Customer Reviews

The Left Hand Of God

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

 

 

This is one of the good ones. Moviegoers who are not traditionally devout, who find no comfort in organized religion, often find they can't stand movies with any religious content. This is a good one, though. Humphrey Bogart plays an American pilot who has found he has only one way to escape the Chinese warlord (Lee J. Cobb? LEE J. COBB? Yeah, really!) who has practically owned him for years. Rent it first, if you like: this is one of the good ones, though.

I first saw this movie as a kid when it was first released. I have seen it a number of times since then and always enjoy it. Is the casting a little 'off'? Certainly! Is the idea of Bogart as a priest somewhat strange? Absolutely! But does he play the role well? Yes! Is Lee J. Cobb amusing as a Chinese Warlord? Indeed! Is his make-up exaggerated? Yes, beyond belief!!! But again, does he play his role well? Yes! And the others, do they play their roles well? No question! I read the reviews posted here and find that what others say is true - but - this is still an entertaining film, reasonably well acted, and has a superb cast. This is not a movie to be dismissed. It stands the test of time and it stands up to be reseeing. I whole heartedly recommend it to everyone.

I first saw this movie in my Cinema and Theater Class when I was pursuing my AA degree. It was an eye opener for me since this was not one of HB's well known movies. Like the movie "Sahara", this is one that you would want to keep in your library. But when will it go digital? Do I have to go to HK or SOKOR to get a digital copy?

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation presents "THE LEFT HAND OF GOD" (1955 87 min/Color -- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Gene Tierney, Lee J. Cobb, Agnes Moorehead, E. G. Marshall, Jean Porter & Carl Benton Reid

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

Bogart plays Jim Carmody, an American soldier of fortune who, after crashing his plane in China, takes up with the Chinese warlord General Yang (Lee J. Cobb). Jim becomes Yang's adviser, but after watching one of the General's flunkies brutally kill a priest, Jim decides to leave. Unfortunately, Yang has declared that any deserter will be shot. Disguising himself as the slain priest, Jim sneaks out of the General's headquarters and makes his way to a mountain village where missionaries Beryl (Agnes Moorehead) and David (E.G. Marshall) take him in. Jim still is posing as the priest but his vows of celibacy are challenged when he falls in love with the attractive mission nurse Anne Scott (Gene Tierney).

Great cast and direction, with a beautiful score by composer Victor Young.

BIOS:
1. Edward Dmytryk (Director)
Date of birth: 4 September 1908 - Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
Date of death: 1 July 1999 - Encino, California

2. Humphrey Bogart
Date of Birth: 25 December 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 14 January 1957 - Los Angeles, California

3. Gene Tierney
Date of Birth: 19 November 1920 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 6 November 1991 - Houston, Texas

4. Lee J. Cobb [aka: Leo Jacoby]
Date of Birth: 8 December 1911 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 11 February 1976 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

5. Agnes Moorehead
Date of Birth: 6 December 1900 - Clinton, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 30 April 1974 - Rochester, Minnesota

6. E.G. Marshall [aka: Everett Eugene Grunz]
Date of Birth: 18 June 1914 - Owatonna, Minnesota
Date of Death: 24 August 1998 - Bedford, New York

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 87 min on VHS ~ Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation ~ (November 16, 1989)

I always wondered why this movie is virtually forgotten. The story is leisurely but interesting, the supporting cast superb (Gene Tierney, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Agnes Moorehead), the director well regarded (Edward Dymytryk), the China (or faux China?) scenery beautifully filmed in Technicolor and CinemaScope, and not least the novelty of Humphrey Bogart playing a Catholic priest. I've always chalked up the lack of a DVD release to the usual conflict over rights or some other legal matter. A couple of years ago I was able to tape it off the FOX Movie Channel and finally experienced the film in all it's CinemaScopic grandeur. The earlier legitimate VHS was cropped and the picture quality just passable. I felt confident that the TV broadcast was a harbinger of a release to come. Sadly a Region 1 DVD has yet to surface, which brings us to this Spanish import, which is Region 2 PAL and requires an all-region player to view. When the 20th CENTURY FOX logo appeared ,in perfect Technicolor AND the correct aspect ratio, I was psyched, to say the least. Unfortunately, this euphoria only lasted to the end of the credits, as said perfect CinemaScope widened to fill the entire screen in the standard 1.85:1 aspect ratio (the case states it's 1.78:1). The soundtrack is excellent, and the picture is spotless, but definition is "soft" with somewhat faded colours, probably due to the ratio expansion. By no means terrible, but a sad and disappointing experience, none the less. For fans of THE LEFT HAND OF GOD, or those curious, the wait for a properly transferred Region 1 DVD continues......

GOOD NEWS UPDATE (07-13-2011): There is another LEGITIMATE REGION 2 release available from Germany, "DIE LINKE HAND GOTTES", that is in the correct CinemaScope aspect ratio! I've posted a picture of it on the Main Product page. Check out the review on the DVD Beaver site (which I highly recommend for their great reviews and screen shot comparisons, especially for Blu-Rays, they've saved me from wasting my hard earned dollars numerous times!). I purchased it from Amazon.de (Germany), and it came to $30 total, the DVD is reasonable, but the postage was 14 euros!
This flawed Spanish edition costs the same anyway, so it's worth it for a fan. If anyone can find it cheaper, leave a Comment here......

The movie does not quite follow the book however the basic script is Jim Carmody (Bogart) is a downed flier that was recruited by a Chinese warlord Mieh Yang (Lee J. Cob). In reality he was a prisoner placed in command with out authority. His only goal in life is to escape at any cost. Anne Scott (Gene Tierney) is a mission nurse in a Catholic village waiting for a replacement priest. Seems that priests do not have very strong constitutions. Naturally through a series of events Bogie turns up as the priest and has to confront the waiting village, handle his feeling for the nurse, who has strong feelings for him, and later the wrath of the warlord.
What makes the movie great is not the outline of the story, but the acting and the unique way each situation is handled. I do not want to go into details so you can be surprised. I will say that I like church sexton's (Victor Sen Yung) retelling of the tale of the confutation between the priest and the warlord.

This is one of my mother's favorite movies, and she's been bugging us to get her the DVD of it. We made her a DVD from the download, but it's not the same thing. Please, Fox archives, put it out on DVD so she'll leave me alone!

The last time I saw this film was on a dusty VHS tape. The pan & scan print was faded-looking. Now I see it's available -- on Region 4 -- in Spain.

This near forgotten Bogart classic is set in 1947 WWII China. Bogart's portrayal of Father O'Shea is not what you might expect. This is, surprisingly, a mostly quiet, understated film whose main strengths are in character and story development which deals with circumstantial moral issues -- no big explosions every ten minutes.

This is a leisurely, thoughtful film -- one which bears up to repeated viewings. It has a good story, told well by good actors. Why this film hasn't come to Region 1 on DVD is one of those mysteries. So, hey, Fox -- please.

Recommended.

I first caught this movie on cable a few years ago and it is well worth the watch. I'm surprised that it is not out on DVD as almost all of Bogart's movies are. Rent it if you can and watch it you can. You won't be disappointed. The cast is great and their acting is also great. Even if you don't like organized religion, this is still a good movie. It really doesn't focus that much on religion, but instead centers on Bogart's character as he comes to a realization about his life as he tries to outwit a Chinese warlord, and inadvertently helps of bunch of poverty stricken people.

I have been looking for this movie for many years. Tape was received in excellent shape and I have enjoyed seeing the movie again after about 51 years.