MovieChat Forums > A Patch of Blue (1965) Discussion > Hidden messages in the movie........

Hidden messages in the movie........

posted 20 years ago by sugar-bear
10 replies | jump to latest

Throughout the movie, we see that many objects are actually hidden messages. Here's what I think they were:

The Musicbox: Of course the music box plays an important role in the movie. It told the ending. The ending may have left many of us confused but all you had to do was look at the music box. The music box was a gift to Selina from Gordon and in the end Gordon decided to take it to Selina at the school and their relationship continued on from there(Even the director said so). The music box in fact saved their relationship. Gordon wasn't planning on seeing Selina for a while because he wanted to give her time to get settled and meet people like her.....but the music box made him visit her alot sooner than planned.

The school bus: If you count the minutes after the school calls Gordon and the time the bus arrives, you have about 3-4 minutes. Meaning the school is just a few minutes from where Gordon lived, making it very easy to visit Selina.

The young boy: The boy who delivered the message to Selina was sort of like an angel. If he hadn't come Selina would've probably lost hope. It was after she had her nervous breakdown, that the little boy came to tell her about Mr. Ralfe. After he left, Selina felt happy and better.

Sadie: I believe Sadie was a way for Selina to make up her mind faster. If Sadie hadn't planned on moving, then I don't think Selina would have the courage(along with Gordon)to run away. Maybe she'd still go to the school but think of what her mother would've done hadn't been the idea of moving been around.

The beads: The beads played a very important role as well. Hadn't Gordon knocked them down, they would'nt have talked very much. Hadn't Selina had them...there was no reason for her to go to the park.

I've seen this movie so many times...it's my ultimate favorite and I've noticed that this movie...along with many others...has hidden messages. Has anyone seen any more??

[–] kharrylsioux 19 years ago

I liked reading this. I'm going to have to go watch the movie again. I loved the part you wrote about the music box.

[–] sugar-bear 19 years ago

Thank you..:)

It's all about the corned beef sandwiches and pineapple juice

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] monet2004 17 years ago

I liked how you analyzed it. I agree there are hidden messages in this treasure of a movie. One of the hidden messages I see is that of compassion. I think this is why I love this movie so much because along with the disgruntle-ness of the family which can be over-powering, there is compassion, understanding and a newfound friendship that saves the girl's life.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] katydid579 16 years ago

Well, I suppose you could also consider the very obvious "hidden message" which hits the viewer over the head... that love is blind.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

Brilliant post, sugar-bear! Obviously you've watched this film several times and thought about it a great deal.

Perhaps another meaning, not so hidden, is that our senses tend to limit us rather than expand us. The blind girl "saw" the world much more fully than her sighted mother did.

[–] bell-simone 15 years ago

This is one of my favorite movies!
Regarding the music box: I sort of got the impression, given that it appears when they're lunching and discussing Gordon's grandmother; that the music box was given to his grandmother by a serious suitor who was white....sort of a precursor to the love that grows between Gordon & Selena....Gordon said the man was "from another world," I took that to mean, he was white (and possibly married although I'm not sure of that part.)
I think they were vague about it in order to leave it open to interpretation.

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[–] scottcom36 14 years ago

When Rose-Ann was beating Selina and told her that Gordon was black, Selina flashed back to Gordon relating the story of his grandmother. So she made the association too, making it clear to me that the grandmother's suitor was indeed white.
Also, regarding the OP, I bet Selina left the misic box in Gordon's apartment so he'd have to come see her to return it, which is pretty neat.

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

Wow, this is such a great thread! So many good points raised.

I do agree, the music box was the binding thread and, it's funny, even though I've seen this movie before, it didn't occur to me that Selina left the box in Gordon's apartment as a 'prompt' to bring him to visit her sooner (or, indeed, a test to see if he truly cared for her, then he'd bring it to her - If not, then he'd not visit).

On another note about the grandmother, I thought it was an interesting commentary in that things hadn't changed that much in all those years - Selina and Gordon still face a similar predicament she did way back then.

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