{ "id": "ep1hvsnbkt", "slug": "for-love-of-the-title", "title": "For Love of the title", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-the-1960s", "label": "Comedies of the 1960s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-the-1960s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000: Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" } ] } ], "excerpt": "For Love of Ivy (1968) is an American romantic comedy directed by Daniel Mann, starring Sidney Poitier and Abbey Lincoln, from Poitier's only story credit; the first mainstream Hollywood film depicting a mature black romance, with a Quincy Jones score and an Oscar-nominated title song.", "snippet": "For Love of Ivy (1968) is an American romantic comedy directed by Daniel Mann, starring Sidney Poitier and Abbey Lincoln, from Poitier's only story credit; the first mainstream Hollywood film depicting a mature black romance, with a Quincy Jones score and an Oscar-nominated title song.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-the-1960s", "markdown": "# For Love of the title\n\n*For Love of Ivy* is a 1968 American romantic comedy directed by Daniel Mann, starring [Sidney Poitier](https://www.edgepedia.org/sidney-poitier) as trucking executive Jack Parks and jazz singer Abbey Lincoln as Ivy Moore, the [Long Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/long-island) domestic worker he is blackmailed into dating. Its release was described by [Turner Classic Movies](https://www.edgepedia.org/turner-classic-movies) as a first in mainstream American cinema: a mature romance between two black lead characters.[1](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | New York opening 17 July 1968; 102 minutes per the AFI Catalog (101 minutes per IMDb and TCM)[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062985/) |\n| Credits | Directed by Daniel Mann; screenplay by Robert Alan Aurthur from a story by Sidney Poitier; produced by Edgar J. Scherick and Jay Weston for Palomar Pictures International (ABC Pictures Corp.)[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY) |\n| Principal cast | Sidney Poitier (Jack Parks), Abbey Lincoln (Ivy Moore), Beau Bridges (Tim Austin), Nan Martin (Doris Austin), Lauri Peters (Gena Austin), Carroll O'Connor (Frank Austin)[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY) |\n| Historical standing | The first mainstream Hollywood film to depict a mature romance between two black lead characters[4](https://whatismymovie.com/item?item=0062985) |\n| Music | Score by Quincy Jones; the title song, with lyrics by Bob Russell and sung by Shirley Horn, was nominated for the 1968 Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY) • [5](https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/Search/GetResults?query=%7B%22Nominee%22%3A%22Quincy+Jones%22%2C%22Sort%22%3A%221-Nominee-Alpha%22%2C%22Search%22%3A%22Basic%22%7D) |\n| Finances | Estimated budget of $2,590,000; worldwide box office of $7,270,000[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062985/) • [6](https://thetvdb.com/movies/for-love-of-ivy) |\n| Awards | Academy Award nomination for the title song; Golden Globe nominations for Abbey Lincoln and Beau Bridges[5](https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/Search/GetResults?query=%7B%22Nominee%22%3A%22Quincy+Jones%22%2C%22Sort%22%3A%221-Nominee-Alpha%22%2C%22Search%22%3A%22Basic%22%7D) • [7](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/for-love-of-ivy/2000345048/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nIvy Moore, a 27-year-old black woman, has worked for nine years as maid, housekeeper, and confidante to the Austin family on Long Island. Wanting more excitement in her life, she announces that she will leave to attend secretarial school. The family, upset at losing her, decides that her departure stems from a lack of romance. Acting as secret matchmakers behind their parents' backs, the Austins' teenage daughter Gena and hippie son Tim get Jack Parks, a young black trucking executive, to take Ivy out by threatening to reveal his illegal side business, a gambling casino run out of a trailer truck that is constantly on the move. Afraid of losing the Austin department store contract, Jack agrees.[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY)\n\nAfter an awkward first date the two warm to each other, but the romance cools when Ivy learns that Jack was blackmailed into dating her. Despite his aversion to marriage, Jack follows Ivy back to the Austin house, confesses his love, and promises to give up the gambling operation.[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY)\n\n## Origin and production\n\n**Poitier's own story.** The film grew from a story written by its star. According to the 2004 biography *Sidney Poitier* by historian Aram Goudsouzian, Poitier wanted to present a more genuine black woman, an imperative he connected to fatherhood, and to stretch Hollywood's boundaries on black intimacy; after three weeks of isolation in his study he produced a nineteen-page outline called *Ivy*.[1](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy) It is his only writing credit.[8](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2021/02/sidney-poitier-marathon-for-love-of-ivy-1968-the-lost-man-1969.html) Although Poitier had won an Academy Award for *[Lilies of the Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/lilies-of-the-field-1963-film)* (1963) and been nominated for *The Defiant Ones* (1958), the outline was rejected by three major studios because of its all-black romantic storyline before the ABC Television film production arm Palomar Pictures took it on.[1](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy)\n\nAlmost 300 women auditioned for the title role. Jazz singer Abbey Lincoln won it; her only previous screen acting work had been *Nothing But a Man* (1964), a film in which Poitier had turned down the lead.[1](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy) Location scenes were filmed in and around New York City.[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY)\n\n## Music\n\n[Quincy Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/quincy-jones) scored the film and wrote its songs with several collaborators. The title song, with words and music by Bob Russell and Jones, was performed by Shirley Horn; [Maya Angelou](https://www.edgepedia.org/maya-angelou) co-wrote \"You Put It on Me,\" sung by B.B. King; and Cashman, Pistilli & West performed \"My Side of the Sky.\"[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY) The title song brought Jones and Russell an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Song at the ceremony honoring 1968 films; the pair had been the first [African Americans](https://www.edgepedia.org/african-americans) nominated in that category the previous year for \"The Eyes of Love\" from *Banning*, making them the first nominated twice.[5](https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/Search/GetResults?query=%7B%22Nominee%22%3A%22Quincy+Jones%22%2C%22Sort%22%3A%221-Nominee-Alpha%22%2C%22Search%22%3A%22Basic%22%7D) • [9](https://www.jones-massey.com/index.php/en-us/public-downloads?catid=225&id=5114%3Alist-of-black-academy-award-winners-and-nominees&task=download.send)\n\n## Reception and significance\n\nReviews were mixed, with many critics folding socio-political viewpoints into their assessments.[1](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy) Roger Ebert, film critic of the *Chicago Sun-Times* from 1967 until his death in 2013, called it \"a warm and delightful comedy\" that was well made if not a masterpiece, and judged Poitier's story \"a good deal more 'honest' than *Guess Who's Coming to Dinner*.\"[10](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/for-love-of-ivy-1968) *TIME* was harsher, calling the premise a story \"not even the most gullible honky would buy\" and comparing the couple to \"Rock Hudson and Doris Day in black and tan.\"[11](https://time.com/archive/6632622/cinema-for-love-of-ivy/) On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 43% Tomatometer from 7 reviews and a 51% audience score from more than 1,000 ratings.[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/for_love_of_ivy)\n\nThe film's commercial and cultural standing was substantial. In February 1969 the *Los Angeles Times* reported that Poitier had been named the top box-office draw of 1968 in the Motion Picture Herald's annual poll, owing to the success of his four most recent films: *For Love of Ivy* and 1967's *To Sir with Love*, *Guess Who's Coming to Dinner*, and *In the Heat of the Night*.[13](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/23270) The historian Ruth Feldstein, author of *How It Feels to Be Free: Black Women Entertainers and the Civil Rights Movement*, has argued that Lincoln brought working-class black women's perspectives into a mainstream film intended to be apolitical, even as the film's marketing and reception commodified her black power radicalism.[14](https://academic.oup.com/book/10250/chapter-abstract/157945213) The Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul integrated the film into his 1975 novel *Guerillas*, describing Poitier as \"a Cary Grant that blacks could call their own.\"[1](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy)\n\n## References\n\n1. [For Love of Ivy, Eleanor Quin, Turner Classic Movies](https://www.tcm.com/articles/139169/for-love-of-ivy)\n2. [For Love of Ivy (1968), AFI Catalog of Feature Films](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19889-FOR-LOVE-OF-IVY)\n3. [For Love of Ivy (1968), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062985/)\n4. [For Love of Ivy (1968), What is my movie?](https://whatismymovie.com/item?item=0062985)\n5. [Academy Awards Search: Quincy Jones, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/Search/GetResults?query=%7B%22Nominee%22%3A%22Quincy+Jones%22%2C%22Sort%22%3A%221-Nominee-Alpha%22%2C%22Search%22%3A%22Basic%22%7D)\n6. [For Love of Ivy, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/movies/for-love-of-ivy)\n7. [For Love of Ivy, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/for-love-of-ivy/2000345048/)\n8. [Sidney Poitier marathon: For Love of Ivy (1968) – The Lost Man (1969), Peter T. Chattaway, Patheos](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2021/02/sidney-poitier-marathon-for-love-of-ivy-1968-the-lost-man-1969.html)\n9. [Academy Award for Best Original Song: list of Black Academy Award winners and nominees](https://www.jones-massey.com/index.php/en-us/public-downloads?catid=225&id=5114%3Alist-of-black-academy-award-winners-and-nominees&task=download.send)\n10. [For Love of Ivy movie review, Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times (July 26, 1968)](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/for-love-of-ivy-1968)\n11. [Cinema: For Love of Ivy, TIME (August 2, 1968)](https://time.com/archive/6632622/cinema-for-love-of-ivy/)\n12. [For Love of Ivy, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/for_love_of_ivy)\n13. [The Lost Man production history, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/23270)\n14. [Ruth Feldstein, \"No One Asks Me What I Want\": Abbey Lincoln, Diahann Carroll, and the Promise of Integration in Popular Culture, Oxford Academic](https://academic.oup.com/book/10250/chapter-abstract/157945213)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of the 1960s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"For Love of the title\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[For Love of the title](https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title](https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"For Love of the title\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/for-love-of-the-title. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "For Love of Ivy is an American romantic comedy directed by Daniel Mann, starring Sidney Poitier and Abbey Lincoln, from Poitier's only story credit; the first mainstream Hollywood film depicting a mature black romance, with a Quincy Jones score and an Oscar-nominated title song." }