Customer Reviews

Martin Luther

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the classic black and white movie on Luther's life, shown in nearly every Lutheran church basement! It takes the viewer from Luther's entry into the monastery to around 1530, when the Augsburg Confession was presented to the Emperor. For many years, this was the best film on Luther. Unlike Luther (1973, with Stacy Keach) which showed only Luther's struggles, this movie shows his triumphs and successes, and the support he had from others.
This DVD has several good features. Several languages are supported, Spanish, German, Korean, and a few others. Unfortunately, the film was not digitally remastered-- but the picture quality is still not that bad. An interesting documentary is included on how the movie was made and the reaction when it was shown. It also includes a slideshow of Luther sites.
This movie can't compare with the new movie (Luther, 2003 with Joseph Fiennes) as far as presentation is concerned. Yet it is still inspiring, and a faithful presentation of Luther's life.

For those who prefer your history acted out on the screen rather than read from a book, I highly recommend Martin Luther. The movie stays painstakingly close to the actual historical record (at least the record in Protestant history books). It begins with Luther as a young man studying for the legal profession and ends with him as the embodiment of the Protestant Reformation. The movie contains many details of his life, including his days as an Augustinian monk and his great struggles of faith. The story goes on to detail Luther's eye opening trip to Rome, the nailing of the 95 Theses, the Diet of Worms, his protective custody in the Wartburg Castle, a happy marriage to Katherine von Bora, his opposition to the Peasant's Revolt and almost every other major events of his life. The motion picture concludes with his best-known hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." All of the major characters are depicted from Eck and Melanchton to the drunk who purchased his indulgences in advance. For those of us who know the history, it is a joy to watch it portrayed. To those unfamiliar with the story, get ready for a quality history lesson. As a history lesson, please note that Luther is seen in the very best light. His courage, intellect, and passion are clearly portrayed. Yet like most human heroes, Luther had his dark side. His overreaction to the Peasant's Revolt, anti-Semitic views, and fondness for beer are not depicted in this script. Still the movie it is a quality portrayal of the life and times of Martin Luther.

As for entertainment value, this black and white film may seem too slow moving and lacking embellished for today's "hyper stimulated" movie audiences. "Patriot" or "Braveheart" it is not. When released in 1953 it received 2 Academy Award Nominations. I feel actor Niall MacGinnis has given us an outstanding portrayal of Martin Luther. I highly recommend the movie. Running time 1 hour and 43 minutes.

This movie was a well done, reasonably accurate, portrayal of Martin Luther. It touches upon most, but not all, the major areas of his life. It does a good job of showing how he went from law school, to Augustinian monk, to a pilgrimage to Rome, to protesting the excesses of the Vatican. It captures his stormy personality well. To get some historical insight, it is an excellent movie. It is not Terminator, no buggy chases or bow/sword fights. I doubt seriously if Hollywood could make a film like this today that actually told a story without adding excessive violence, sex, or somehow making him a new age evangelist...

I enjoyed this video. It doesn't paint either Martin Luther or the Catholic church as either a saint or a villain. It does show the corruption that all churches can sink to if they become self centered and self reliant. It also has a lot of insight into how believers should thoughtfully compare either their own life or current church practises with the scriptures.

The movie is consistent with written histories of Martin Luther and his times. It is rightfully an Academy Award Nominee, because the film is exceptionally moving and worthy as entertainment or education. The story explains the divide between Catholics and Protestants to any who are not sure, obviously from a Protestant perspective. Homeschoolers alert! Wonderful film.

This old, black and white movie comes to life with no need of color or pro-logic sound. It is the story of a monk who would one day change the future of Western Civilization.

Luther stands against all odds to profess his faith, and stand for freedom to believe, freedom to love, and freedom to com to God without mortal fear. This movie chronicles the life of Luther over time, and is very close to historical fact.

If you read "Here I Stand" or are a history fan in general, this is a good buy.

Church friends, including our pastor, invited me as a new congregant to watch this with them. Only afterwards I learned they had all seen it twice before, and just wanted to share again with each other and myself. It met their historically and theologically informed standards, but also moved me for its sincerity and many unforgettable moments of truth. Very fine understated acting, very emotional scenes, compelling . . . good to pair with a reading of the Luther biography by R. Bainton, "Here I Stand."

Simple and low-budget by today's standards, this black and white film still has its charms and a great deal of nostalgia for anyone who saw it in sunday school in the last few decades. Thomas Tappert (translator of the Book of Concord for Fortress Press) was a consultant for the film. Niall MacGinnis has some facial resemblance to Luther and plays him sounding a bit like Anthony Hopkins. I was surprised to hear his British accent at first but MacGinnis ends up being convincing. Much of the film follows a historical/chronological progression pattern ("a" happened, then "b," then "c," etc.) and is sometimes too intent on being a pious history lesson rather than a fascinating drama. It could have spent more time on the more human aspects of Luther - his love of music and family, his personal spiritual struggle which led to his insights, etc. You can almost see the producers making sure that the script ensured years of rentals from churches and sunday schools. I'm not complaining too much, though. I am Lutheran and love having a filmed life of one of my heroes on dvd. I have a feeling that this may make the rounds of sunday schools again now that it is on dvd. And that is just fine with me.

Originally, I saw this film on PBS years ago, and recently in a College Bible class on the Reformation. I just had to have it! Although an older black and white BBC film, this video reflects the intensity and sincerity of Luther. The British are natural actors, so there is no amateur stuff here. You will see where a salvation by works Catholic monk finds true salvation through Christ: "The just shall live by faith." Highly recommended!

I like this movie a lot, and I am not a Lutherean. It seems to me a very nice movie about how Christians would normally act given the situation. I puzzled over the last reviewers review, and why he seems to think this is a hero worshiship movie or something, and think I have come to the crust of the difference. Not everyone feels that this is the normal, God given way to act, and therefore specutacular. I disagree.

For me, it is a good heart warming movie. It clearly differentiates the differences between the Christian and catholic faiths, and while I believe there are some problems with Luther's doctrines, none of that is in the movie, therefore, it leads no one astray. I believe any non-catholic would enjoy this movie, because what it does emphasis is common to all Christians.

FYI: I found out recently that this movie was sucessfully banned by the Catholic church from airing on television in Chicago when it first came out.