The SIDNEY POITIER TRIBUTE Continues Thursday Night with THE DEFIANT ONES and A PATCH OF BLUE

The SIDNEY POITIER TRIBUTE Continues Thursday Night with THE DEFIANT ONES and A PATCH OF BLUE

February is Black History Month, and to help celebrate, The St. Louis Black Film Festival will be presenting a Tribute to the 86-year old Sidney Poitier at their Classic Black Film Festival. Lucky St. Louis movie buffs will have the opportunity to view eight vintage Sidney Poitier on the big screen. Every Thursday in February, The St. Louis Black Film Festival will be presenting two Poitier films at St Louis Cinemas Galleria (630 St Louis Galleria, Richmond Heights, MO 63117).

The SIDNEY POITIER TRIBUTE Film Festival continues this Thursday night (February 20^th) with two Poitier classics; THE DEFIANT ONES and A PATCH OF BLUE

Sidney Poitier continued to break race barriers with the formula jail-break drama THE DEFIANT ONES in 1958. Tony Curtis and Poitier play white and black inmates who, while chained together at the wrist, escape their captors when their prison truck hits the ditch. Curtis is forced to put aside his prejudice and work with his new partner in getting the cuffs off and ensuring their newfound freedom lasts. As its reputation suggests, THE DEFIANT ONES is first and foremost a study of racism. It has a deliberate unpleasantness about it as it brings to life the unsavory attitudes of the past. A young boy who stumbles across the convicts races to the arms of Curtis for fear Poitier will hurt him. A lonely farm wife who takes the men in has to be told that yes, Poitier deserves a meal, too. And as the men face hanging at the hands of some rednecks (including Lon Chaney), Curtis appeals to them on the grounds a white man can’t be lynched. Yet the film carries no tired, moralistic messages, instead allowing the racism on display to speak for itself. A powerful film.

THE DEFIANT ONES screens at 6pm

A PATCH OF BLUE is a wonderful 1965 film dealing with racism, blindness and a memorable spirit. Elizabeth Hartman, whose tragic suicide 22 years later deprived us of an outstanding talent, gave a strong performance as Selina, a young girl blinded by her racist mother Rose-Ann (St. Louisan Shelley Winters in her second Oscar-winning role) who, in a fit of rage, through something at a man that missed him but hit the daughter. Rose-Ann is the embodiment of bigotry; screaming, filthy, and a racist all the way, she is one mean bitch. In a chance meeting, Selina meets Gordon (Sidney Poitier) a kind black man who befriends her. Shocked that Selina is uneducated, he begins meeting her in the park to teach her and an innocent relationship develops. Selina does not know that Gordon is black, but when Rose-Ann finds out what is going on, all hell breaks loose. Because of the subject matter, A PATCH OF BLUE could have been histrionic and sappy, but the film is done with so much class, features such great actors and had such a great story that it’s one of the most beloved dramas of the 1960’s.

A PATCH OF BLUE screens at 8pm

And on February 27th: A PIECE OF THE ACTION – 6pm
LET’S DO IT AGAIN – 8pm

Admission is free with AARP membership card, otherwise $10 for each movie.

There will also be a “Social Happy Hour” from 4-6 before each movie.

For more info or to participate go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Louis-Black-Film-Festival/179694092087006

For more information please contact James Thomas at email: jamesthemovieman@gmail.com

Check back here at We Are Movie Geeks for more information about the SIDNEY POITIER TRIBUTE Film Festival