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Lilies of the Field

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7.3/10 • 190

1963-06-041h 34m

ComedyDrama

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

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.

Directors
Ralph Nelson
Editors
John W. McCafferty

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Sidney Poitier

    Sidney Poitier

    Homer Smith

  2. Lilia Skala

    Lilia Skala

    Mother Maria

  3. Lisa Mann

    Lisa Mann

    Sister Gertrude

  4. Isa Crino

    Isa Crino

    Sister Agnes

  5. Francesca Jarvis

    Francesca Jarvis

    Sister Albertine

  6. Pamela Branch

    Pamela Branch

    Sister Elizabeth

  7. Stanley Adams

    Stanley Adams

    Juan Acolito

  8. Dan Frazer

    Dan Frazer

    Father Murphy

  9. Bobby Driscoll

    Bobby Driscoll

    Mexican Holding Chapel Door (uncredited)

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

May 24, 2023

7/10

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.

Media

  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster
  • Lilies of the Field poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$247,000.00
Revenue
$7,000,000.00
Keywords
based on novel or booknunarizonahomelessnessfarm lifechapelracismdesertconstruction worker