Lilies of the Field (film)

Lilies of the Field (film)
Name	Lilies of the Field
Director	Ralph Nelson
Producer	Ralph Nelson
Writer	James Poe
Based on	Lilies of the Field, William E. Barrett
Starring	Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala
Music	Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography	Ernest Haller
Editing	John McCafferty
Studio	Rainbow Productions
Distributor	United Artists
Released	1963, 10, 01
Runtime	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$240,000
Gross	$3 million

Lilies of the Field (film) is a 1963 American drama film directed and produced by Ralph Nelson. Adapted by James Poe from the 1962 novel by William E. Barrett, the film stars Sidney Poitier as a traveling handyman who helps a group of East German nuns build a chapel in the Arizona desert. A modestly budgeted production, it was a critical and commercial success, noted for its uplifting humanist themes and Poitier's landmark performance.

Plot

Traveling World War II veteran and handyman Homer Smith stops his station wagon at a remote farm in the Sonoran Desert for water. He encounters a group of Catholic nuns, refugees from Communist East Germany, led by the determined Mother Superior, Mother Maria. She believes his arrival is an answer to her prayers and convinces him to stay and repair their roof. Smith, expecting short-term pay, finds himself increasingly drawn into the sisters' dream of constructing a chapel for the local Hispanic community. A conflict of wills develops between the pragmatic Smith and the faith-driven Mother Maria, culminating in a community-wide effort to complete the building, which profoundly changes all involved.

Cast

The film features a small, focused ensemble. Sidney Poitier stars as the charismatic and resourceful Homer Smith. Lilia Skala, an Austrian-born actress, portrays the stern yet visionary Mother Maria. The supporting cast includes Lisa Mann as Sister Gertrude, Isa Crino as Sister Agnes, and Francesca Jarvis as Sister Albertine. Local characters are played by Stanley Adams as Juan, the owner of a nearby construction company, and Dan Frazer as the parish priest, Father Murphy.

Production

Director Ralph Nelson independently raised the $240,000 budget after major Hollywood studios showed little interest. Principal photography took place over 14 days in the summer of 1963 on location in Tucson, Arizona, and the surrounding desert, utilizing the actual St. John the Evangelist Church in Apache Junction. The sparse production design by Charles Thompson emphasized the austere landscape. The score by Jerry Goldsmith incorporated the film's signature song, "Amen," which became a popular hit.

Themes

The narrative explores interwoven themes of faith, purpose, and cross-cultural community. The central dynamic between Smith's self-reliant American individualism and Mother Maria's unwavering religious faith drives a story about finding shared meaning through labor. The construction of the chapel serves as a metaphor for building bridges across divides of religion, ethnicity, and personal ambition, championing a universal message of cooperation and human dignity.

Reception

Upon its release through United Artists, the film was met with widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised its gentle humor, heartfelt performances, and inspirational story. Sidney Poitier's performance garnered particular acclaim, leading directly to his historic win for the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 36th Academy Awards; he was the first Black actor to win in that category. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Lilia Skala, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Legacy

Lilies of the Field endures as a significant film in American cinema history. Poitier's Academy Award victory was a watershed moment for racial representation in Hollywood. The film's success demonstrated the commercial viability of small, character-driven stories. It is frequently studied for its themes of altruism and interracial harmony, particularly within the context of the early Civil Rights Movement. The film is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Category:1963 films Category:American drama films Category:United Artists films