pushed me out and slammed it. reporter: a determined poitier would spend months perfecting his acting skills and modifying his speaking voice. his hard work would pay off in a big way. i was right. i know i was right. reporter: in the 1950s he appeared in more than a dozen films beginning with no way out including an os-car winning performance in the defiant ones. however it was his portrayal in lilies of the field that broke hollywood s color barrier earning him the coveted oscar for best actor. amen reporter: poitier never overcame his tone deafness lip synching the song amen. poitier was considered a bankable star in 1967, starring in the landmark film to sir with love. those kids are devil incarnate. i tried everything. reporter: playing characters that would force audiences to
acting skills and modifiling his speaking voice. his hard work would pay off in a big way. i was right. i know i was right. reporter: in the 1950s, he appeared in that aror more than a dozen film upons beginning with no way out and an oscar nominated performance in the defiant ones. however, it was his portrayal of a former gi in the 1963 movie lilies of the field that earned him the coveted oscar for best actor. portier never overcame his tone deafness, limb-syncing the song amen in the famts lily scene. the song writer actually it the singing. portier was considered a ban bankable star in 1967 starring in a land mark film to sir with love. those kids are devils incarnates. i tried everything. reporter: playing characters that would force audiences to confront racial prejudices. they call me mr. tibbs.
imitate him. i mean, there are impersonators all over the world version good ones. but this is theater. so we wanted to find a young talented actor whose own personality could come through but he could obviously have the brilliant skills, the dancing skill, singing skills, acting skills, and we have to say, i have to say we lucked out in finding miles frost. relatively inexperienced. he recorded some but has no real theater experience. and this man, from the moment we cast him in june to the moment the show opened, worked so hard to be true and honor the spirit of michael, because of course he grew up admiring and loving michael, but also, trusting us to help sort of guide his performance so it felt very much like a unique theatrical performance where you get a glimpse of mr. myles frost.
their dreams, that act, that want to be in movies and show their stories. they can do drama. they can be the heart throb. and we have amazing skills that we want to share with the rest of the world put up all my life i have been fascinated with asl and the deaf community and our acting skills and this is a good thing. now it is time for me to stick my neck out and try to predict which films and individuals will be taking home the top oscar prizes. best adapted screenplay will go to the power of the dog. best original screenplay being perhaps the one trophy belfast picks up. the best documentary feature will go to quest love for some of soul. best international feature film will
that want to show their stories, that can do drama, that can be the heart throb, that can be the comedian, and we have amazing skills that we want to share with the rest of the world. all of my life, i ve been fascinated with asl, with the deaf community and our acting skills. and so this is a good thing, this is a great thing, exposure to the hearing world. now it s time for me to stick my neck out and try to predict which films and individuals will be taking home the top oscar prizes. best adapted screenplay will go to the power of the dog, best original screenplay being perhaps the one trophy belfast picks up. you re buddy from belfast, where everybody knows you. best documentary feature, that prize will go to questlove for summer of soul. best international feature film will almost certainly be awarded