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Where the Lilies Bloom

Play trailer Poster for Where the Lilies Bloom G 1974 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In rural North Carolina, a father dies, leaving his four children orphans. Rather than go to the authorities and wind up wards of the state, they decide to fend for themselves. Fifteen-year-old Mary Call (Julie Gholson) takes on the role of the adult and, along with her brother (Matthew Burrill) and sisters, hides the death of their father from the adult world -- including their adoring schoolteacher, Miss Fleetie, and pesky farmer Kiser Pease, who has eyes for Mary.
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Where the Lilies Bloom

Critics Reviews

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George Anderson Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 09/24/2024
Honestly made family entertainment. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 07/27/2022
Though not the kind of urban “gritty” we usually associate now with the best of US ’70s cinema, there are reasons to rank Lilies alongside some of that era’s hitherto neglected, recently re-appraised minor classics. Go to Full Review Peter Canavese Celluloid Dreams 07/26/2022
3/4
A slightly corny YA story (written by Earl Hamner, Jr., music by Earl Scruggs) but it makes for a comfortingly old-fashioned, G-rated happy-sad movie. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lester D @lhdore Dec 13 I enjoyed watching a movie with no connection whatsoever to Hollywood, star power, series, our current political crisis (I’m writing this in December 2025), big cities, fentanyl, or alcohol. it’s about poor people who don’t blame their station in life on anyone else. Well, except their landlord, and he turns out to be a decent guy after home. The opening scene, the four kids and their father foraging, wild green and roast to enhance their diet of homegrown vegetables, had me right there. The child actors were recruited from local elementary schools, and two of the professional actors turned in believable, new honest, performance. I thought, Harry Dean Stanton did a bang up job. See more Alain E @AlainE Nov 17 I guess I am seeing this 55 years later than the intended audience age. It is done well. The protagonist is believable and the littlest girl also very sweet. Dean Stanton’s greatest role of course is in Paris, Texas. See more Scott R @ScottR 01/27/2024 A wholesome movie showing the struggles of rural hillbillies trying to keep their family together. Saw on TCM. See more Joan P 07/22/2023 I read this book with my class in the 1990's. I thought they'd dislike the 1970's setting of the movie but they loved it, maybe because they could identify with the rural characters and setting, so the hair and clothes didn't matter much. I think this movie is nearly perfect. See more N L 04/16/2022 harry dean stanton, one of the best and most humble actors of his time See more 09/17/2017 Great conservative boot camp. Compelling. See more Read all reviews
Where the Lilies Bloom

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Cast & Crew

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William Graham

Director

Julie Gholson

Mary Call

Jan Smithers

Devola

Matthew Burrill

Romey

Helen Harmon

Ima Dean

Sudie Bond

Miss Fleetie
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Where the Lilies Bloom

Where the Lilies Bloom (1974) Where the Lilies Bloom (1974) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In rural North Carolina, a father dies, leaving his four children orphans. Rather than go to the authorities and wind up wards of the state, they decide to fend for themselves. Fifteen-year-old Mary Call (Julie Gholson) takes on the role of the adult and, along with her brother (Matthew Burrill) and sisters, hides the death of their father from the adult world -- including their adoring schoolteacher, Miss Fleetie, and pesky farmer Kiser Pease, who has eyes for Mary.
Director
William Graham
Producer
Robert B. Radnitz
Screenwriter
Earl Hamner Jr.
Production Co
Radnitz/Mattel Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 10, 1974, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2020
Runtime
1h 36m
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