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Lilies of the Field

207 votes

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.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1963-06-04

Runtime: 94 mins

Director: Ralph Nelson

Spoken language: English, Español, Deutsch

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Original title: Lilies of the Field

Production Companies: Rainbow Productions, United Artists

Production Countries: United States of America

Cast

Sidney Poitier

Lilia Skala

Lisa Mann

Isa Crino

Francesca Jarvis

Pamela Branch

Stanley Adams

Dan Frazer

Mexican Holding Chapel Door (uncredited)

Bobby Driscoll

Mr. Ashton (uncredited)

Ralph Nelson

Lilies of the Field Collection

3.6

Lilies of the Field

1963-06-04

An unemployed construction worker heading out west stops at a remote farm in the desert to get water

2.5

Christmas Lilies of the Field

1979-12-16

In this belated sequel to 'Lilies of the Field' (1963), jack-of-all-trades Homer Smith revisits the

Reviews

Geronimo1967

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.

2023-05-24

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