IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Dorothy Adams
- Woman Behind Hope at Baptism
- (uncredited)
Joan Anderson
- Child
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam S. Hart was the guest of honor at the Hollywood premiere of this movie, since his movie The Silent Man (1917) figures prominently in the plot.
- GoofsAt the beginning of the movie, William Spence (Fredric March) announces he has been "called" to the church and will become a pastor in the Methodist Church. His soon-to-be mother-in-law, Mrs. Norris (Nana Bryant)), replies that she would have preferred that he'd joined the Episcopal Church. At that time, in Canada, the dominant church was the Church of England, not the Episcopal Church. That is predominantly a US institution born out of the American Revolution.
- Quotes
William Spence: [to his son, Hartzell] A pastor's family are in a special category. We are uh... Well, It's as if we walked a sort of tightrope. Balancing with one foot on earth and one foot already in heaven.
- ConnectionsEdited into Happy Times and Jolly Moments (1943)
- SoundtracksThe Children's Prayer
(uncredited)
from "Hansel and Gretel"
Music by Engelbert Humperdinck
Libretto by Adelheid Wette
Sung by the Robert Mitchell Choir
Featured review
The story of a Methodist minister and his family; and the trials of their life.
ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN is a wonderful story of what it takes to not only endure the difficulties in being a minister; but how these problems build character.
Year after year of allowing church bosses and bullies to dictate what will and won't be allowed, the minister finally learns how to beat them at their own game.
It has so many touches of warmth, in which a subliminal message of truth is going on coupled with hints of blackmail and leverage.
When Dr. Spence refuses to name his own son Wm. Spence, Jr. because he says, "Junior is a sissy name and I won't have my son being a sissy!" his wife decides to coerce him by holding back on the cooking of dinner until he gives in to her wishes. Thinking she's won, he says he'll name the baby in church next Sunday. As he asks for the name and she announces to the congregation, "William Spence, Junior," he repeats it as "William Frasier Spence" ("named after my grand old Scottish Uncle Frasier--and I don't mean the one who was hanged as a horse thief!")
It is this war of wills that carries the story; making each episode build to the next one. Tempered with touches of right and wrong, it is a classic! A must see! Good conflict, good story line.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Year after year of allowing church bosses and bullies to dictate what will and won't be allowed, the minister finally learns how to beat them at their own game.
It has so many touches of warmth, in which a subliminal message of truth is going on coupled with hints of blackmail and leverage.
When Dr. Spence refuses to name his own son Wm. Spence, Jr. because he says, "Junior is a sissy name and I won't have my son being a sissy!" his wife decides to coerce him by holding back on the cooking of dinner until he gives in to her wishes. Thinking she's won, he says he'll name the baby in church next Sunday. As he asks for the name and she announces to the congregation, "William Spence, Junior," he repeats it as "William Frasier Spence" ("named after my grand old Scottish Uncle Frasier--and I don't mean the one who was hanged as a horse thief!")
It is this war of wills that carries the story; making each episode build to the next one. Tempered with touches of right and wrong, it is a classic! A must see! Good conflict, good story line.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
helpful•111
- hope-21
- Jun 18, 1999
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- En las puertas del paraíso
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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