The 3 Dec 1964 DV announced producer Pandro S. Berman had begun pre-production on A Patch of Blue, with Sidney Poitier set to star. The film was based on Elizabeth Kata’s 1961 novel, Be Ready With Bells and Drums. Newcomer Elizabeth Hartman was cast to play opposite Poitier in the independent picture, to be released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (M-G-M), as reported in the 16 Dec 1964 Var. Hartman was granted a ten-week leave from the Broadway play, Everybody Out, the Castle is Sinking, in order to film A Patch of Blue at M-G-M Studios in Culver City, CA, in Mar 1965. The 22 Dec 1964 DV noted that Guy Green would be adapting the screenplay, as well as directing the picture.
       A news item in the 15 Mar 1965 DV confirmed that production began that day.
       On 5 Apr 1965, DV indicated that the film was ahead of schedule, but actress Shelley Winters was ill, and her starting date on A Patch of Blue was postponed. The 8 Apr 1965 DV announced that the $1.2 million picture was “three days ahead of schedule.” The budget was kept low due to “planning” and limited location shooting. On the M-G-M lot, “only two interior sets and a park” were utilized, with additional “minor location work.”
       For her role as a blind girl, Elizabeth Hartman wore specially designed contact lenses to obstruct her vision, as noted in the 12 Dec 1965 LAT.
       Filming ended on 29 Apr 1965, five days ahead of schedule, and $65,000 under budget, totaling thirty-three days of shooting, and $1,135,000 in costs, according to the 4 May 1965 DV. Berman and Green credited the Hollywood production crews for the achievement, and gave special mention to assistant director Hank Moonjean’s “excellent planning.”
       The 16 Jun 1965 DV announced that M-G-M was undecided on a release date for the picture, but indicated that A Patch of Blue would require “special handling.”
       Conductor Jerry Goldsmith led an orchestra of fifty-two musicians during two days of recording the score, as stated in the 30 Jun 1965 DV. Tommy Morgan was credited for his harmonica playing.
       The 20 Jul 1965 DV reported that producer Berman was pressing M-G-M to seek Academy Award consideration for the film, and following an impressive screening, M-G-M agreed to meet qualification deadlines by releasing A Patch of Blue before the end of 1965. DV indicated that a sequel to the film was under consideration. On 6 Dec 1965, DV stated that Berman planned to start work immediately on the sequel, with Poitier and Hartman reprising their roles, and Guy Green was already underway on the treatment. However, a sequel never came to fruition.
       The 15 Sep 1965 Var announced the picture’s opening on 24 Dec 1965 at the Crest Westwood Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. The opening was scheduled to move up to 10 Dec 1965, according to the 17 Nov 1965 DV, which also reported an “invitation-only” screening at the Crest on 1 Dec 1965, with appearances by Sidney Poitier and Elizabeth Hartman.
       Hartman received the “Star of the Future” award from the Theatre Owners of America’s annual Allied Convention in Pittsburgh, PA, for her acting debut in A Patch of Blue, as noted in the 5 Oct 1965 DV and the 6 Oct 1965 Var. The awards ceremony was planned for 14 Oct 1965.
       A screening was held in Washington, D.C., on 28 Oct 1965, hosted by the Motion Picture Association of America in honor of George Stevens, Jr., as reported in the 29 Oct 1965 DV.
       On 12 Dec 1965, NYT announced that the New York City premiere would be held on 15 Dec 1965 at the Beekman Theatre. A Patch of Blue was accompanied in both the New York City and Los Angeles releases by the short animated film, The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, directed by Chuck Jones of Looney Tunes fame, and Maurice Noble. The ten-minute picture won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoons, for producers Jones and Les Goldman.
       The 13 Dec 1965 DV reported a record-breaking three-day opening at the 760-seat Crest Theatre, with $11,400 in box-office receipts. By 15 Dec 1965, the exclusive engagement had brought in $18,000. According to a "Big Rental Pictures of 1966" roundup in the 4 Jan 1967 Var, the film had grossed $6.3 million up to that time.
       A Patch of Blue was nominated for five Academy Awards, with Shelley Winters winning in the Actress in a Supporting Role category. Additional nominations included: Art Direction (Black-and-White); Actress (Elizabeth Hartman); Music (Jerry Goldsmith); and Cinematography (Black-and-White) for Robert Burks.