MovieChat Forums > A Patch of Blue (1965) Discussion > Better than Guess Who's Coming to Dinner...

Better than Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

posted 15 years ago by xjiljilx
4 replies | jump to latest

I've always thought this film was better than the one Sidney is more famous for, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. I did see this film before I saw Guess Who's, but I don't think that really had all that much effect. A Patch of Blue has always seemed deeper & more dramatic. It has so many more plot lines! The racial divide, Selina's blind-ness, her horrible mother, her lack of education while Gordon was educated, and even an age difference. I've never quite understood why Guess Who's Coming to Dinner got all the acclaim for the interracial movie. A Patch of Blue is so much more haunting and really leaves something for people to think about (in my opinion, at least). Maybe because Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were in Guess Who's, and it was Tracy's last film. I'm really not sure. Maybe A Patch of Blue was before its time. What do you guys think?

[–] sockscats 15 years ago

I totally agree and the metaphor for a colorblind society runs through it.

Today such a film might be seen as overly politically correct depicting educated well dressed professional black men vs a family of unloving white trash. Here the movie is perfect for the times and very much needed.

I also agree that the intimacy and love is far more believable here because in GWCTD it is tamped down too much as not to offend.

The star power of hepburn-tracy-portier certainly makes a difference.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

They are both excellent films, but this one grabs me a bit harder because I identify with the "lower crust" of society much more. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" feels a bit stagey to me, but this film feels a lot more honest. But both are important films that demand to be remembered.

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

I think they both convey a great message but I like each one equally; I think it's quite interesting showing the point of view from both 'high society' (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner) and then from a more 'earthy' modest situation (Patch of Blue).

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).

[–] 14 years ago

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