Lilies of the Field

Released Oct 1, 1963

1h 34m

Comedy

Drama

List

92%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When traveling African-American handyman Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) stops by a farm in rural Arizona, he is welcomed by a group of Roman Catholic nuns who have emigrated from Germany. Realizing that the farm needs a lot of work, Homer takes on a number of repair projects for the women, who are led by the headstrong Mother Maria (Lilia Skala). Impressed by Homer's kindness and strong work ethic, the nuns come to believe that he has been sent by God to help build them a chapel.

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Critics Consensus

Sidney Poitier lends heart and humor to the wonderfully simple Lilies of the Fields, in which splendor sprouts from wholesome soil.

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James Powers

Hollywood Reporter

Lilies of the Field is a funny, sentimental, charming and uplifting film, in which intelligence, imagination and energy are proved again to be beyond the price of any super-budget.

Dec 28, 2018

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Well-meaning rot.

Jan 8, 2018

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Many factors combine in the overall success of the film, notably the restrained direction by Ralph Nelson, a thoroughly competent screenplay by James Poe, and, of course, Poitier's own standout performance.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Sidney Poitier is a revelation in the gentle if somewhat dated classic, winning the first leading actor Oscar by a non-white performer playing a wanderer who helps some stubborn nuns.

Rated: 4/5

May 16, 2022

Full Review

Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

Poitier's performance is a sheer joy to behold, and Lilia Skala is simply brilliant as Mother Maria.

Rated: A

Aug 23, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

There's not much dramatic urgency to the story, but that's perfectly fine: This is the sort of picture that gives wholesomeness a good name, and its life lessons are imparted in a leisurely and unforced manner.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 13, 2021

Full Review

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Audience Member

this is one of my favorite movies, it is a fish out of water story, on BOTH sides, the black american working his way across country, a group of german nuns trying to get a chapel built under the watchful eye of a stubborn mother superior, a café owner watching all this go down, a construction company owner being pulled in to the fray and all this happening under the arizona sun.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sidney poitier was the best thing in this movie . The supporting were quite good .

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

keith w

1960s mores but a harmless family film that was well acted and well structured. Poitier dominates but is well supported in a low key film. The ending worked well.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

AJ B

A heartwarming tale with excellent performances all around! It was great to see the connections develop between the several characters, and the impact one man can do.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/08/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Very predictable and mostly boring. I liked the message and title, but the rest is mostly sentimental hogwash. Hasn't aged well and the characters are forgettable, as is the plot. No subtitles and a lot of it is spoken in another language, quite annoying. Not much to this one. I like Poitiers other films better.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the 10 tops movies ever made.Simple,elegant,poignant and entertaining.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Ralph Nelson

Director

Sidney Poitier

Homer Smith

Lilia Skala

Mother Maria

Lisa Mann

Sister Gertrude

Isa Crino

Sister Agnes

Francesca Jarvis

Sister Albertine

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Synopsis

When traveling African-American handyman Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) stops by a farm in rural Arizona, he is welcomed by a group of Roman Catholic nuns who have emigrated from Germany. Realizing that the farm needs a lot of work, Homer takes on a number of repair projects for the women, who are led by the headstrong Mother Maria (Lilia Skala). Impressed by Homer's kindness and strong work ethic, the nuns come to believe that he has been sent by God to help build them a chapel.

Director: Ralph Nelson
Screenwriter: James Poe
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Rainbow Productions
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 1, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 2, 2017
Runtime: 1h 34m

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