A Man Called Peter

You'd think 20th Century Fox would have better sense. In a time when Mel Gibson racks up $400 million for a Christian movie in Aramaic, this good film about a minister that they already own would be out on DVD in a double-disc set. The sermon scenes ("full of heart and fire" to quote a contemporary review) wouldn't offend Jon Stewart. Richard Todd earned an Oscar nomination for his warm portrayal of a beloved minister in Washington, DC. The VHS has been available for a long time, but this one really is too good to bury... Peter Marshall was the Pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church during the forties. His sermons were so popular that they had to install loudspeakers to send them to the crowds waiting outside. He was chaplain of the US Senate. Marshall's rolling Scots burr and warm "friendship with God" are still appealing. His wife Catherine wrote the book on which the film is based, and several other books besides. Jean Peters gives an engaging performance as Catherine, making the film less a religious tract and more a portrait of a family you wish to know. It's a joy to spend time with these people. They are better ambassadors for Christianity than many you may have seen lately. If there was someone at Fox with a marketing sense, they'd re-release this one with great fanfare - the timing couldn't be better.

I have seen this film a few times, the first when I was about 15 yrs old. I admit that my interest was initially stimulated by the fact that I am a native of Coatbridge where Peter Marshall came from. I live just up the road in Airdrie which is only a couple of miles away. My dad remembers when the film was made as it was a 'big thing' then in the old town. In fact my old school is only a few yards behind where the camera was situated in the street during the opening scenes: Muiryhall Street. Sadly there is no official memorial to Peter Marshall in his home town and very few people here would know about him today. Coatbridge has lost all the old iron and steel works which gave it her nickname: the Iron Burgh. Peter would not recognise the old place today although it desperately needs someone of his vision and faith in this cynical and secular age. Coatbridge has a population of around 46,000 and is 12 miles east of Glasgow. Most of the people are nominally Roman Catholic; 60% of the population due to immigration from Ireland in the late 19 c and early 20 c, including my own antecedents. I am not certain if there are any of Peter's family still around though there must surely be. If the film was true in essence then it is absolutely clear that Coatbridge and Scotland's loss was certainly Washington's and the USA's gain.

I honestly dont remember when I first saw this remarkable film.(It had to be on television). It is a plain spoken film about a truly remarkable man. Richard Todd is amazing as Marshall.(according to Catherine Marshall's book "To live again", he was not quite physically right for the role, but he accent is and was superb. Jean Peters as Catherine is excellent also. Characters Les Tremayne and Marjorie Rambeau round out the excellent cast. A top ten!

Its a shame thate there is no WIDESCREEN version of this film available. CinemaScope was used extremely well to cover the entire screen with effecitive images. Additionally, TRUE Stereo Sound was used (with even character voices seperated out across the screen). This might sound and feel awkward in a scanned version, but is quite effective when the ENTIRE widescreen picture is viewed. ALSO, although the credits list this movie as Deluxe Color, The feature (AND original 35mm trailer) were actually released IB TECHNICOLOR. Why it is listed as Deluxe I have no idea. Perhaps it was the last Fox CinemaScope IB release before they went to their own (lousy) Eastman Color process for all their CinemaScope films and there was confusion in the transition. It may not matter to many today which is credited, but it certainlly DOES matter in the visual LOOK. Nothing can compare with IB Tech!

For years it has amazed me that this film was not available on DVD, and now I see Fox has come around to correcting that mistake--bravo! Now the glorious CinemaScope picture can be enjoyed along with the note-perfect score by Alfred Newman and the amazing performance of Richard Todd. "A Man Called Peter" charts the true story of Peter Marshall, a Scottish immigrant who became a nationally-known Presbyterian pastor in the US and eventually found himself chaplain of the US Senate. But don't let those accomplishments fool you--the story of Peter Marshall is, in its own words, the story of "one man's friendship with God," nothing more and nothing less. Not that it's a syrupy, sugar-coated look at faith, however. "A Man Called Peter" deals with the realities of life and the questions we often find ourselves asking, particularly with regards to suffering. It doesn't shirk these issues, doesn't provide pat answers...it just demonstrates Peter Marshall's simple trust in the one he called "The Chief." One of the amazing things about "A Man Called Peter" is its attention to Dr. Marshall's amazing gift for preaching. Quite a bit of time is spent on his sermon material,expertly delivered by Richard Todd. The December 7th, 1941 scene is particularly moving. Overall, the sincerity of Peter Marshall's faith is evident, both in the highs and lows of his life. And despite his premature passing, the film still manages to end on a stirring note of hope. "See you in the morning" is a phrase that will never be the same for you after watching this film. After Peter's death, Catherine Marshall had a dream she was visiting him in heaven, where she told him she was contemplating writing a book about his life. In the dream Peter said to her, "Go ahead and write it, Kate. Let the world know a man can love God and not be a sissy!" The movie version of "A Man Called Peter" demonstrates that with class, top-notch performances, and a heart sadly missing from many films today. "A Man Called Peter" is a classic--and now it's available in the only format that can do it justice. I can't wait to experience it for the first time all over again!

Given the current evangelical climate in films, it's easy to forget this little treasure, just like it's easy to forget the republican party used to have a moderate wing. Peter Marshall was an inclusive kind of Christian, a man whose faith was based on love rather than fear of hellfire. His wife Catherine wrote a warm biography, and 20th adapted it for the screen with a truly brilliant actor in the lead role: Richard Todd. Todd, famous mostly for a few wholesome Disney films (Robin Hood, Sword and the Rose) had the part of his career, and gave the performance of a lifetime. He was Peter Marshall, a Presbyterian minister of the New York Avenue church in Washington, DC during the forties. The heart of the film is the sermon scenes, and they are so good you may want to go to church again. Why, oh why, hasn't 20th the brains to reissue this one on DVD? Especially now?

I saw this movie as I was being sent overseas, and have loved it since. It tells the story of Rev. Peter Marshall, a young Scottish emigrant to the US, who first pastored in the Atlanta area, married an Agnes Scott College coed, and finally became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, and also chaplain of the US Senate. Richard Todd, an Irishman, did a superb job of delivering Marsall's sermons, and Jean Peters was perfectly in character as his wife Carherine.

Some of the reviewers here say it's a film made by Christians for Christians . This is entirely true . It follows the life of Scottish born preacher Peter Marshall who emigrates from Coatbridge to America and eventually becomes Chaplain of the US Senate . That's the story and in order to pad out the run time we're many , many sermons from Marshall . Apparently the screenplay is adapted from the biography written by Marshall's wife Catherine . Knowing this you become reminded of the quote from the avowed atheist George Orwell - and forgive me for paraphrasing - that " An ( Auto) biography is only worth reading if it contains something disgraceful " and unfortunately there's nothing disgraceful at all . In fact I doubt if I've never seen anything so inoffensive in the history of cinema which while it's not necessarily a criticism in itself means there's no dilemmas , no plot and no drama . This won't be the case when we get biopics on obnoxious little bigots like Phelps , Robertson and Falwell no matter how biased a picture is painted of them This goes to show that it's a waste of time making books and movies on nice guys . There were a couple of things that peaked my interest . I guess the reason I watched is down to there being an empathy for someone from Scotland even if we have totally contradictory views on religion . It's interesting to note that Marshall , a protestant lived in Coatbridge , a Scottish town with a (in)famous reputation for being devoutly Catholic . It's also interesting that the Scottish characters do not speak with a West of Scotland accent , more of wishy washy fake Highland one . Richard Todd was always good at playing nice guys so he's well cast as Peter Marshall . The stand out achievement of the film however is the cinematography by Harold Lipstein . which is gloriously rich and held my interest in a film where nothing really happens

It's refreshing to see a film about faith without all the dogmatic posturing and self-righteousness so prevalent among today's more evangelical "clergy". This is a good film biography of a remarkable man, whose true calling to the ministry influenced so many lives. His inclusive message of the all-encompassing love of God and the Christ spirit seems more meaningful today than in its own time. The best part of the film are Marshall's own concise and lucid sermons, lifted straight from the page and thrillingly delivered by the actor Richard Todd. The actor listened carefully to recordings of Marshall's speaking style and the memories others had of it and carefully replicated it. One doesn't hear public speaking like THIS anymore, without a microphone, the text delivered with style and passion. This film changed my life as a teenager, forty years ago, introducing me to the spiritual life. I then read the book from which it derives (even better than the picture), all the collections of Marshall's sermons and prayers then in print (the prayers even more wonderful than the sermons!) and these books carried me through many bleak times in my life, as did the subsequent books by Peter's wife. I hope this film can do the same for you.

I have always liked the late Richard Todd as an actor, he was very watchable and had real charisma and integrity. However this movie is just about the dullest biopic I have ever seen. From the very start it is less than convincing. Pure propaganda for the God squad who really should join the 21st century instead of living in the 13th century wracked with superstition and belief in miracles and magic. I had never seen this movie before and looked forward to becoming engrossed in a story about someone with whom I was totally unfamiliar. I tried, I honestly did, but my attention wandered and I could not stomach the holier than thou thread which pervaded this debacle. A pity it was not better written as I am sure there is an actual story to be told rather than this pap. Not a good movie to choose to see Richard Todd's talent.