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United Artists
Lilies of the Field Collection
Sidney Poitier as the life-loving ex-GI who one day encounters five nuns escaped from beyond the Berlin Wall...
An unemployed construction worker heading out west stops at a remote farm in the desert to get water when his car overheats. The farm is being worked by a group of East European Catholic nuns, headed by the strict mother superior, who believes the man has been sent by God to build a much needed church in the desert.
CinemaSerf
May 24, 2023 · via TMDB
This is one of my favourite performances from Sidney Poitier. Normally his characterisations were settled in an environment of racist and/or bigoted undertones. This drama actually has a much lighter, more comedic, touch to it. He is "Homer" a travelling factotum who happens upon five German nuns who who are bent on building a chapel - but they have no money, no labourer, and practically no way of communicating with their largely Spanish speaking neighbours. Now "Homer" is a kindly soul, so when the headstrong and determined "Mother Maria" (Lilia Skala) coaxes and cajoles him to help them out he is gradually drawn into their community - despite himself! He starts to teach them English, they start to teach him... well suffice to say nothing quite goes as planned for anyone as the story heads to it's obvious, but vindicating, solution. There's an enjoyable dynamic on screen here - some singing, some humour and as a general semblance of society builds, we begin to wonder who is doing whom more good. Ninety minutes just flies by, and it really is well worth catching up up with.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Sidney Poitier
Homer Smith
Lilia Skala
Mother Maria
Lisa Mann
Sister Gertrude
Francesca Jarvis
Sister Albertine
Pamela Branch
Sister Elizabeth
Stanley Adams
Juan Acolito
Dan Frazer
Father Murphy
Bobby Driscoll
Mexican Holding Chapel Door (uncredited)
Ralph Nelson
Mr. Ashton (uncredited)
Jester Hairston
Homer Smith (singing voice) (uncredited)
Ernest Haller
Director of Photography
Ralph Nelson
Director
Ralph Nelson
Producer
Jester Hairston
Music Arranger
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
James Poe
Screenplay
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Bicara Cinta
2020
The Pied Pipers of Harlow
1965
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
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Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
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