Where the Lilies Bloom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Where the Lilies Bloom |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | William A. Graham |
| Produced by | Robert B. Radnitz |
| Written by | Bill and Vera Cleaver (novel) |
| Starring | Julie Gholson Harry Dean Stanton Rance Howard Jan Smithers Matthew Burrill Helen Harmon |
| Music by | Earl Scruggs |
| Studio | Radnitz/Mattel Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | 1974 |
| Running time | 97 min. |
| Language | English |
Where the Lilies Bloom is a drama film from 1974. It is based on a book with the same name, written by Bill and Vera Cleaver. The movie was made by Robert B. Radnitz and directed by William A. Graham.
The film was shot in the mountains of North Carolina. Some of the towns where they filmed include Boone, Blowing Rock, West Jefferson, Lansing, Elk Park, and Banner Elk. The music for the movie was created by Earl Scruggs.
Interestingly, children from local schools were chosen to act in the film. For a long time, the movie was mostly available on old video tapes (VHS). But now, you can watch it online for free on Amazon Prime!
Story of the Luther Family
The movie tells the story of the Luther family. They are very poor farmers living in the mountains of North Carolina. The father, Roy Luther (Rance Howard), is very sick. He asks his second oldest daughter, Mary Call (Julie Gholson), to promise she will take care of her younger siblings when he is gone.
Roy Luther tells Mary Call not to tell anyone when he dies. He worries that if adults find out, his children will be separated and sent to different homes. This is because they are too young to live alone. Their landlord, Kiser Pease (Harry Dean Stanton), wants to marry the oldest daughter, Devola (Jan Smithers). Roy Luther doesn't want them to marry. He makes Mary Call promise she won't let it happen after he's gone.
Mary Call and her younger brother, Romey (Matthew Burrill), help Kiser when he gets very sick. Because they helped him, Kiser agrees to sign the land back over to the Luther family. This means the land would belong to them again.
Keeping a Secret
When Roy Luther dies, the children bury him secretly on a mountainside. They work very hard to make sure no one finds out he is gone. The children practice what to say if anyone asks about their father. Kiser continues trying to marry Devola, and Mary Call tries everything to stop him.
The Luther children try their best to earn money. They gather roots and herbs from their land and sell them to the local pharmacist. He uses these plants to make medicines. Mary Call often writes in her journal. Her school essays are so good that her teacher notices her talent. The teacher encourages Mary Call to become a writer instead of staying in the mountains.
A Difficult Choice
Later, Kiser is hit by a truck and ends up in the hospital. His sister, Goldie, comes to the Luther house. She demands that the children leave the property. Goldie says the paper Kiser signed, giving the land back to the Luthers, is not valid. She tells them they must leave in two days.
Mary Call feels desperate. She visits Kiser in the hospital and offers to marry him herself. Kiser would rather marry Devola. Mary Call is upset and accidentally tells him that Roy Luther is dead. She threatens Kiser if he tells anyone.
Finally, Mary Call agrees to let Kiser marry Devola. She realizes that Kiser is not as bad as she thought. After Kiser and Devola get married, the whole Luther family lives together in Kiser and Devola's home.
