"For Love of Ivy", starring film icon Sidney Poitier and jazz legend Abbey Lincoln, is nothing short of a classic. The fact that I only learned of it in 2005 is a painful pill to swallow. For so long, I have accepted a standard of film-making that seems sub-standard after viewing this film. I will not spoil the experience for those who have not already had the pleasure of viewing it. I will only say that for those individuals who enjoy seeing talented Black actors working their craft, this is the film for you. From the magic of the script, to the the excellent delivery by its players, "For Love of Ivy" is definitely a pleaser. Do yourself a favor, and add it to your collection.
A wonderful movie about Black Love
This movie was set in the 60's (68 to be exact) and it had the music of one of like your typical New York romance flix think "Barefoot in the Park". Ivy (Abbey Lincoln)is a black maid to a well-to-do white family on Long Island well Ivy decides she wants to move into the city to further her education and to live amongst people like her self (black) the family just doesn't want Ivy to go they don't understand why she wants to go, they consider Ivy family... well as much as one can consider the Maid a part of your family. The family is made up of Carrol O' Conner, Beau Bridges, Nan Martin and Laurie Peters. The children soon realize that Abbey wants to leave because she wants to have a life or her own which includes a man. The son and daughter decide to "hook" Ivy up with Sidney Poitier who owns a trucks service that distributes for their Father's dept store. Sidney agrees begrudgingly to this because Beau has a way of "convincing" him (no spoilers here).
It's a cute movie Abbey Lincoln is very stylish, shy yet smart as well and Sidney Poitier was clever, smooth, hip and does wonders with his expressions LOL. There is this scene where Beau Bridges says something pretty racist and I was thinking... "Wow! did he just say that?" but Sidney's face conveyed a pause... (like he took his measure of Beau to keep to himself for later) then moved smoothly along in the conversation. As a african american watching this movie it reminded me that there are so few movies out there that potrays black love in such a positive way and I know this was a old flix but it still was a surprising pleasurable find. I didn't know what to expect but it will go on my classic favorite list of movies for sure. I highly recommend it.
Respectfully Reviewed
I love this movie!
Sidney Poitier is one of my favorite actors and he links up nicely with Abby Lincoln. A very cute love story.
Novelist James Clavell wrote, produced, and directed this 1967 British film (based on a novel by E.R. Braithwaite) about a rookie teacher who throws out stock lesson plans and really takes command of his unruly, adolescent students in a London school. Poitier is very good as a man struggling with the extent of his commitment to the job, and even more as a teacher whose commitment is to proffering life lessons instead of academics. The spirit of this movie can be found in such recent films as Dangerous Minds and Mr. Holland's Opus, but none is as moving as this one. Besides, the others don't have a title song performed by pop star Lulu. --Tom KeoghMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sidney Poitier - Judy Geeson Director(s): James Clavell DVD Release Date: Released the 01 February 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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One of the first studio films to deal with interracial romance (or even the possibility of it), A Patch of Blue was a huge hit upon its release, appealing to those looking for both social protest and a smart date movie. Sidney Poitier plays Gordon, a compassionate stranger who befriends a blind white girl named Selina (Elizabeth Hartman). Selina, the next thing to a shut-in, can only judge people by their voices, and Gordon's is unusually patient, kind. Troubles ensue when Selina's abusive mother (Shelley Winters in her second Oscar-winning performance) happens upon the pair during one of their park rendezvous. Ivan Dixon plays Poitier's militant brother, and veteran Wallace Ford appears as Selina's kindly lush of a grandfather. Jerry Goldsmith earned an Oscar nomination for his... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sidney Poitier - Shelley Winters - Elizabeth Hartman Director(s): Guy Green DVD Release Date: Released the 04 February 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Spencer Tracy's last performance was in this well-meaning, handsome film by Stanley Kramer about a pair of white parents (Tracy and Katharine Hepburn) trying to make sense of their daughter's impending marriage to an African American doctor (Sidney Poitier). The film has been knocked over the years for padding conflict and stoking easy liberalism by making Poitier's character in every socioeconomic sense a good catch: But what if Kramer had made this stranger a factory worker? Would the audience still find it as easy to accept a mixed-race relationship? But there's no denying the drawing power of this movie, which gets most of its integrity from the stirring performances of Tracy and Hepburn. When the former (who had been so ill that the production could not get completion insurance)... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Stanley Kramer DVD Release Date: Released the 02 February 1999 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Lorraine Hansberry's play is given sensitive treatment by filmmaker Daniel Petrie (The Bay Boy). Sidney Poitier heads a fine cast in the story of an African American family in Chicago who are struggling with mixed aspirations, not enough money, conflicts over religion, and institutional racism. The film is pretty much set-bound (as plays adapted for the screen sometimes are), but the drama is intense and moving. --Tom KeoghMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sidney Poitier - Claudia McNeil Director(s): Daniel Petrie DVD Release Date: Released the 22 February 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for this endearing movie about a handyman who thinks he's just passing through a little town in New Mexico, and ends up staying awhile to build a chapel for a cluster of German-speaking nuns. The renowned actor is highly entertaining in his combative exchanges with Lilia Skala, playing a Mother Superior who survived Hitler and makes no bones about bullying the goodhearted, itinerant worker into doing more and more for her. The film has an ambling, easygoing style with several memorable moments, not least of all is Poitier leading his holy hostesses through verses of the gospel song "Amen." Lilies is directed by the late Ralph Nelson, a pioneering director of live television who also made a number of popular feature films with notable performances (Jackie... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sidney Poitier - Lilia Skala Director(s): Ralph Nelson DVD Release Date: Released the 06 March 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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