Lilies of the Field (1963)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

William E. Barrett (novel)
James Poe (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 July 1963 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Sidney Poitier as the life-loving ex-GI who one day encounters five nuns escaped from beyond the Berlin Wall...

Plot:

An unemployed construction worker (Homer Smith) heading out west stops at a remote farm in the desert to get water when his car overheats...

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Nun | Construction | Church | Priest

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Homer Smith
Lilia Skala	...	Mother Maria
Lisa Mann	...	Sister Gertrude
Isa Crino	...	Sister Agnes
Francesca Jarvis	...	Sister Albertine
Pamela Branch	...	Sister Elizabeth
Stanley Adams	...	Juan
Dan Frazer	...	Father Murphy

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:U | South Africa:(Banned) | South Africa:PG (re-rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Rainbow Productions

Trivia:

Actor Sidney Poitier gave up his usual salary and agreed to do the film for a smaller amount and a percentage of the profits. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his efforts.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After Homer gets a drink of water from Mother, as he pulls away in the car, the camera's shadow is visible on the car. Also a large white rectangular reflector is reflected briefly in the window.

Quotes:

Homer Smith: [one of the nuns has just given Homer his breakfast; one fried egg and a half cup of milk] That's a Catholic breakfast, ain't it?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Century of Black Cinema (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Amen

Sidney Poitier's Place in Cinematic History.

The film that until 2001 sported the only African-American Best Actor or Actress Oscar winner. Sidney Poitier (in an excellent Oscar-winning performance) stars as an unemployed handyman whose car breaks down in New Mexico. He is greeted by a group of German nuns led by Lilia Skala (Oscar-nominated). The nuns are in desperate need of a church and it just seems that Poitier is not going to be able to shake Skala and the various duties she imposes on him. A really great film that works due to Poitier more than anything else. He carried what could have been a disappointing production into cinematic history. Arguably the best film of 1963, "Lilies of the Field" continues to be a funny, dramatic and heart-warming film nearly 40 years after its initial release. 4.5 out of 5 stars.