One Foot in Heaven (Warner Bros.) (1941)

A DISTINGUISHED EDITORIAL WORTHY OF LOCAL ATTENTION 2»>d>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OCTOBER 1941 THE ROOSEVELT— CHURCHILL STATEMENT HE Roosevelt-Churchill statement sets the goal for the free peoples. Its strength is in principles. It avoids the weaknesses of promises and particulars. It will be the constantly increasing purpose of the democracies. Whatever the dictators may say, the enslaved countries will see in this the dawn of hope. Beyond all partisanship, these eight points are the first blueprint of a world order, with liberty and justice for all. the President andg& those forces seeking to unite all gr actical plan to give form and body to the high pug@Ose of this statement. Already Chrispias presented a seven-point program that inclug@& the major elements of the RooseveltChurghifleclaration. “ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN” T IS estimated—and, we believe, reasonably—that more than sixteen million young Protestants see moving pictures every week. Seventy per cent of Christian Herald readers attend the movies at least occasionally, When a big motion picture producer decided to film the popular book, “One Foot in Heaven,” written by Hartzell Spence (the story of the author’s preacher-father’s life) they invited Christian Herald to collaborate to make this first major picture of a Protestant clergyman a true presentation of the Protestant ministry and worthy of the Protestant Church. Previously, representatives of the Roman Catholic faith had given similar assistance in the filming of “Knute Rockne,” “Boys Town,” and “Men of Boys Town.” Indeed, the Roman Catholic Church, through its League of Decency and other activities, has secured an enviable place of influence in moving pictures. With such an invitation before it, Christian Herald faced three alternatives: We could ignore the whole matter and treat pictures in general as though movies did not exist. Or we could refuse the invitation and assume a negative attitude entirely. We could attack the industry and indict the delinquencies of actors and producers. Here we would have enjoyed a ue ms wide field, with a wealth of material—nor would we have found ourselves alone. Or, finally, we could accept the invitation and make an earnest effort to render sixteen million young Protestants and mil-. lions of others a constructive service. Feeling that either the first or second alternative would be unworthy and essentially dishonest, we accepted the invitation. Five distinguished Protestant clergymen, with the writer, who was Christian Herald’s representative, became an advisory committee: Bishop James Edward Freeman, Washington, D. C. (chairman) Bishop Charles Wesley Flint, Syracuse, New Yor Dr. Edgar DeWitt Jones, Detroit, Michigan Dr. Charles E. Kerr, Tulsa, Oklahoma Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, New York City Dr. Peale was named as technical advisor to Warner Brothers. With the unanimous support of his official board, he spent eight weeks in Hollywood in constant attention to the details of the filming of “One Foot in Heaven.” He has rendered the Protestant Church and the American public a unique, distinguished service. And now when released early in November, the picture itself will be judged. We believe that it is a work of highest art in its field; that Frederic March, as the preacher, and Martha Scott, as the preacher’s wife, are perfectly cast, and with their associates give a full-sized, dynamic, profoundly moving portrayal. The presentation is vital, simple, rich with humor, and appealing to all ages and faiths. In the highest sense, it is a vivid portrayal of life with father and mother. The preacher himself is, first of all, a great human, with a love for God and for men, women and little children that never fails. He has the heroic proportions of the American pioneer. His faith is forever on the march. We believe that he will sweep the imagination and capture the heart of America. The producers and the cast have done their part with reverence, fidelity, courage, and without a single false note that the writer has been able to detect. They have given us a Protestant minister who believes that God is our Father, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord, that the Church is an agency both human and divine, and that at last it cannot fail. Christian Herald is proud to have a part in this achievement. May the box office returns justify those who have, at their own risk, invested more than a million dollars in this ‘unique production. May this verdict be so conclusive that “One Foot in Heaven” will become the first of a cycle and help usher in a new day of better pictures for America. Den fig EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reprints of this editorial are available at $4.00 per M. Order direct from ECONOMY NOVELTY & PRINTING CO. 20 225 WEST 39th STREET, NEW YORK CITY REPRINTS OF THIS EDITORIAL ARE AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION BY CHURCHES AND AFFILIATED GROUPS OR — BLOW UP FROM PRESS BOOK FOR DISPLAY IN APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS