Lilies of the Field
(1963)

Director: Ralph Nelson

Key Cast: Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Lisa Mann, Isa Crino, Francesca Jarvis, Pamela Branch, Stanley Adams, Dan Frazer, Ralph Nelson

Rating: Approved

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Sidney Poitier, in his Academy Award winning performance, plays Homer Smith, an itinerant handyman, who is driving through the Arizona desert when he meets five impoverished nuns. 

Stopping to fix their leaky farmhouse roof, Homer is shocked to learn that the Mother Superior will not pay him for the job and has bigger plans for him.  She believes that he has been sent by God to build their chapel – for free! 

Hesitant at first, Homer soon finds himself single-handedly raising the chapel and the financing. 

Although he will not receive money for his efforts, Homer knows that when his work is done, he’ll leave that dusty desert town a much better place than when he found it.

∙  When Sidney Poitier won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, it was a historic moment.  It was the first time that an African-American won any Best Actor Academy Awards.  Also, it was the first time in 16 years that any African-American had won an Academy Award.  (The last one given was an Honorary Award to James Baskett in 1948.)

∙  "Lilies of the Field" was based on the 1962 book, Lilies of the Field, by William E. Barrett.  The title comes from Matthew 6:28 in the New Testament of the Bible.

∙  Lilies of the Field was shot on location in Tucson, Arizona.

∙  A sequel called Christmas Lilies of the Field was made for television and aired in 1979.  It starred Billy Dee Williams as Homer Smith.

∙  Won one 1964 Academy Award:  Best Actor in a Leading Role (Sidney Poitier).

∙  Nominated for four additional 1964 Academy Awards:  Best Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lilia Skala), Best Cinematography and Best Writing, Screenplay.

∙  Won two 1964 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Sidney Poitier) and  Best Picture Promoting International Understanding.

∙  Nominated for two additional 1964 Golden Globe Awards:  Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Lilia Skala).

Buy the Lilies of the Field Movie DVD
Sidney Poitier made cinema history when he
won the Best Actor Academy Award for his
outstanding performance in "Lilies of the Field."

He was the first African-American man to win
the Best Actor Academy Award.

 
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Lilies of the Field Movie Posters
Buy vintage Lilies of the Field movie posters.

You can purchase "Lilies of the Field" posters in Spanish, lobby cards and
movie scene photographs.

Click the poster image on the left
to see a selection and for
purchase details.

Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett (Book)
The movie is based on the book, "Lilies of the Field", by William E. Barrett. 
The book was first published in 1962. Besides being made into a movie,
"Lilies of the Field" was also made into a musical stage play named
"Look to the Lilies."

Buy the Lilies of the Field (Book)

 
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Sidney Poitier Movie DVD Collection
The Sidney Poitier Movie DVD Collection contains Lilies of the Field and four other Sidney Poitier films.  They are:

Lilies of the Field
In the Heat of the Night (another Top 100 BlackClassicMovies.com film)
For Love of Ivy (another Top 100 BlackClassicMovies.com film)
They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!
The Organization

Buy The Sidney Poitier Movie DVD Collection

 
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