Where the Lilies Bloom (1974) User Reviews

Also a book , this vivid magnificent story will appeal to fans of movies such as Steel Magnolias-it's a beautiful story.

[triple8 · 8/10 · 12 December 2004]

I had read this book before I actually saw the movie, and this was quite a long time ago. I thought both the book and the movie were just great. The scenery is magnificent and the characters are vivid and fleshed out. This is a story about a family of young kids who live in the mountains and the adversities they face. It is a beautiful story and one that I'd tell anyone to see. There's a Steel Magnolias touch to it(meaning you'll cry a lot!) but you'll also fall in love with these kids and the loveliness of the scenery. I rarely see this movie playing on television anymore and do not even know if the book is still in print but it is a truly lovely movie that should be a lot more known then it is and is a great movie to view.

An excellent film for children

[Jakeroo · 7/10 · 6 March 1999]

A well told tale that enthralled my daughter who recommended it to me. Interestingly, this is the only film ever made by 3 of the 4 children who try to survive after their father's death. Only Jan Smithers, who portrays Devola, did other film work.

Great to watch

[watchtiger1 · 8/10 · 7 August 2010]

This movie is well worth watching, it's intriguing and feels like it shows what life was like and even may still be like in the smokies for the people that live there.

Because it is not well known, it looks like it was recently made not 36 years ago (as of 2010) and the cinematics are a joy to watch.

I also agree, with all the others beautiful scenery of the hills.

You find yourself drawn in and you really end up caring about the characters and you want them to accomplish the hiding of their father's death from all the visitors just so they can stay together.

If you see this movie is on the schedule take the time to watch this treasure back in 1974.

Very heart warming

[BearWithMe01 · 2 February 2003]

I first saw this film when it was released in the early 70's. I was in a foster home/private school in the North Carolina Mountains in Avery County. I truly loved this movie with it's very heart warmng storyline. While being part of the "mountain people", I can relate to the everyday activities and chores of the Luther family, such as, wildcrafting, the cold bitter snows, and the breath taking site of the beautiful North Carolina mountains. Here it is, over twenty years later, and I still love this movie. Now when I watch it, I find myself gettig a lump in my throat and I long so bad to be back in the mountains going to Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Newland, Crossnore and Grandfather Mountain. Anyone who wants a heart-felt, sad story of the children and adults of the "deep hollers" of the North Carolina mountains, will truly enjoy this film. The characters are so believable, that you want to hug them, letting them know it's okay to take on a challenge that would save their love for one another and the love of their family. Where The Lilies Bloom is a film that teaches that no matter how strong, poor, educated and rich someone may be, there are others out there who have something better...and that is love for their family.

Keeping the family together in spite of some nosy old do-gooders.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 11 May 2022]

This family drama, set in the Appalachians, has many amusing moments and focuses on the determination of a determined teen girl to fill her parent's wishes. After the death of their mother and later their father, a family of four children must get together to learn to survive on their own in spite of neighbors who keep popping in to see her father whom they always claim is sick. There's the wealthy Harry Dean Stanton (the only name actor in the the cast) and the sister of the local store owner who is hypocritical and judgmental attitude has them keep referring to her as the old bat. The father passes away unexpectedly, and they must hide his death from everyone in town, but it's obvious that at some point, everything is going to come out. The second of the oldest is the one running things since the oldest daughter isn't very responsible, and with heart and humor, they learn to depend on each other while pulling one of the greatest cons ever heard of, as they are all under age and could be placed in county care legally.

I too kept calling out, "You old bat!" every time the crotchety old crone showed up to stir up trouble, thinking that she was doing right in God's eyes, and for the strong young teenage girl to take so much responsibility on herself shows an inner strength that the adults couldn't see past their haughty noses. The characters are presented as real people, not as cliched hicks. Julie Gholson genuinely real and heartfelt performance, one of the best I've ever seen of a non-professiomal actor, having the ability to make the audience laugh and cry as the situation calls for it. Surprised that this was an actual theatrical release, not a TV movie, well written and profound.

just to say thanks

[guinn8563 · 10/10 · 3 January 2007]

i just now found this web site thanks to a friend i was actor in this movie i played buck morris.i had a small speaking part which was my first job i ask Romy if he was going to play basketball.we were on the steps at the elk park school.i still live here in mountains just a mile or less from the school.my children still watch the movie from time to time they think that it is pretty neat to see dad and other people they know in the movie. a lot of them still live here. there is so much to see in this part of mountains.we have the blue ridge parkway only short distance from here. we have grand father mountain mile high swing bridge.some of the best motorcycle roads to ride in the world and views.some people say i live in gods country i could not agree more with that. i hope everyone enjoyed this film as much as we did to make it.

thanks tommy

This Was It

[richard.fuller1 · 6/10 · 8 May 2011]

Over the decades, I often have thought back to the country, coming-of-age movies and TV shows that came out around the same time as the Waltons and Little House On The Prairie, among them, Palmerstown USA, Where the Red Fern Grows, Apple's Way among so many other programs.

How about that one with Glenn Ford and Julie Harris? Caught a bit of it recently. Family Hoke or something? Bit too much, really.

But I always remembered a girl who I knew was NOT Sissy Spacek swearing at someone in a (hospital room?) knew it wasn't an office.

She began talking calmly, then cut loose with "D-*- you! D*-* you!" over and over, real loud and the laziest drawl I had ever heard (I'm from the south myself).

Then it seemed she was walking home on the country road and the truck came pulling up behind her and she was cussing quietly under her breath.

It was this movie. Just watched it. There it all was again.

Did remember the kids in that runaway truck coming to a stop in the ditch out in the field like that, but didn't realize it was the same movie.

Now if I could just find the movie where the woman (Kim Darby looking) is a new teacher in the boonies and is teaching kids Old McDonald and none of them sing with her and one little girl gets up to go to the chalkboard and slides her feet across the floor and the teacher has to correct her on this.

Somebody clearly didn't know this isn't the lazy way of walking, sliding your feet on the floor like that. Not picking your feet up or dragging them is more the result that this sliding depiction.

There were many movies and TV shows about the backwoods country living, life down on the farm, but like so many things out of Hollywood, you can't really believe the way they are shown in programs and movies.

It's too bad this movie and the child actors aren't more well known...

[Pookiebooz · 10/10 · 14 September 2005]

This is a very excellent movie. The book is great, too. I first read the book when I was about 14, loved it, and tried to find the movie but couldn't. That disappointed me and I eventually forgot about it, until I was about 20 and saw it on television. I knew it would be good but it actually exceeded my expectations! Everyone was wonderful, especially the children. I was shocked to learn that Jan Smithers who played Devola was the only one out of the children in the family who made any other films. Helen Harmon was just too cute for words and portrays a perfect precocious little baby sister and really has some funny scenes. Matthew Burril is real good as the brother, perfectly portraying the poor only boy surrounded by sisters! And Julie Gholson was amazing!!! I love the story about the children doing anything possible to stay together and Julie as Mary Call taking charge was intriguing to watch. This is not a well known movie and I would like to get the word out and let people know this is a must-see!! (unless the only movies you like are non sentimental shoot-em-up movies)

Not exactly real depictions of the poor.

[KayMack23 · 6/10 · 6 August 2017]

I remember the book, so I am a bit biased, but I am basing my rating on the film version alone.

Now, I have lived in one of the poorest and most rural areas of North Carolina myself before a mere ten years after this film was released- I can say that probably not a whole lot changed from 1974. Even homes that weren't as poor as depicted in Where the Lilies Bloom, I remember entering and even the floors inside were not level. The family is supposed to be extremely poor, so poor they barely keep food on the table by bartering and selling herbs and plants gathered from the local woods that are to be used in traditional medicines. The children are wearing brand new Levi's and well made plaid shirts which fit, except the littlest one in a shirt that is just a tad too large (get it? it's a "hand me down"). The clothing is typical mid-70s style, the real poor would have been in very ill-fitting severely outdated, maybe polyester in garish colors and patterns, clothing you'd get second hand. I wonder who the film's clothing consultant was? and since it was filmed practically on location, couldn't they've done just a bit of research? Yeah yeah, it wouldn't have the same aesthetic...

Roy Luther ends up passing away (not a spoiler, the entire plot is about the children trying to keep his death a secret from the authorities) really from poverty, in the book it's given that he died from intestinal worms (film version doesn't elaborate on how he died, however- I think that's a big loss, it's important to the story) yet the film has the kids trying to drive the family truck: late model Dodge maybe? I will say in North Carolina even today a truck is say, what a boat to someone in California is: a luxury, a wish item. If the family were so poor, how could they afford that vehicle? and why wasn't it sold when Roy Luther died, to get them some money? Wouldn't that be the first thing you'd do to be able to put food on the table? Where did they get the coffin for Roy Luther the kids buried him in? Maybe I missed something in the movie. Then, Hollywood has to season it up to make it "country": "Kiser Pease" rides up to the Luther's home on horseback yet. A horse is a luxury item there, as much as it is any where else- yes, even in the 1970s South. Well, the character "Kiser" does bring the object of his desire "Devola" a "couple o' hams" as a gift one day so maybe he's a high roller? But, he doesn't even smoke! EVERY one in North Carolina smokes. Old people, young people, men, women, poor, rich, children smoke. North Carolina is tobacco country. But no one in the movie smokes.

Oh well. It's a lazy Sunday afternoon movie, and it's entertaining, and it's nice to see trees and country. I just wish the film were just a bit truer to reality, and not a romantic view of what "country people" are in screen writer's minds, with the girls in pretty floral dresses and the token man on horseback.

Great Movie!

[goobey-1 · 10/10 · 20 June 2006]

This movie was one of my all time favorites as a child and now as I am grown it is not just a movie it reminds me of simpler and happy times. I love watching it time and time again, showing it to my husband and one day our children. Being raised in the area where it was filmed it is every exciting to see all the great landmarks portrayed in this movie, some of which do not exist anymore. The characters, actors, and simplicity of this movie make it a ten on my list! The story line is a good one and the characters really portray what I think it would have been like in those times and situations. I would recommend this movie to everyone who enjoys a good movie.

Roy's wishes are not enough

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 26 November 2021]

The Luther family are poor white folks living in the mountains. Mother is dead. Father Roy Luther is sick. Daughter Mary Call (Julie Gholson) is running the family. They had lost their land to back taxes and Kiser Pease (Harry Dean Stanton) who paid the taxes. He allows them to stay in their home and has desire to marry eldest daughter Devola (Jan Smithers).

This has a nice sense of the place and the people. The intensity is not quite high enough. The story does not have enough danger. The stakes need to be higher. The solution was always going to be Devola. In fact, I was more interested in seeing Jan Smithers as a fan of WKRP. Her character is central to the issue but she's almost mute in the movie. The story needs to shift partly towards her and there needs to be some impediment. Roy's wishes are not enough.

Beautiful movie

[pan-10 · 10/10 · 11 April 2003]

I agree with all the other comments. Beautiful movie with most excellent acting that has none of Hollywood's plastic staginess. Especially fine acting by the star,Julie Gholson - and why did she never appear in any other films?

The Hard Beauty Of Nature

[boblipton · 6/10 · 13 December 2023]

When their father dies, Julie Gholson has to work hard and tell a lot of lies to keep her family together and out of the foundlings' home.

There's about forty-five minutes of story in this movie, because how many times can you say "Pa is feeling poorly and sleeping" before you've lost the audience's interest? As a running gag in a series, it would best be used once an episode. This movie, which times in at 98 minutes, probably should have used it three times, with the third time a failure -- that's a bit of story-telling construction for you, albeit one directed at comedy. However, it seems to have been used at least half a dozen times.

So what does this movie spend the rest of its time showing you? Well, the life of a back woods adolescent, the story of a courtship by the well cast Harry Dean Stanton, and the natural beauty of the half-tamed country around Watauga County in North Carolina. There's a lot worth seeing in this movie, but it could have used another pass by the editor.

where the lilies bore

[mossgrymk · 5/10 · 16 December 2021]

Once again I defer to previous reviewer, Snoop. I would only add to their proper critique of this film as lacking excitement and interest my objection to its sickly sweet, Waltons meets Whole Earth Catalogue tone. I mean, I suppose you'd rather see your rural folk singin hymns and recitin bad poetry over gravesites or sellin herbs at cute country stores to carrying long guns at state and national capitols but it doesn't make the singin, recitin and herb sellin any less lugubrious. And lead actor Julie Gholson's combination of spunk and spirituality was so annoyingly cloying it made me wish I owned a dulcimer so I could toss it through the TV!

There are, however, a few good things. The other three kid actors performances range from decent (the youngest) to good (the boy and Jan Smithers), plus it's always nice to see ol Harry Dean playing a good but not excessively good guy, and the location shooting in Appalachian N. Carolina (as opposed to, say, Agoura standing in for N. Carolina) reminded me of how lovely that part of the world is.

Grade: C

PS...Earl Scruggs' music was both flat and without Flatt.

the historic school now on National Register of Historic Places

[efowler-3 · 10/10 · 9 January 2007]

I live in the Blue Ridge near the places where the filming took place. I love the area and I enjoy movies depicting life in the Appalachians many years ago. This is one of the best. My non-profit company recently purchased the old Elk Park School, a 1937 stone WPA school building which is the same school shot in the film. We have converted the school to beautifully rehabilitated affordable senior housing and in the process have secured permanent status for the building and the grounds on the National Register of Historic Places. Many area residents attended school there including most of the local extras seen in the movie. These good people are now once again drawn into the building through community activities scheduled in the refurbished gymnasium.

A movie about a girl trying to do her best to keep promises

[heatherc-1 · 4 February 2002]

This is a great movie. I fell in love with it the first time I watched it. I really love it. The best part about it is that the house where it was filmed is the house where my grandfather grew up. This is a great family movie. It shows how life was back then and how far people will go to keep a promise to someone that meant the world to them.

Very engaging film, beautiful scenery, you care about the characters.

[mburkman-1 · 10/10 · 30 June 2003]

I loved this film. The children are engaging and I became surprisingly invested in their efforts. I wish I could have seen the film on the big screen because this area of North Carolina is incredible. Their poverty and tremendous difficulties juxtaposed with the peace and serenity of the land combine the sweet and the bitter beautifully.

Appalachian realism

[grp-75522 · 10/10 · 30 December 2018]

In the 1990's I used to show this film after my students read the excellent book. It was filmed in the 1970's, but the lifestyles represented have changed somewhat: a lot more drugs now and less outdoor activities. The poverty still exists, but the finer qualities of strong family bonds and folk arts are less appreciated. Great story, excellent actors, and beautifully filmed. Julie Gholson, now Carmichael, still lives in Birmingham, AL., a happy grandmother who never regretted her choice of home over Hollywood.

A beautiful story about orphaned children & survival...

[ruth1663 · 10/10 · 25 January 2009]

One of the first films I ever saw in a theater as a teen, in the '70's. Set in the mountains of NC, a young girl leads her siblings in survival after being orphaned. A beautiful setting & good storyline. It has been a long time since I saw it, but it is one of those "feel good" movies. When you get to the end you want the story to continue. The characters are well cast & not that well known as actors for the most part. For a large part the main characters are young, but very good in that the portrayal is believable. As in any movie about struggle there is a "bad guy" & a hero, or heroine in this case. "Where The Lilies Bloom" is a drama that takes you through a good range of feelings, you will laugh & cry & feel victory as well as defeat.

This is just wonderful

[jessfink · 20 May 2002]

This wonderful 1974 film was one I saw when it came out at age 6 and it has stayed with me to this day, 20-odd years later. It is the kind of small, well-written, well-acted, poignant, earnest and meticulously crafted piece of filmmaking that simply does not exist today. Anyone, man or woman, old or young, will truly enjoy watching this great, great film.

Great Story! Great Movie!

[alkerfn-mw · 10/10 · 15 July 2012]

I had the pleasure of seeing this movie today on my digital antenna TV. What a delight and a real tribute to the American spirit. Great story along with wonderful acting and beautiful scenery had me captivated. Hope to see it again if it should come on Antenna TV. The only recognizable character was Harry Dean Stanton and the role he played was certainly interesting and the complimenting cast was delightful. The story line is a testimony to the human spirit and the dedication to family bonds was gripping and made the movie an enchanting experience. More movies should be made such as this. No car chases or blowing up of building just pure story telling. I hope to have a chance to see this movie again.

Harry Dean Stanton

[trujustice · 10/10 · 29 September 2017]

Such a memorable film and one in which I first took notice of actor Harry Dean Stanton. His character was pivotal in the story and Harry gave such a nuanced performance. Harry had been in westerns a good bit of his early career starting in the 1950s and this was such a big part in a small picture. All the principals seemed so real and Harry was the string that tied it together.

great movie

[lesliempalmisano · 10/10 · 13 May 2007]

I have been dying to see the movie on TV again. I wish they would show it!!! It's a lovely movie about this family, with a strong lead female character. . She has a lot of spunk & tenacity . I remember seeing it on a lazy Sunday afternoon and it was a kind of a surprise to be so good being a TV made movie. The cinematography is lovely. It seems to be a place of quiet beauty. May be one day I will go the place where it was filmed. I even remember the background music and the sounds of the rustling trees and the wind going thru the mountain brush. It really had an impact on me. I recommend this movie highly. Please if anyone sees when this will be showing, let me know.

It's a great movie!

[gin2772 · 10/10 · 23 February 2001]

Where the Lilies Bloom is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It tells a great story. The only thing I have against it is that it's too sad. I cry everytime I watch it. It's a real powerful movie. It really brings out your emotions.

There is a missing section of the movie on a recent rerun...

[karenbeal456225 · 9/10 · 11 August 2009]

I first saw this film about 15 years ago and was so excited to find it playing again on cable. I was surprised when the scenes went from the father's death to the father's burial without all the happenings I remember in between. Am I losing my mind or didn't the children delay burial for quite a while in the original? It was a bit grisly, but I seem to remember a scene in which the father was shown (dead) to a nosy neighbor and said to be asleep.

I try to write with as few words as possible and yet this will not be accepted unless it is at least ten lines long. That seems a waste of everyone's time if you can say what you want to say in less.