Where the Lilies Bloom

Play trailer

Where the Lilies Bloom

G

Released Apr 10, 1974

1h 36m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

3 Reviews

84%

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

George Anderson

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Honestly made family entertainment.

Sep 24, 2024

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

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.

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Celluloid Dreams

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.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 26, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

S R

A wholesome movie showing the struggles of rural hillbillies trying to keep their family together. Saw on TCM.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

Joan P

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/23

Full Review

delysid d

harry dean stanton, one of the best and most humble actors of his time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Great conservative boot camp. Compelling.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie. One of the best movie I every seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

good movie. read the book first!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

William Graham

Director

Julie Gholson

Mary Call

Jan Smithers

Devola

Matthew Burrill

Romey

Helen Harmon

Ima Dean

Sudie Bond

Miss Fleetie

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now