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 | Construction Worker | Nun | Catholic | Mother Superior

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:

Since the story's action was tied to the chapel's construction, crew had to work through the night to keep up with it "progress" in the film. The actual building was real and could have stood for decades, but because it was built on rented property, it had to be demolished immediately after the filming was completed.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Homer returns after his unexplained absence, he turns the car around and overtakes the Mother Superior. From a distance, it is obvious that he overshoots her by about fifteen feet, but the next shot shows he stops with her directly outside his car 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:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#26.9)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Amen

Perceptible and sensible film with an awesome Sidney Poitier

Homer Smith(Sidney Poitier) is a stubborn,obstinate ex-soldier when heading himself to the West he stops in a farm in desert.There find a group of nuns of East Europen Catholic.They are ruled by a stiff Mother Superior called Mary(Lilia Skala) and she thinks who Smith has been sent by Christ for the building church.They'll develop a likable friendship ,helping to unfortunates nuns and making his divine mission until the touching ending . It's a fascinating and sensible film concerning the narration about the construction church of manner riveting. Gentle,sympathetic Poitier and the strict Superior nun confront wills each other but finally learn the meaning of the power of God and ultimately come to respect themselves.The storyline by James Poe relies heavily on the continued relationship between each other but it isn't tired but is entertained and with numerous diverting moments and agreeable feeling.The comedy and laughters are continuous and the chuckles are based about diverse personalities and differences protagonists,he's Protestant ,the nuns are Catholics.Biggest film are the musical duets among Poitier and the nuns .The movie is well set with nice rural scenarios and is't eventually hampered by racist stereotypes on the black men ,neither Mejican people.The story is narrated with sensitivity and intelligence and are treated religious and ethics issues with great sense of fairness and ductility.Ideal cast completed with magnificent actors.Sidney Poitier won a well deserved Oscar.He was the second African-American to win an Academy Award ,before won Hattie McDaniel and later will achieve famous actors as Cuba Gooding,Denzel Washington,Halle Berry.Glamorous and sensational cinematography by Ernest Haller.Sensitive and phenomenal score by the great Jerry Golsmith and beautiful blues-songs by Poitier.The motion picture is driven with enormous fair play by director Ralph Nelson(Blue soldier). This is a wholesome and politically correct family fare.Indispensable seeing for Poitier fans.