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Review: The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
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Rockinghorse Winner
May 24, 2012, 12:48:27 AM5/24/12
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This Selznick produced Gregory Peck vehicle provides some wonderful dialog
and superb acting. Unfortunately the pic suffers from outdated, stereotypical
depictions of Chinese people, and an unquestioning admiration for the 'white
man's burden,' particularly where this burden involves evangelism among
non-Christian peoples.
The tale is told in retrospect. The opening scene, of the elderly missionary
at the end of his wanderings, features a wonderfully made up Gregory Peck
(who was in his 20's when this movie was made). From there, the picture
tells his story in flashback from his youth and the loss of his parents, to
his entry into the priesthood and hence to China to do missionary work.
There is a superb supporting cast for Peck, who is as usual wonderful in the
leading role. Thomas Mitchell is very effective as the best friend, an
atheist. Rose Stradner, as the Mother Superior is very good also - and her
final scene with Peck's character is so understated and yet emotional.
However, the greatest praise, IMHO goes to Edmund Gwenn, one of the great
character actors, playing Peck's Bishop. You may remember him as Kris
Kringle in 'Miracle on 34th Street.' His fatherly, loving portrayal is one
of the great movie performances, IMO, and the lynch pin of the movie. It is
this character that provides the connecting thread through the whole film,
as he looms over the priest's life.
The rest of the cast is rounded out with Vincent Price and a very young
Roddy Mcdowell.
Quote from the film:
As Peck's and Mitchell's characters oversee the torching of a village
in order to cremate the remains of a Chinese bombardment, Mitchell turns to
Peck and says, 'Can hell be any worse than this?'
Terry
--
"For I would ride with you upon the wind, |/
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, |/ Gentoo Linux
And dance upon the mountains like a flame." |/
-Yeats |/
and superb acting. Unfortunately the pic suffers from outdated, stereotypical
depictions of Chinese people, and an unquestioning admiration for the 'white
man's burden,' particularly where this burden involves evangelism among
non-Christian peoples.
The tale is told in retrospect. The opening scene, of the elderly missionary
at the end of his wanderings, features a wonderfully made up Gregory Peck
(who was in his 20's when this movie was made). From there, the picture
tells his story in flashback from his youth and the loss of his parents, to
his entry into the priesthood and hence to China to do missionary work.
There is a superb supporting cast for Peck, who is as usual wonderful in the
leading role. Thomas Mitchell is very effective as the best friend, an
atheist. Rose Stradner, as the Mother Superior is very good also - and her
final scene with Peck's character is so understated and yet emotional.
However, the greatest praise, IMHO goes to Edmund Gwenn, one of the great
character actors, playing Peck's Bishop. You may remember him as Kris
Kringle in 'Miracle on 34th Street.' His fatherly, loving portrayal is one
of the great movie performances, IMO, and the lynch pin of the movie. It is
this character that provides the connecting thread through the whole film,
as he looms over the priest's life.
The rest of the cast is rounded out with Vincent Price and a very young
Roddy Mcdowell.
Quote from the film:
As Peck's and Mitchell's characters oversee the torching of a village
in order to cremate the remains of a Chinese bombardment, Mitchell turns to
Peck and says, 'Can hell be any worse than this?'
Terry
--
"For I would ride with you upon the wind, |/
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, |/ Gentoo Linux
And dance upon the mountains like a flame." |/
-Yeats |/
Madara0806
May 24, 2012, 3:22:48 PM5/24/12
to
film set in that era, in which the Chinese characters go all Eagle's
Claw or Dragon Fist on occupying Japs or greedy white devils. Just to,
y'know, balance things out.
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