A travelling handyman becomes the answer to the prayers of nuns who wish to build a chapel in the desert.
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Title: Lilies of the Field (1963)
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Cast
| Complete credited 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 | |
Learn more
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
See All (34) »
Storyline
Homer Smith, an unemployed construction worker heading out west, stops at a remote farm in the desert to get water when his car overheats. The farm is being worked by a group of East European Catholic nuns, headed by the strict Mother Maria, who believes that Homer has been sent by God to build a much-needed church in the desert... Written by Christopher J. Thompson <thompson@amath.washington.edu>
Plot Keywords:
arizona desert | arizona | arizona territory | magical negro stereotype | alcoholic priest |Taglines:
Perhaps The Most Extraordinary Story Of Courage, Conflict And Devotion Ever Filmed! See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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(uncredited)
By Jester Hairston
Sung by Sidney Poitier dubbed by Jester Hairston
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The large wagon driven by Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) throughout the movie and which he apparently lives in while on the road is a 1959 Plymouth Sport Suburban. See more »Goofs
When Smith starts to sing the final song he seems to have a cleaner shirt than the preceding scene. See more »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?See more »
Crazy Credits
At the end of the film, the word "Amen" is seen, rather than "The End". See more »Soundtracks
Amen(uncredited)
By Jester Hairston
Sung by Sidney Poitier dubbed by Jester Hairston
See more »
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
5 July 1963 (West Germany) See more »Also Known As:
Le lys des champs See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$240,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
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.