This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

terrible... so disappointed.

Lack of good storyline.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

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 The clothing is typical mid-70s style, the real poor would have been in very ill-fitting severely outdated, maybe polyester in garish colors and patterns, clothing you'd get second hand.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.

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.

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)

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.