Lilies of the Field (1963)

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

William E. Barrett (novel)
James Poe (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 July 1963 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

An unemployed construction worker (Homer Smith) heading out west stops at a remote farm in the desert to get water when his car overheats...

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Construction Worker | Nun | Catholic | Mother Superior

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Homer Smith
Lilia Skala	...	Mother Maria
Lisa Mann	...	Sister Gertrude
Isa Crino	...	Sister Agnes
Francesca Jarvis	...	Sister Albertine
Pamela Branch	...	Sister Elizabeth
Stanley Adams	...	Juan
Dan Frazer	...	Father Murphy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Nelson	...	Mr. Ashton (owner, Ashton Construction Co.) (uncredited)

Directed by
Ralph Nelson

Writing credits
William E. Barrett		(novel "Lilies of the Field")
James Poe		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ralph Nelson	....	producer
J. Paul Popkin	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Ernest Haller		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John W. McCafferty

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Popkin	....	assistant director
Harry R. Sherman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert Eaton	....	property master

Sound Department
C.W. Faulkner	....	sound engineer
Del Harris	....	sound effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Norman C. McClay	....	gaffer
Leo McCreary	....	head grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wesley Sheppard	....	wardrobe master (as Wesley G. Sherrard)

Music Department
Jester Hairston	....	music arranger: vocal arrangements
Albert Shaff	....	music editor (as Albie Shaff)
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Other crew
Larry Hampton	....	production coordinator (as Lawrence A. Hampton)
Stanley Scheuer	....	script supervisor (as Stanley K. Scheuer)

Production Companies

• Rainbow Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Key Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:U | South Africa:(Banned) | South Africa:PG (re-rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Rainbow Productions

Trivia:

Since the story's action was tied to the chapel's construction, crew had to work through the night to keep up with it "progress" in the film. The actual building was real and could have stood for decades, but because it was built on rented property, it had to be demolished immediately after the filming was completed.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Homer Smith leaves the nuns the first time, they have to walk to Mass - apparently a fair distance. When he returns, he picks them up in his car as they are walking to Mass but they still arrive just as Mass is beginning. They should have arrived much earlier as they thought they were walking the entire distance.

Quotes:

Mr. Ashton: Say, where'd you get all the material?
Juan: The people give them, Senor.
Mr. Ashton: What for?
Juan: A man, he gives wood... bricks. In time, what does he get? A chapel... a place where his children can receive the sacraments. To these men, for their children to have faith, it is important.
Mr. Ashton: Is that why you're here?
Juan: To me, it is insurance. To me, life is here on this earth. I cannot see further, so I cannot believe further. But, if they are right about the hereafter, I have paid my insurance, Senor.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Afro Promo (1997)

Soundtrack:

Amen

A '49s-type Film In The '60s!

It took me over over 40 years before finally seeing this film, and I'm glad I finally did. It's simply a nice story: nothing super, but a feel-good film to use the cliché. This reminded of the kind of movie you would more likely see in the 1940s with the emphasis on human interest with a "religious" theme to it. I expected Father Flanagan to show up any minute.

Instead, we got a good Baptist man played by Sidney Poitier, who won an Oscar for this performance. Since he's just about the whole movie, and does a great job start-to-finish, who can argue with his award? This certainly doesn't have the feel of a 1960s film. It must have been one of the last of its kind, giving credence to Christianity and having a nice tone throughout. There have been very few like this since then.

Poitier is really the only "name" member of this cast and he's in every scene. If you enjoy his acting, and a good performance in general with a story that will bring some smiles to your face for an hour-and-a-half, this is recommended.