An earnest retelling about a young Scottish spreading God's word in 19th Century China. It deals with a tenacious priest determined to carry out the missionary service and follows him to strife-torn China . It starts in 1938, Father Francis Chisholm is an elderly priest whose sermons don't particularly conform to his Bishop's expectation and is asked to retire. He is visited in his old age by Monsignor Sleeth (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) . The Monsignor who has delivered the message comes across Father Francis' journals which tell his life story . A long flasback narrating the tale of an orphaned boy (Roddy McDowall) when his parents are swept down down river during a violent storm and taken in by his Aunt Polly (Edith Barrett) . The young priest (Gregory Peck) is sent to China to establish a Catholic parish and set in the thunderous years of fights between Nationalist and Emperor forces . Along the way , he befriends the villagers and even winning the heart of the local Mandarin ."You won't come home to me ...and if you do, you'll go away again...sometimes I get so afraid and so angry...and so lonely..." When this man fights...your heart will beat with new excitement!... When his story unfolds...the screen will shine with new glory!
This overlong , moving , elaborate picture touches new heights of emotion . It is a fairly faithful rendition of A. J. Cronin's novel of a priest's adventures in China , which proved to be Gregory Peck's first major screen success . A sensitive and agreeable film set in China concerning faith , love , religion , battles , and sacrifice . Superb interpretation marks this touching biography of China missionary inspired by real events . Following his tumultuous life , love , wishes , fights , philantrophy and extreme goodness . There are attractive incidents , adventures and perilous situations , such as the marauding and attacker army bombing the village and our brave priest negotiating a risked truce . The performance from a nice cast is solid and the story , which has some stirring moments and some thrilling ones too , just about grips attention throughout . As an awesome Gregory Peck is well accompanied by a superior support cast , such as : Thomas Mitchel , Vincent Price , Roddy McDowall ,Edmund Gwenn , Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood , Jane Ball , James Gleason , Anne Revere , Philip Ahn , Arthur Shields, Richard Loo and especial mention for Rosa Stradner as Mother Maria-Veronica with whom Peck/Father Francis would make a peculiar , enjoyable relationship . This was Rosa Stradner's last film , she married writer Joseph L. Mankiewicz . Stradner would be known for going into emotional tirades and was eventually admitted to sanitariums to treat her violent rates, constantly threatening suicide, a lethal mix of bitterness and depression set in and on September 27, 1958 ended her pain with an overdose of sleeping pills in the Mt. Kisco, New York, home she shared with her husband Mankiewicz who wrote the interesting script.
It displays a rousing score by calssic composer Alfred Newman as well as an evocative cinematography by cameraman Arthur C. Miller . This long but generally fine movie was competently shot by John M. Stahl. He was a great director who made enjoyable and some classic films , such as : " Back Street" , "Only Yesterday", "Imitation of Life", "Magnificent Obsession", "The Eve of St Mark" , "Oh you Beautiful Doll", "Leave her to Heaven", among others . Rating 7.5/10. Better than average. Well worth watching . The picture will appeal to Gregory Peck fans.
This overlong , moving , elaborate picture touches new heights of emotion . It is a fairly faithful rendition of A. J. Cronin's novel of a priest's adventures in China , which proved to be Gregory Peck's first major screen success . A sensitive and agreeable film set in China concerning faith , love , religion , battles , and sacrifice . Superb interpretation marks this touching biography of China missionary inspired by real events . Following his tumultuous life , love , wishes , fights , philantrophy and extreme goodness . There are attractive incidents , adventures and perilous situations , such as the marauding and attacker army bombing the village and our brave priest negotiating a risked truce . The performance from a nice cast is solid and the story , which has some stirring moments and some thrilling ones too , just about grips attention throughout . As an awesome Gregory Peck is well accompanied by a superior support cast , such as : Thomas Mitchel , Vincent Price , Roddy McDowall ,Edmund Gwenn , Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood , Jane Ball , James Gleason , Anne Revere , Philip Ahn , Arthur Shields, Richard Loo and especial mention for Rosa Stradner as Mother Maria-Veronica with whom Peck/Father Francis would make a peculiar , enjoyable relationship . This was Rosa Stradner's last film , she married writer Joseph L. Mankiewicz . Stradner would be known for going into emotional tirades and was eventually admitted to sanitariums to treat her violent rates, constantly threatening suicide, a lethal mix of bitterness and depression set in and on September 27, 1958 ended her pain with an overdose of sleeping pills in the Mt. Kisco, New York, home she shared with her husband Mankiewicz who wrote the interesting script.
It displays a rousing score by calssic composer Alfred Newman as well as an evocative cinematography by cameraman Arthur C. Miller . This long but generally fine movie was competently shot by John M. Stahl. He was a great director who made enjoyable and some classic films , such as : " Back Street" , "Only Yesterday", "Imitation of Life", "Magnificent Obsession", "The Eve of St Mark" , "Oh you Beautiful Doll", "Leave her to Heaven", among others . Rating 7.5/10. Better than average. Well worth watching . The picture will appeal to Gregory Peck fans.