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Sidney Poitier is one of the most iconic and important figures in the history of Hollywood . Not only is Poitier reckon one of the finest role player to ever beautify the covert and stage , but he was also personally instrumental in aid to erode the social and stereotypical roadblock between black and white actors on and off - screen .
In 1964 , Poitier became the first black actor to winan Oscarfor Best Leading Actor , a feat that held untilDenzel Washingtonrepeated the feat closely four decades later . In 2002 , Poitier was awarded an Honorary Oscar for his monumental part to movie house . For more details , here are Sidney Poitier ’s 10 Best Movies , According to Rotten Tomatoes .
Cry, The Beloved Country (1952) 89%
Adapted from the Alan Paton novel , Cry , the Beloved Countryis fix in a South African backwater in which a pitch-dark government minister constitute Stephen Kumalo ( Canada Lee ) search for his missing son and sister .
When Stephen reaches Johannesburg , he ’s stunned to witness his fellow African masses inhabit in sordid conditions . He meets Reverend Misimangu ( Poitier ) , a unseasoned church official who helps Stephen find his thieving son and his prostituting sister in the metropolis ’s slums .
A Patch Of Blue (1965) 89%
compose and directed by Guy Green from the Elizabeth Kata novel , A Patch of Bluestars Elizabeth Hartman as an illiterate white blind womanhood who finds intimate solace from an educate grim man .
Selina ( Hartman ) lives in a raunchy Los Angeles flat with her mother Rose - Ann ( Shelley Winters ) and her father . When she meets Gordon Ralfe ( Poitier ) at a park one day , a compassionate office employee who treats with her a benignity she is n’t used to . Unaware that Gordon is pitch-dark , the two keep to meet in the parking area every daytime and eventually fall in beloved .
To Sir, With Love (1967) 89%
1967 was arguably the most important class of Poitier ’s career . He made three iconic and instrumental movies that helped break down the racial stigma attached to disastrous actors . One such includedTo Sir , With Love , in which Poitier plays aschool teacherdealing with detrimental white bookman in England .
Sidney Poitier plays Mark Thackeray in the film , a teacher and aspiring railroad engineer assigned to a schooling in the ghetto of London ’s East End . Most of his student are unruly whitened kids who react to their new teacher other than .
No Way Out (1950) 90%
The same year Joseph L. Mankiewicz won a Best Director Oscar forAll About Eve , he also explore race coition inNo Way Out , Sidney Poitier ’s second feature moving-picture show .
Poitier plays Dr. Luther Brooks , a surgeon allot to operate on two white racists after being wounded in a accelerator station stick - up . Ray Biddle ( Richard Widmark ) refuses to be help by Dr. Brooks because of his sorry pelt , and when his brother George ( Harry Bellaver ) pall during his military operation , Ray charge Dr. Brooks of execution .
Lilies Of The Field (1963) 91%
Poitier scored an Academy Award for Best Leading Actor following his hulk turn inLilies of the Field , in which he play a wanderer err as the messiah when hit upon a religious farm .
When his car overheats , unemployed carpenter Homer Smith fall out upon a cattle farm full of European Catholic nuns headed by stern Sister Maria ( Lilia Skala ) . Maria and her congregating consider Homer has been a boom to help them build a church in the desert , which would mark the only blank space of worship in the field .
A Raisin In The Sun (1961) 94%
Adapted from the Lorraine Hansberry point play , A Raisin in the Sunchronicles the hardscrabble existence of an impoverished black family dream of a just life .
Poitier stars as Walter Lee Younger , a young mankind disgruntled with his lot in life . live in tight quarters with his married woman , son , female parent , and sister , Walter dreams of better solar day until a $ 10,000 policy check comes in the mail . With each family member planning unlike slipway to practice the money , Walter recognize you ca n’t put a terms on self-regard .
In The Heat Of The Night (1967) 94%
NamedBest Pictureof 1967,In the Heat of the Nightis yet another film in which Poitier explores the racial moral force between black and blanched people . Poitier play Virgil Tibbs , a skilled Philadelphia law detective who is racially profile in Sparta , Mississippi postdate the demise of a wealthy white businessman .
Arrested and incriminate of murder , Tibbs ' name is eventually clear and he is allow to pursue the real killer . Yet , his spirit remains in danger as he navigate the racially charge surroundings of theAmerican southward .
Sing Your Song (2011) 95%
In thedocumentary filmSing Your Song , Poitier peach the praises of fellow entertainer and Civil Rights picture Harry Belafonte , an iconic African American notability whose contributions for social DoJ made a global impingement .
The film unite contemporary interview with archival footage meant to render the massive footprint Belafonte has left on the world . Born nine years asunder , Poitier and Belafonte became close friends after meeting for the first fourth dimension in 1947 . Both men have been civil right sensation and decade - long contributor to the cause .
Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart (2017) 100%
At 90 years old , Poitier appeared along with his crony Harry Belafonte to celebrate the work of Lorraine Hansberry , the playwright responsible forA Raisin in the Sun , one of the most important taradiddle of the sixties .
Sighted Eyes / Feeling Hearttraces Hansberry ’s career as the first black charwoman to have her turning point manoeuvre grow on Broadway . Stars of the original film such as Ruby Dee and Lou Gossett Jr. are hand to discuss Hansberry ’s work , as are a new generation of worker such as Anika Noni Rose .
Shoot To Kill (1988) 100%
According to Rotten Tomatoes , the highest - rated movie of Sidney Poitier ’s unparalleled career belongs toShoot to vote down , an action - pack crime film Colorado - star Tom Berenger . It ’s the first picture show Poitier made in over a decennary .
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode , Poitier plays FBI Agent Warren Stantin , who is assigned to catch a liquidator who has back away to the mountainous terrain of the Pacific Northwest . Out of his element , Warren rent professional tracker John Knox ( Berenger ) to help find oneself the killer , who has cunningly infiltrated the tramp group headed by Knox ’s girlfriend Sarah ( Kristy Alley ) .
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