Starring : Sidney Poitier ,Lilia Skala & Others
Watch on : Prime Video
Lovers of old English classics from the 1960s-70s would be familiar with the name of the famous black actor, Sidney Poitier and the pioneering roles he played that depicted the fight against racial prejudices in America and films that garnered great critical acclaim. With superb films like ‘To Sir With Love’ (1967), ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’(1967) and ‘In the Heat of the Night’ (1967) he became one of the most sought after stars for his intense performances and powerful screen presence that captivated audiences all over !
However, having seen all the above said movies as a young student, thanks to our Dad being real cinema buff, there was one film (possibly his first) which I had heard about but didn’t get to then watch. Remarkable in the sense that this film ‘Lilies of the Field’ fetched Poitier the Oscar award for Best Actor and made him the first Black actor to win the coveted award in a leading role. Some good things are destined to come late in life. Suddenly now, to our utter delight we come across this beautiful film on Prime Video !
The first charming feature is that it’s a vintage Black & White film made in the early 60s. It is the story of a group of Catholic nuns who escape from the Communist held portion of Berlin and come to the United States. They do not know the language and led by the enterprising ‘Mother Maria’ they struggle with daily chores and running their set-up of small farming. In a turn of events that was to become epoch making for them, a young, tall and strapping handyman called Smith (played by Poitier) stops by and upon their request renders help to the German nuns on the farm with some repairs .
This starts off a most unusual association of the black man (who wants to be a successful contractor) with the cheerful Nuns in a way he’d never planned. This includes teaching them English and carting them in his car to attend Weekend Mass to a faraway place. Mother Maria is experienced and resourceful and has visions of building a nice Chapel in that place. Impressed by Smith’s skill & sincerity she assumes that God has sent him to help them build a Chapel & then the words ‘Missionary Zeal’ get it’s real significance !
The film is funny, heartwarming and inspiring and there’s something pristine about the characters in their simplicity and devotion to their faith. Poitier as Smith who becomes the architect and contractor in a divine and noble cause is memorable and versatile, for not only does he humour the Nuns but also sings and dances with them, that is mildly reminiscent of the Sisters in another all time classic ‘Sound of Music’. Lilia Skala plays ‘Mother Maria’ with great conviction who never relents on quest to get her Chapel made.
It thrilled us that we were finally able to see Poiter’s Oscar award winning performance in a classic !
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