr. Harris, for sharing that reminiscence.
 
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warnerbro

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I love this film and never get tired of watching it over and over. I'm glad it is finally getting the transfer it deserves because the others were horrible.
 

Dick

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Why has THE FIXER been impossible to see for decades?

Probably because Warner Archives hasn't gotten around to releasing it yet. With thousands of potential titles to mull over each month, I suppose they are looking for the films that will require the least work to bring up to Blu-ray speed, and which ones are most likely to sell in this Marvel-happy day and age. THE FIXER, a fine movie with a terrific Alan Bates performance, is rather slow and a bit repetitive, and might not go over all that well. Hopin' for it, though.
 

cda1143

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A truly great film that I'm looking forward to revisiting in 1080p. Amazon still hasn't shipped my disc yet, but hopefully I get it this week, but you never know about Amazon and Warner titles. Thank you for your fine review.

Shipped it? Amazon doesn't even have it listed.
 

Stephen PI

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I watched the blu ray tonight and I have to admit I was disappointed in the transfer. When the titles came up they looked pushed and over bright and I should have realized there was a problem, but I waited until I got into the body of the film. Sure enough I found the transfer way too bright, flat and milky with a lack of contrast. I suspect this transfer was made off the original negative and, I'm reminded over and over again, few graders don't seem to know how to do a proper black and white transfer off of the O.N.
Sorry to disagree on this, I know I will be in the minority with my opinion of this transfer.
 

Robert Crawford

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My copy hasn't shipped yet from Amazon. If not resolution in the next day or two, I will buy it from another retailer and cancel my Amazon order.
Today, I received my Blu-ray from Barnes & Noble for $16.60 tax included. I plan on watching it this weekend.
 

Mark-P

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I suspect this transfer was made off the original negative and, I'm reminded over and over again, few graders don't seem to know how to do a proper black and white transfer off of the O.N.
Since few graders don't know how to do a proper transfer, I guess that means that most graders do know how to do it proper! :D
Nevertheless, this is Warner Archive we're talking about here, and they know exactly what they are doing. I suspect the disc will be sheer perfection.
 
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