Lilies of the Field (1963)

Lilies of the Field (1963)

Sidney Poitier won his Best Actor Oscar on his second (and last to date) nomination playing Homer Smith an out-of-work construction worker that helps a group of foreign (East European) Catholic nuns build their church and learn to speak English. Lilia Skala earned her only Academy Award nomination (Supporting Actress) playing the head Mother Superior Maria. There are lots of wonderful touching moments and funny interactions between this black man and the Sisters involving their language barrier (including singing) cultural differences (how much they eat) reactions from others in the community and especially the relationship that develops between affable Homer and the strict determined Maria. The film its B&W Cinematography and screenplay were also nominated. This essential comedy-drama was produced and directed by Ralph Nelson; James Poe (Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)) adapted the William Barrett novel.

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