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Lilies of the Field (1963) More at IMDbPro »

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50 reviews in total

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
I can watch this again and again., 24 luty 2003

Author: Ellen Roemer from Oshkosh, WI, USA

I saw this film in the theater when I was still in High School. I was naive about race relations then and enjoyed the film because it was so uplifting. I grew up fast as most of us did and now I watch this film because it still has a beautiful way of showing the dignity which we all must respect in each other. This film will remain one of my favorites forever.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Lilies of the Field, 21 kwiecieñ 1999
Author: Tim Cox from Marietta, OH

Oscar winner Poitier is amazing as the handyman who builds a chapel for an order of nuns who have prayed so dearly for God to send them a sign. Poitier is that sign and his performance and the film itself certainly are heavenly.

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8 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
A Pleasant Spoonful of Faith, 26 wrzesieñ 2005

Author: bountyhunterbooks from Canada

The movie was a refreshing bite of faith to watch in an age where sex, profanity, violence, rage, homosexuality and supposed adult-themes are the norm of Hollywood. This film, shot in about two weeks and financed from the director's personal resource, imprinted the likability of Sidney Potier as a qualified actor. Faith for the faithless was a great message and the ecumenical nature of the film was ahead of its time. The only missing element of the film was the epilogue of the book where the church and school were eventually built and a tour of the chapel is described. The Mother Superior was stern, but incredibly faithful. It was a true depiction of emigrants coming from the chains of Germany. A definite thumbs up for a rich and tasteful movie.

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My favorite movie of all time, 25 lipiec 2008

Author: billbink from United States

I first saw this as a youngster and loved it then. I even bought the Jerry Goldsmith score on LP (which I still have, although it's well scratched up now...wish it was on CD!). Sadly, the film hardly ever aired on TV. Finally, it came out on DVD and I bought it right away and watch it regularly. It is, as many have commented, the rare "perfect" film. There are no wasted or superfluous shots. Every performance, even the smallest ones, are heartfelt and nuanced. The two leads, as many have mentioned, are outstanding, but the actors/actresses who played the other nuns, and also Juan, Mr. Ashton, and the priest (who, if you look closely, you will see he eventually went on to costar in Kojak with Telly Savalas), are all GREAT! I will disagree with those who say the movie is not about race relations. It is, but as it does with the issue of faith, the writing and direction is so subtle that you don't even realize it. In fact, the film grapples with many issues, but underlying them all is the tolerance for those who are unlike ourselves. All the characters come to see other people for who they are, not their preconceived notions. Ashton comes to respect Homer as a hard working man, not as a "colored boy." Homer realizes the nuns have sacrificed much for their faith and he admires that. And, most pointedly, the Mother Superior finally realizes that even though Homer Smith is not a "man of faith" he still did (what to her was) "God's work" albeit without the window dressing of the Catholic faith. And I could go on and on.

The score for this film is one of Goldsmith's best, highlighted by poignant refrains such as when the nuns are walking down the dusty road all alone after Homer leaves them. The sweet soft music played when Homer inscribes his name on the steeple cement is another nice moment.

The way comedy is interwoven into the drama is another hallmark of the film's genius. None of the humor is cheap or insensitive but is based on people being "simply human" whether it's the scene where Mother Superios splashes cold water on a still sleeping Homer, the confusion that arises when all the villagers try to take over the chapel construction without Homer helping, the banter between Homer and Mother Superior, or Ashton's exasperation at the end when he tells Smith that the Mother Superior now wants his help with a school and hospital.

Sadly, many younger people raised on ADD-influenced/VH1-inspired non-stop action films will probably not embrace a low-key thoughtful and sincere drama (in Black and White) like this, but I understand why they don't see what there is to like about this. However, despite it being more than 40 years old, Lilies of the Field has stood the test of time and is every bit as relevant, charming and insightful now as it was when it premiered.

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A Simple Story, Beautifully Told and Acted, 23 marzec 2008

Author: waynec50 from United States

"Lillies of the Field" should be required viewing for everyone who wants to see what true faith is. The great Sidney Poitier gives one of his greatest performances as a handyman roped into building a chapel for a group of German nuns. He's matched line for line by the great Austrian actress Lillia Skala, who uses just about every trick in the book to convince a Baptist to build a Roman Catholic chapel and to keep him on the job. On the side he teaches the sisters English. Both he and the nuns grow to like and even love one another. There is very little embellishment to the story and it moves rapidly. It's crisp pacing, fine acting and loving message make it well worthwhile. All people of faith should see it and take its message to heart.

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AAmen of a gem! (Might contain a spoiler), 27 styczeñ 2008
Author: mkspangenberg from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Oh I love this movie!!!!!!!!!!!I am Finally seeing it way to late in my life but so glad I did. They just don't make movies like this anymore in todays violent and action packed film industry.God Bless Mr. Portier!!!!A wonderful film if you are into films that get at deep character portrayal and people who have influences on other peoples lives.Probably would be considered boring for nowadays but it is a gem of a movie appropriate for all!( You do not have to be religious to get it either!) By the way, there are a few good laughs in this movie as Sidney's character and the mother sister get into some hilarious battles of wits!(Especially the bible reading scene- chuckle!) The director/writer is known for trying to impact religion but in a not in your face way. And to be honest we can all use a little faith and good will nowadays huh? AAmen, AAmen, AAmen, Amen, Amen!!!!!!

*funny quote- This is all you did in 4 days? even God created the whole world in a week and he even got to rest on Sunday(too funny!)

PS-to the person talking about the sequel. A remake was already made called, "Christmas in the Lillies of the Valley" starring Billy Dee williams.I hear it is hard to find though.

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This type of movie doesn't get made anymore, 20 grudzieñ 2007

Author: Martin Onassis from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I caught this movie knowing nothing about it, including the fact that it was the movie that gave Mr Poitier the first Oscar EVER for a black male, so you would figure that maybe it would be broadcast frequently, but it isn't, perhaps because its b&w, or perhaps because it puts religion below personal determination.

The movie starts off in a rather quaint way, and in many ways starts as a sort of simple play on all races getting along, as well as an age-old parable of a city drifter finding meaning in a simple low-stimulation environment with the basic challenges of manual labor.

The most thought-provoking part to me came at the end, however, and my take on it is that Poitier built the chapel for his own satisfaction, and the head Mennonite? sister built the chapel to prove her holiness and connection to a superior authority. However, why does Poitier leave the night before the dedication? This is not some slight oversight by the director. A perfect ending is deliberately avoided.

I'm convinced this is because the writer wanted to emphasize that Poitier's character, just like him as a person, was as an individualist, and he'd already gotten past being subservient to a religion or any group. He built the chapel for his own reasons, as he stated many times. He specifically says at the table "some things never change" before he tricks Skana into thanking him, after which she points to the sky and says "HE (god) built the chapel" He also denies her the chance to "put him in the front row" on opening day, which she offers to him.

I'd love to hear other interpretations, but I'm convinced the message is about modernity and pride in living beyond religion, and its constraints. He wasn't going to be her puppet, no matter what. Maybe he knew he would react poorly to her treatment the next day.

Anyway, I cant imagine a movie in Hollywood being this masterful with subtlety anymore, nor could I imagine Hollywood making a movie with this complex a message on religion (in which religion comes up short to the individual) since 1980. Poitier's talent is incredible, and it reminds me, though I was born in 1964, of a bright hope for the future of individual rights and modernity that existed in the early sixties, and was promptly squashed by the machine.

A generation that looks to mindless rappers could do well to reset their sights on Mr Poitier's cool strength, class, and intelligence. He has all these qualities and still retains his integrity. Of course, his get-along attitude is interpreted by some as collusion, but ignorant confrontation hasn't produced better results.

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A movie for ages to come, 28 pa¼dziernik 2007

Author: Kir Kirian from United States

You watch this movie and you realize that Hollywood does sometimes make movies that do matter. Potier is superb in this film, and after watching the movie you have one question to ask and that is why Hollywood does not make movies like this anymore?

There is a famous statement by Dao De Jing who said: "When we lose the fundamentals, we supplant them with increasingly inferior values which we pretend are the true values". And after you watch Lillies of the Fields you come to the realization as how low we have gotten in our standards today in 21st century.

Lillies of the Fields is an inspiring movie with a profound story expressed through Potier and the nuns that a million years from now anyone watching it would understand the divine meaning of humanity. This is a must have movie to be passed on to your generations.

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A film that reaps what it sows..., 27 styczeñ 2007

Author: Roger Burke (mayapan1942@yahoo.com) from Australia

At long last, I finally got around to watching this much-praised film, finding out why it was so, and also why Sidney Poitier received the Best Actor award in 1963 – when he was up against the likes of Albert Finney, Richard Harris, Rex Harrison and Paul Newman for that Oscar year. I'm not suggesting that Poitier is any less of an actor; far from it, in fact. I'm merely commenting on the quality of the competition for that year.

The story is interesting, for a number of reasons. First, it's a no-frills narrative about an itinerant worker, who happens to be black, and who stops to get water for his overheated auto at a farm operated by five German nuns. He's enticed to stay to help build a chapel. Eventually, the local community – mostly Hispanic -- assists with the construction until it is completed. Then, his job done, the worker leaves. (That sort of story has been done many times, notably in Shane (1953), who was enticed to do a very, very different kind of job, did it, and then left) As stories go then, there's not much going for it – on the surface, anyway.

Where it makes a difference, however, is in those time-honoured maxims espoused by many religions (but not only religions, and not only Catholic): faith, hope and charity. The nuns, especially the Mother, have absolute faith that they will receive help; they have hope eternal that help will come to pass (and it does); and Homer (Sidney Poitier) shows the Mother (Lilia Skala) a bit more about charity than she shows to him. So, the story wraps all those themes up very nicely, and presents them in the appropriate manner. And, rightly so...

What's more interesting, however, is when the movie was made – at the height of the Civil Rights Movement in USA – and the very obvious lengths to which the story went to show how people can get along with each other. So, I think there is a very real political message here, and a very deliberate one for the times. My criticism, however, is that almost everybody is just too, too nice to each other, even Mother Superior when she rants at Homer. The only note of real discord is when the white, almost-redneck boss of Ashton Construction Company (played by Ralph Nelson, who just happens to be the director), calls to Homer, "Hey, boy!". Very grandly, Homer stands there, confident, assured and answers something like, "What's that you say, boy?" That sort of exchange probably would not have occurred if the movie had been made in the 1950s. Hmmm, come to think of it, the whole movie couldn't have been made in the 1950s, I reckon...

So, there's no doubt that Poitier carried the movie and was deservedly awarded the Oscar, although I thought Newman was very good in Hud (1963). Lilia Skala is almost too severe as the Mother Superior and it was a nice surprise to see Dan Frazer, as the local priest, an actor I came to like a lot on the Kojak TV series.

The overall production was obviously sparse, but functional; however, that suited the whole setting of the story, anyway. And, the black and white photography was just right: there's nothing quite like stark desert hills, and almost treeless plains, against a mutli-grey sundown – and a line of five nuns in black habit against the bright white of a desert dirt road. That, you gotta see…

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A nice "feel good" movie with great acting, 25 styczeñ 2007
Author: nolbar from Australia

Sidney Poitier deserved his Oscar for this lovely movie. You would hope that this could really happen, but I wonder. Five foreign nuns alone in an isolated country town have hardly any food and no chapel. Sidney Poitier comes to the rescue. It is a simple story however it really got me in. He is in just about every scene and plays the part perfectly. The nuns rely on the power of prayer a lot however they eventually realize that "man" is really helping them. Poitier's character "Homer" learns a lesson too as he is drawn back to the nuns after leaving them for some weeks to manage on their own. Watching them walk the long journey to their "temporary" chapel after Homer leaves them, is touching. This movie is worth being in anyones DVD collection. A real classic in the true sense of the word.

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