SVS: “Lilies of the Field”

Last updated on: January 9, 2015 at 4:49 pm by Joseph Susanka

SVS: “Lilies of the Field” 2015-01-09T16:49:24-07:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’m still Easter-ing, because it’s still Easter. So I wanted to come up with an Easter-y film for recommending this Easter Friday. (Also, yes. I’m done turning “Easter” into less liturgically appropriate parts of speech. Stickler.)

There aren’t actually that many, come to think of it. Especially if you exclude things like Hop and Yogi the Easter Bear — which…UghPleaseDon’tEven. So, after considering a few films only-tangentially-connected-to/in-the-same-general-time-frame-and-locale as the feast in question — The Robe is available, for example, as is Ben Hur($) — I settled on one I’d describe as “Easterish in spirit, if not in letter.” (OK, OK. Seriously. I’m done now. Truly, I am. Sorry.)

Lilies of the Field, available from AMAZON PRIME and HULU PLUS. And IMDB. And for a reasonable price, from YOUTUBE($) and GOOGLEPLAY($) and ITUNES($$) and VUDU($). In fact, I’m pretty sure you can watch it for free on HULU as long as you’re willing to put up with a couple-half-dozen commercials. Which you should be, because it’s definitely worth it.

A down-on-his-luck man’s car overheats in the desert and finds himself on a farm run by nuns.

Two thoughts as I watched it this time ’round:

First, you know how they say that some actors just have “It?” That whatever the reason may be, the camera loves them? Well, that’s Sidney Poitier down to an Absolute T. My goodness, he’s magnetic. His Homer Smith is such a warm, genuine, energetic and engaging character, and the physicality Poitier brings to the role is a big part of that. And while the repercussions of his Best Actor win in 1964 have been well and deservedly documented, don’t make the mistake of considering it as a “merely” historical achievement. On the level of cinematic performance, it’s a truly worthy bit of acting. Great, great stuff, and a character you will not soon forget.

Second, I’m not 100% sure of this, but I do believe Jerry Goldsmith’s ear-wormy score is the first that I ever truly noticed. Unsurprisingly, really, because it’s fantastic. And because it puts the perfect musical capstone on one of my favorite finales ever. (SPOILERS! there, but oh, so worth it. Gives me goosebumps, even now.)

Attribution(s): All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of United Artists/MGM and other respective production studios and distributors, and are intended for editorial use only.

Movies

Streaming Video Suggestions

Previous Post

April 23, 2014

"The Definitive Oral History of a TV Masterpiece"

Next Post

April 26, 2014 I'm On the Radio Today! ...Run For Your Lives!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz