ONCE in a while, it's nice to get a little jolt in the memory banks. Switched on the TV and come straight face-to-face with Larry King who was interviewing Sidney Poitier.
Poitier was one of my early favourites in movieland. Before there was Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier already ruled a significant acreage of Tinseltown. Seeing the old actor who's semi-retired now brought back some good memories and heck of a lot of great classics.
Lillies of the Field was released in 1963. If your maths is as good as mine, that's 45 years ago. Skip a few years backwards and you will fall right into World War II but that's all history now. This is one of those sleeper hits when the phrase itself was non-existent.
The plot is simple enough. A group of nuns from Communist-held East Berline escaped to "set up shop" in southwestern US. The nuns' idea of doing God's work is to build a hospital, a church and a school, though not necessarily in that order.
Along comes Homer Smith (Poitier) who's in between jobs, meaning he finds a job wherever and whenever it suits him. In this movie however, he's a mobile DIY man. Somehow, the nuns managed to persuade him to undertake the task of builing a chapel.
In the course of building the chapel, Smith experiences numerous disagreements with the Mother Superior. But what are disagreements if not bridges to better human understanding.
By the light that's some people perceive as divine, residents in the area where the chapel is being built are also drawn into the project.
They begin to contribute materials and personal efforts to realise the sisters' dream. I recall seeing this movie in black and white. Somehow it suited the overall theme.
Poitier was marvellous in his role as Homer Smith. A simple man with a big heart that only God could make use of.
The highlight of the film is probably when Homer Smith sang "Amen". Till today, I am fascinated by how such a simple song can be so inspiring, and it all begins and ends with Amen.
Poitier, in my humble opinion, is one of the finest black actors to emerge in the sixties. He's articulate and has a personality that transcends screen presence. Perhaps I am exaggerating but not by much.
Even in his 81st year, or is it 82nd, Poitier shows the strength of character and a stage craft that has hardly diminished over the decades. He has been in and out of his chosen profession for about 60 years. A remarkable professional record that few in his line of work have equalled.
Lillies of the Field was one of his finest moments in Hollywood. Even though the film has long been forgotten by the present generation, those of us who were fortunate enough to have viewed it have retained fond memories of a young black man who brought much joy to audiences around the world with a God-given gift that speaks so eloquently of a life well lived.
The good news is Poitier is still around and so is Lillies of the Field, if you can find the DVD.