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:

Church | Nun | Desert | Priest | African American

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 Inc.

Distributors

• United Artists (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (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:

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

Filming Locations:

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Rainbow Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Shot on location in Arizona in only 14 days.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Homer leaves the nuns for the first time, the nuns must walk to mass along the road downhill. The sun is shining left to right across their faces casting a shadow on the ground to the right of screen. In all close-ups of the nuns, the sun is shining right to left (the complete opposite direction) across their faces.

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:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Amen

Sidney Poitier's Place in Cinematic History.

The film that until 2001 sported the only African-American Best Actor or Actress Oscar winner. Sidney Poitier (in an excellent Oscar-winning performance) stars as an unemployed handyman whose car breaks down in New Mexico. He is greeted by a group of German nuns led by Lilia Skala (Oscar-nominated). The nuns are in desperate need of a church and it just seems that Poitier is not going to be able to shake Skala and the various duties she imposes on him. A really great film that works due to Poitier more than anything else. He carried what could have been a disappointing production into cinematic history. Arguably the best film of 1963, "Lilies of the Field" continues to be a funny, dramatic and heart-warming film nearly 40 years after its initial release. 4.5 out of 5 stars.