Sapphire is a 1959 British crime drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Nigel Patrick, Yvonne Mitchell, Michael Craig, and Paul Massie.

[3] A progressive film for its time,[4] it focuses on racism in London toward immigrants from the West Indies, and explores the "underlying insecurities and fears of ordinary people" about those of another race.

Police Superintendent Robert Hazard and his assistant, Inspector Phil Learoyd, follow the lead of the woman's handkerchief, monogrammed with an "S," and discover that her name was Sapphire Robbins, a music student.

Hoping to prod further revelations from those closest to the murder, Hazard brings Dr. Robbins to the Harris home, prompting angry reactions from the family.

[8] At the time of the film's original UK release, Nina Hibbin of the Daily Worker commented: "You can't fight the colour bar merely by telling people it exists.

"[9] In the US, A.H. Weiler of The New York Times wrote that, while the film is "not entirely in a class by itself, the combination of murder mystery and racial issues puts it several interesting cuts above standard movie melodrama".

Though obviously inspired by last year's outbreak of color-bar riots in London and Nottingham, it ducks the issue, refusing to face boldly up to the problem.

"[11] The reviewer for the British Film Institute's Screenonline website wrote: "Dearden is not immune to prevailing prejudices, equating a young woman living alone in London with promiscuity, and seeing an enthusiasm for jazz as evidence of dubious character.