Sidney Poitier 1927-2022

Where to watch two classic Poitier films for free

Sidney Poitier, the magnificent actor who blazed into prominence during the 1960s, has died at the age of 94. He was a hero at a time when black heroes on the silver screen were few. It is no accident that his career skyrocketed during the era of the civil rights movement. His tremendous talent and winning personality would have made him a star in any era, but he also had the good fortune to arrive on the scene when many whites were eager to embrace a new awareness and new understanding of the black experience. In role after brilliant role, Poitier mainstreamed that experience. He was, quite simply, an American hero.

His story, in real life, was an American story; and the roles he popularized were from stories which reflected an egalitarian, anti-racist view. Here, film artistry means good storytelling and strong character development, not heavy-handed politics. His best films were entertaining, engaging, but also intensely human.

Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans. pic.twitter.com/zkYKFSxfKA

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 7, 2022

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The son of tomato farmers in the Bahamas, Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor — but the trail he blazed extended leaps and bounds beyond his background or profession. Jill and I send our love and prayers to his loved ones.

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 8, 2022

The free, ad-supported Pluto.tv currently has two Poitier films available for streaming on demand, no signup required:

Lilies of the Field (1963)
https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/movies/lilies-of-the-field-1963-1-1
Alternate link (TubiTV):
https://tubitv.com/video/305870

The Defiant Ones (1958)
https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/movies/the-defiant-ones-1958-1958-1-1

If you have an old computer with limited RAM, or a slow Internet connection which makes streaming impossible, you may be able to timeshift some items using yt-dlp, a command line program which includes support for numerous sites. YMMV

These films might not be on Pluto/Tubi forever, so catch them while you can! Both are in glorious black-and-white.

BONUS LINK: The Miracle Worker

Speaking of great black-and-white films currently on Pluto, The Miracle Worker (1962) is another not to be missed. Directed in modern style by Arthur Penn, it’s a tour-de-force for Oscar-winners Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft. If your only awareness of Duke is some dim recollection of the insipid Patty Duke Show, you’ll be astounded by her portrayal of the young Helen Keller.

The Miracle Worker (1962)
https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/movies/the-miracle-worker-1962-1-1
Alternate link (TubiTV):
https://tubitv.com/video/301929

Michael Howard

The views expressed are my own, and do not represent any other person or organization.

A fitting postscript to a beautiful life:

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