Customer Reviews

The Keys of the Kingdom

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Based on the best-selling novel by A.J. Cronin, who also had a part in writing the script, this is a quiet, inspiring film that follows the long life of Father Francis Chisholm, who was not talented or clever in the traditional sense, but who lead a courageous and adventurous life and touched so many people with his great love, generosity and faith.
It starts with him as a child in Scotland, and when he becomes a priest, he is sent to China as a missionary, where he endures a multitude of challenges and successes.
It is told in the form of a narrative, as Cedric Hardwicke, playing Monsignor Sleeth, reads through Father Chisholm's journal.

This was Gregory Peck's second starring role (the first being "Days of Glory", which was not well received) and it earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination; he is wonderful in the part, and other great performances come from Thomas Mitchell as Dr. Willie Tullock, Rose Stradner as Sister Maria-Veronica, Benson Fong as Joseph, and Roddy McDowall as the young Francis.
Sensitive direction by John Stahl and music by Alfred Newman complete this film, which is satisfying viewing, and a must for Peck fans.
being 60 years old, the quality of the film shows a little age, but does not take away from the beauty of it. Total running time is 137 minutes.

This is a film that will be remembered for a lifetime. Gregory Peck gives us the ingredients for living life in a very rewarding way. We don't need material things to have a life that is full. His receipe was simple but good: selflessness, humility, strong faith in God, patience, determination, kindness, and above all love. He was able to forgive those who tried to make him feel less than he was, and he always saw the good in those who tormented him. I would watch this movie, and show it to others, over and over again. It is a masterpiece. It is one of the few movies that gives people a role model without violence.

This is an excellent old movie showing how a Catholic Priest (Gregory Peck) overcomes adversity while trying to establish a Christian mission deep in China. When first arriving, he refuses to use rice to "buy" converts as the previous mission director had, and as a result has no "converts"----only one true believer who comes to offer to be his helper. They pray constantly for God to show a way, and eventually God does answer that prayer and reveals to Peck another way to win converts and save souls----a way of truth and integrity and compassion. This is NOT some dry, stale, boring story----the movie is filled with gun battles, war, the burning of the village, and a lost love, as China is caught up in the policital upheavel of the early 20th century. The best part is the end....one last battle back in the States....and the fruit of all his years in China is revealed.

This movie is where I first saw Greg Peck, who is always a treat to watch. It is an adaptation of A.J. Cronin's book of the same name. I've read all of Cronin's books and they are a delight, so that is an additional reason for appreciating this film. It is a story about a priest who is a missionary to China and most of the action takes place in (a movie back lot that is supposed to be) China. Excellent characters; both good and bad people. The only flaw might be that the priest played by Peck seems almost too good to be true. But then again, I've known such men. If you like swordplay, guns, and things blowing up, this isn't your film (though it has some of those things). But if you like a good story, lovingly told, you'll like this film.

...and to you I give the Keys of the Kingdom, as they say in Latin--though Christ was speaking Aramaic when He made this promise to Simon Peter.

And there are similarities, I suppose, between Saint Peter and the priest played by Gregory Peck in this movie. Neither seem at the outset to be the stuff of sainthood: both roughhewn men, stumbling often as they try to follow Christ's teachings.

Peck plays a Scottish priest who is a missionary to China just before (and then during) the Revolution. His early life, as played by Roddy McDowell, is fraught with hardships and disappointments--he can never measure up to a fellow priest played by Vincent Price, who seems destined to be a shooting star in the hierarchy. But he finds a friend in the old bishop, played by Edmund Gwenn. Eventually Peck finds his way to China, and we see his struggles to carve out a parish mission there, until he is fortunate enough to gain a major patron who deeds him a large parcel of land. And so Peck lives his missionary life, surviving imperious sisters, natural disasters, civil war, and even a visit from Vincent Price. This is one of the pictures that used to make me cry, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that category. At last viewing, however, I did think that Peck was still too inexperienced to give the role his all, but "The Keys of the Kingdom" remains a good sentimental tearjerker about self-sacrifice and its higher rewards.

Along with "The Nun's Story" this has to be the best film made about religious faith and service. The film covers the life of Father Francis Chisholm (Gregory Peck), a Scottish priest, who by his own account is imperfect. By acknowleding his own imperfections he is willing to accept his differences with his fellow man. This mindset serves him well in his assignment as the head of a mission in China at the end of the 19th century. The Chinese are naturally suspicious of Westerners with their strange customs and religions and Father Chisholm's nature serves him well. Father Chisholm does not see his role as priest to erect large edifices or register converts. Rather, he sees his calling as to serve humanity as Christ did. In a way this film is light years ahead of it's time in it's promotion of ecumenism. Father Chisholm's work in China is a precedent for the work Mother Teresa did in Calcutta. In his film debut, Peck delivers probably the best work of his career. The role requires that he assay sixty years of a man's life and he does so remarkably. It's all the more impressive when you consider he was 28 at the time. Good supporting turns by Edmund Gwenn as Chisholm's kindly bishop, Thomas Mitchell as Chisholm's atheistic doctor friend, and Vincent Price as Chisholm's polar opposite in the priesthood.

'The Keys of the Kingdom' released in '44 is one of the great film classics from the "Golden Age" of Hollywood. This is a deeply spiritual and wonderfully inspiring movie that you're sure to respond emotionally to, so be sure to have a full box of kleenex on hand.

Gregory Peck is absolutely perfect in the starring role as Father Chisum, a humble, devote but highly unorthodox Catholic priest who can't seem to do anything right until he finally finds his calling in remote China. It is his honest nature and authentic love for the Chinese, not empty sermonizing, that little by little earns the love and trust of the community.

Director John M. Stahl's masterpiece contains some of the most expertly crafted black and white cinematograhy you'll ever see. Every landscape, every angle is a visual portrait of exquiste beauty. Also boasting a stellar cast of stars and a marvelous script, you'll certainly want to add this film to your DVD collection.

"I wonder why this movie isn't more famous. Very entertaining, and heart-warming. But so much more! I learned so much about myself and about life, watching this film.

I first read the book many years ago, and I read it again in 2006 which led me to find out about the movie. For my surprise, it had been edited in DVD format. I always remember my mother talking about how great this movie was. I have to acknowledge that. However, it is frustrating for me the gap between the original stories and movies. I am aware of how hard it is to adapt a book to make a movie. But why changing the story itself? Why not making a reduced version of the original story instead of altering it? This is the case with Keys of the Kingdom, Lord of the Rings, and countless others.

On the other hand, Gregory Peck performs great and transmits the spirit of the noble character that A. J. Cronin describes in his book. The story is a real example of Christianity, with no sectarianism, with an open mind and the desire to serve God beyond any partisanship. Also shows us the reality that often the real disciples of Christ are unnoticed, and exposes the irony of the fact that all those who are experts in the art of diplomacy and falseness are the ones who often reach privileged positions in the organisations.

With his mastery, A. J. Cronin give us a lesson that we should recall nowadays, and the movie succeeds transmitting the message.

This is a beautiful movie. Gregory Peck is so sincere in his portrayal. This movie makes my heart ache.