Lilies of the Field
“Sidney Poitier as the life-loving ex-GI who one day encounters five nuns escaped from beyond the Berlin Wall...”
Synopsis
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.
Part of the Lilies of the Field Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Lilies of the Field (1963) Original Trailer [FHD]
Type: Trailer • Published 2021-09-30
Top Cast
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Sidney Poitier
Homer Smith
Lilia Skala
Mother Maria
Lisa Mann
Sister Gertrude
Isa Crino
Sister Agnes
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)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 1, 1963
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 2005
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$247K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
28.34x
+$6.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ralph Nelson
- Screenplay & Story
- James Poe
- Original Score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Original Title
- Lilies of the Field
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- German, English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Budget
- $247K
- Worldwide Gross
- $7M
- Production Studios
- Rainbow Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ralph Nelson
James Poe, William E. Barrett
Jerry Goldsmith
Ernest Haller
John W. McCafferty
Ralph Nelson
Department Leadership Roster
Ralph Nelson
Director
James Poe
Screenplay
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
Ernest Haller
Director of Photography
John W. McCafferty
Editor
Ralph Nelson
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Lilies of the Field.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Lilies of the Field.
Coming of Age
Christian Movies
Catholic Movies
Watchlist
Comedy Movies (Top Rated From 1960 To Today)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lilies of the Field
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Lilies of the Field about?
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.
Who directed Lilies of the Field?
Lilies of the Field was directed by Ralph Nelson.
Who stars in Lilies of the Field?
The principal cast of Lilies of the Field includes Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Lisa Mann, Isa Crino, Francesca Jarvis.
When was Lilies of the Field released and how long is it?
Lilies of the Field was released in 1963 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
What was the box office and production budget of Lilies of the Field?
Lilies of the Field had a reported production budget of $247K and grossed $7M at the worldwide box office (28.34 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Lilies of the Field?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Lilies of the Field was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
Is Lilies of the Field based on a book or true story?
Lilies of the Field is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "William E. Barrett".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Lilies of the Field?
Lilies of the Field holds official age classifications: DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).