Lilies of the Field (1963)
After losing the Academy Award for The Defiant Ones and not even being nominated for A Raisin in the Sun, Sidney Poitier finally took home the gold for Lilies of the Field. When you watch the film, it seems absurd that such a fine actor would win for such a silly performance. And as historic as his win was, it bears consideration why the Academy chose this particular film in which to award their first Best Actor award to a black actor. In the film, he plays a handyman who helps a group of nuns build a chapel. There’s no love interest, no scene in which he proves himself amidst rampant racism, and no intense emoting that would even warrant a nomination. He’s bossed around by a bunch of old, white biddies, serves God even when he initially doesn’t want to, is valued for his back-breaking work rather than his intellect, and spends his free evenings singing “Amen” with the sisters. Does it really sound like the Academy made a racial breakthrough? Some might think the Academy knew it would have to cross the barrier sooner or later and chose to honor a role that would remind other black actors to “keep their place”. Hattie McDaniel’s win for Gone with the Wind placed her in the history books as a “sassy Mammy”; the Academy could have broken the barrier five years earlier and given an Oscar to Louise Beavers in Imitation of Life, but that was a meaty, emotional role. An African-American woman didn’t win another Oscar until 1991, when Whoopi Goldberg was ignored for her serious role in The Color Purple and rewarded for her kooky role in Ghost.
If you thought my soap-box rant was a little too paranoid and you like watching Sidney Poitier movies, by all means rent Lilies of the Field. If the above paragraph intrigued you, watch the preview instead. You’ll get the gist and you’ll save yourself ninety minutes.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Cinema Central Seleus B" for posting!
More Sidney Poitier movies here!
If you thought my soap-box rant was a little too paranoid and you like watching Sidney Poitier movies, by all means rent Lilies of the Field. If the above paragraph intrigued you, watch the preview instead. You’ll get the gist and you’ll save yourself ninety minutes.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Cinema Central Seleus B" for posting!
More Sidney Poitier movies here!