Where the Lilies Bloom

G

Released Apr 10, 1974

1h 36m

Drama

List

Reviews

86%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Great conservative boot camp. Compelling.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

good movie. read the book first!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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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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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

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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

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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
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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