How a quiet desert drama made history for Sidney Poitier and American cinema
In short: In 1963, a modest film about a wandering handyman and a group of nuns captured the national imagination. Beyond its heartwarming story of faith and community, the production secured a landmark achievement in Hollywood history, forever changing the landscape for African American actors through one man's unforgettable performance.
Lilies of the Field tells the story of Homer Smith, an itinerant ex-GI who stumbles upon a group of nuns struggling to maintain a farm in the Arizona desert. Directed by Ralph Nelson and based on the 1962 novel by William E. Barrett, the film follows Smith as he is persuaded to help the sisters build a chapel. What begins as a series of odd jobs evolves into a communal effort, as local townspeople eventually rally to support the project, turning a solitary endeavor into a shared triumph.
The film is perhaps best remembered for the performance of Sidney Poitier, whose portrayal of Smith earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. This victory was a watershed moment, as Poitier became the first African American man to win a competitive Oscar in an acting category. Notably, the film addresses themes of faith and cooperation while pointedly omitting any mention of Smith’s race, a creative choice that remains a significant point of discussion regarding the film’s social impact.
Beyond its cultural legacy, the production was a technical and artistic success. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including recognition for Best Picture and a supporting actress nod for Lilia Skala, who played the determined Mother Maria. The score, composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and the iconic gospel arrangement of the song Amen—which Poitier lip-synced due to being tone-deaf—helped anchor the film's charm. In 2020, the Library of Congress selected the movie for preservation in the National Film Registry, cementing its status as a work of lasting historical and aesthetic significance.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lilies of the Field | Religious Drama, Sidney Poitier, Comedy | Britannica
- Also: Lilies of the Field (1963 film)
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