Customer Reviews

A Man Called Peter

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"A Man Called Peter" is an excellent depiction of the true life story of Peter Marshall, an immigrant Scotsman who rose to Chaplain of the U.S. Senate before his untimely death in 1949. Marshall was a real man who served our real God. The movie is very true, generally speakly, to Catherine Marshall's book by the same title.
The part of the movie that shows Catherine Marshall's alma mater, Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, was filmed on location. As a native of Decatur, Georgia, this movie had a huge impact on me. Especially since my mother had actually heard Peter Marshall preach and was greatly affected by his sermons.
Peter Marshall's message is ageless and inspiring. Young people who hear or read his sermons today feel as though Marshall is speaking to them just as he did to my mother's generation.

When I first popped this movie into the vcr, I expected a story of the apostle Peter. I had never heard of Peter Marshall. After being brought to tears by this movie, I had to have a copy for myself. This movie is not just the story of Peter Marshall, it is the story of how God works in all our lives if we let Him. You do not need to be a believer to watch this film, but I challenge you to not believe after watching it. This movie was produced at a time when Hollywood still put out good movies. If you want a film to show the family, that the kids can watch. I reccomend A Man Called Peter.

I picked this movie up during a slow time at the Local library. I was bored, I'd watched everything else, yada, yada, yada. I wasn't expecting too much when I started watching but I was pleasantly surprised to find this *sleeper* movie (I'd never heard of it before) was so endearing and carried such a powerful message.

Peter Marshall talked to God and about God as though He were Peter's best friend. The movie really brought this out. Very very inspiring.

After viewing the movie, I bought the book and there is a description there of Peter's passing (after he was rushed to the hospital) that is just beautiful.

Okay, a snippet. After he passed, Catherine (wife) sat beside Peter's body for a time, in the hospital room. She became aware of a presence in the room with her and it was made clear to her that Peter and someone else were there to help her through this difficult time. She said she almost didn't want to leave the room because she knew she was in the presence of divine love.

The movie is great but the book is even better.

Five stars for sure, and God bless Catherine for sharing her story with all the world through her prolific writings.

One of my all time favorite movies. I have seen it well over 50 times and am still moved at this wonderful true life story. Peter's call to the ministry is fabulous...his preaching is fabulous. I love the rally and Catherines speech. I also love the evidence of God's providence in His sermon to the cadets. If you're a Christian or even if you're not, and you long to see a good wholesome and entertaining movie...buy this one. You will be moved beyond belief. Wonderful picture...just wonderful.

This is the true story of the Reverand Peter Marshall. It begins in Scotland where he is called by God for a special mission. It goes to Georgia, where Peter meets & marries Agnes Scott College student Catherine Wood (This part of the movie was filmed on the ASC campus). Finally, the movie takes us to Washington DC, where Peter is the minister at the Church of the Presidents and becomes Chaplain of the US Senate. The movie showcases some of him most memorable sermons - like his sermon on marriage. This is a great film for everyone in the family.

Bravo to Richard Todd and Jean Peters and the rest of the ensemble of this beatiful, inspiring and superbly made film based on the book by Catherine Marshall. Where was the Academy of Motion Pictures when this film came out? Both Peters and Todd deserved nominations. The film certainly did (it is far better fair than most others nominated in 1955 for Best Picture)
See it and feel 100% better about life - and living

I am not usually the type to have a favorite movie but if I did have one this would be it (maybe one other one too but otherwise that is all). When I rented this from the video store and watched it I just knew I had to get it somehow. Then I finally tracked it down. It is wonderful!

I love the part at the start of the movie, seeing Peter's determination to make something out of his life. But I espcially love the story of how Peter and Catherine get together. I really think that he was a great man and I love how he really respects her for her thoughts and not her body. I wish everyone was like that.

I also loved his ideas- how he seemed to see Jesus as the rugged individual that He was, how he tried to reach out to everyone in the community at his or her level and how he had the guts to stand up for what he believed in and the perserverance to keep going. He is an inspiring character, worth emmulating in a world where heros are hard to find.

Hollywood has rarely made such inspirational films as this classic Twentieth Century Fox release from 1955. Based on a true story by Catherine Marshall (which is even more inspiring), this was a very fine production that quickly convinces the viewer of the sincerity and devotion of Peter Marshall.

Years ago, when NBC first nationally televised the film on its "Saturday Night At The Movies," this writer first thought the film might be about Simon Peter, one of Christ's apostles. It quickly became apparent that it was a more modern story about a man who also received a dramatic calling from God to serve in the ministry. In the film we do not hear the voice of God. Peter Marshall (1902-1949) was a young Scotsman returning home from night school in a heavy fog when he heard a man's voice calling his name repeatedly. He stopped and looked around, then discovered he had almost plunged to his death at the edge of a steep cliff. The film, in which British actor Richard Todd played Peter, shows that the young man quickly recognized that God wanted him to go into the ministry and that he would have to leave his beloved Scotland for America.

The movie is generally faithful to Catherine Marshall's book. It shows how Peter worked at some odd jobs until he was able to enter a seminary to prepare for the ministry, in the Presbyterian church. He first served at a small parish in Georgia and then went to a much larger church in Atlanta; it was there that the young Catherine first saw him, while she was a college student. She, along with many other young people, recognized that Peter Marshall was unlike other pastors. He clearly had a personal relationship with God and he was able to show how to live a God-centered life. The word spread and his church was soon filled to capacity with many others standing outside the church, listening to his inspiring sermons over loud speakers.

The film, like the book, is also a love story and shows how Peter and Catherine (portrayed by Jean Peters in her final film before she married Howard Hughes) came to know each other, fell in love, and were married. They then moved to Washington, D.C., where he became pastor at the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, often called "The Church of the Presidents." Indeed, as the film shows, Abraham Lincoln and his family worshipped at this church.

Peter had many progressive ideas and he challenged the church leaders in bringing the congregation into the twentieth century. The film shows how this was not an easy task. The results, of course, were quite dramatic and, once again, Peter faced a standing-room-only church with people standing outside. The church services were broadcast on radio and, in the late 1940's, they were also recorded on pioneering Ampex tape recording equipment (giving us today an opportunity to hear the voice of the real Peter Marshall, beginning with the historic Caedmon albums released in the 1950s).

One of the more memorable moments of the film shows Peter preaching at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on the morning of the attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At the last moment, Peter scrapped his sermon and preached a message which proved much more appropriate for the young men who would soon go off to war.

Following his wife's serious illness, from which she miraculously recovered, and his own heart attack, Peter was appointed chaplain of the U.S. Senate. As chaplain, he was asked to give the prayer at President Harry Truman's only inauguration, on January 20, 1949, which was the first to be televised. That event is not shown in the film, but Catherine mentions it in her book. Only a week after the inaugration, Peter was stricken again and, after saying "see you in the morning," he was taken to the hospital and never came home again.

The film was directed by Henry Koster, who had directed Fox's 1953 adaptation of the Lloyd Douglas novel "The Robe" (the first film released in CinemaScope), and the story was treated with remarkable respect. An added ingredient was the moving musical score by Fox's musical director, Alfred Newman, who also wrote the music for "The Robe." The film is not pretentious or overly sentimental; it is quite genuine and it gives a good idea of the remarkable Peter Marshall.

The only unanswered question, which has intrigued many of us, is why Peter died at the age of 46, in the midst of a very effective and powerful ministry. Catherine Marshall published many of her late husband's sermons and it's clear that they are still very relevant and very moving; they speak with a powerful voice that can still be a great help and inspiration. Fortunately, the movie includes excerpts from several of his sermons and, given Richard Todd's competent delivery, they again bring to life the words of one of the twentieth century's most memorable ministers.

An outstanding movie with uplifting characteristics. This is the story of a truly remarkable man and those who doubt the sencerity of this man ( and the movie ) do not know people who were exposed to Peter Marshall. This is a true classic with elevating overtones that should raise anyone's spirits.

I saw the movie when it first came out, and fell in love with it. It was heartwarming, inspiration and just made me cry. He was a man of God with a true inspiration for his calling. A few years ago I began writing Catherine, his wife. We never met but I feel we became friends. You cannot see this moving without coming away awe-inspired. Even though it is not a new release, it is a must see movie.