The Sidney Poitier Collection

The brilliant, groundbreaking actor is saluted with a quartet of films from different periods in his career. The films are only available as part of this box set, but hopefully separate releases will soon follow. The collection includes the Richard Brooks African drama Something of Value (1957), the Oscar-winning classic A Patch of Blue (1965) and Poitier’s second directorial effort A Warm December (1973). The most noteworthy inclusion is Martin Ritt’s Edge of the City (1957), which has never before been released to the home market. Strongly influenced by On the Waterfront, the film beautifully sketches an interracial friendship on the docks, with co-stars Poitier and John Cassavetes (in his breakthrough role) giving indelible, endearing performances.

Shelf Talk: Poitier has retired from movies, but he looms large in the film community at 81. He is the subject of tributes on TCM and has received every major award, from the AFI Life Achievement award in 1992 to Kennedy Center honors in 1995 and an honorary career achievement Oscar in 2002.