This is pretty close to being a top-notch film, and all the more remarkable because it was only Gregory Peck's second appearance on celluloid! The cast here is very strong. Gregory Peck -- even as a young actor (he was 28 here) is brilliant as Father Chisholm; I would say this was close to a flawless performance, and he even aged well through the film. Thomas Mitchell was already in his 50s here, which really made him too old for the part, but he was one of those unique character actors who could almost do no wrong; still interesting. It's nice to remember that Vincent Price was a fairly respected character actor, although his role here as a senior Catholic prelate is far from his best. Rose Stradner, with whom I was not familiar, was very good as the Reverend Mother who begins as a harsh character, but evolves slowly into a more mellow partner in running the mission. Edmund Gwenn is as wonderful as ever as a senior prelate. Sir Cedric Hardwicke does fine, but his role as a prelate is minor...really one as the story teller. Probably the most interesting secondary role in the film is that by James Gleason; it's so different from his more typical roles...here he is a Methodist minister...very interesting, though he doesn't get a lot of screen time. Benson Fong is delightful as Joseph, a Chinese commoner with deep faith. Leonard Strong, as the wealthy Mr. Chia, is also interesting, although he was an Eurasian-American actor.
To enjoy this film you have to put behind all the more recent degrading news in the Catholic Church today, and go back to more simple times. This is the story of a deep faith of a priest and his long adventures and many challenges in China. From the novel by A. J. Cronin, I couldn't find much to criticize in the story. Idealistic, certainly, but in general fairly believable. Okay, maybe the segment when Peck destroys a communist gun placement...but, okay, at least that part was unique. In some ways, this film reminded me a little of Humphrey Bogart in "The Left Hand Of God", although here Peck is the absolute opposite of everything Bogart was. But, some interesting comparisons.
Highly recommended!
To enjoy this film you have to put behind all the more recent degrading news in the Catholic Church today, and go back to more simple times. This is the story of a deep faith of a priest and his long adventures and many challenges in China. From the novel by A. J. Cronin, I couldn't find much to criticize in the story. Idealistic, certainly, but in general fairly believable. Okay, maybe the segment when Peck destroys a communist gun placement...but, okay, at least that part was unique. In some ways, this film reminded me a little of Humphrey Bogart in "The Left Hand Of God", although here Peck is the absolute opposite of everything Bogart was. But, some interesting comparisons.
Highly recommended!