Lilies of the Field

10/1/19631h 34m

Theatrical Release (US)

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

Overview:

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 superior, who believes the man has been sent by God to build a much needed church in the desert.

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$247,000.00

Revenue:

$7,000,000.00

Key words:

based on novel or book
nun
arizona
homelessness
farm life
chapel
religion
racism
desert
mother superior
theme song
ruins
construction worker
bonding
african american man
religious community
humanitarian work
bold
dignified
amen
east german refugees
frugality
circuit priest
desert store

Cast

Sidney Poitier

~ as ~

Homer Smith

Lilia Skala

~ as ~

Mother Maria

Lisa Mann

~ as ~

Sister Gertrude

Isa Crino

~ as ~

Sister Agnes

Francesca Jarvis

~ as ~

Sister Albertine

Pamela Branch

~ as ~

Sister Elizabeth

Stanley Adams

~ as ~

Juan Acolito

Dan Frazer

~ as ~

Father Murphy

Bobby Driscoll

~ as ~

Mexican Holding Chapel Door (uncredited)

Ralph Nelson

~ as ~

Mr. Ashton (uncredited)

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 2 year(s) ago
7
This is one of my favourite performances from Sidney Poitier. Normally his characterisations were settled in an environment of racist and/or bigoted undertones. This drama actually has a much lighter, more comedic, touch to it. He is "Homer" a travelling factotum who happens upon five German nuns who who are bent on building a chapel - but they have no money, no labourer, and practically no way of communicating with their largely Spanish speaking neighbours. Now "Homer" is a kindly soul, so when the headstrong and determined "Mother Maria" (Lilia Skala) coaxes and cajoles him to help them out he is gradually drawn into their community - despite himself! He starts to teach them English, they start to teach him... well suffice to say nothing quite goes as planned for anyone as the story heads to it's obvious, but vindicating, solution. There's an enjoyable dynamic on screen here - some singing, some humour and as a general semblance of society builds, we begin to wonder who is doing whom more good. Ninety minutes just flies by, and it really is well worth catching up up with.