Daily Archives: October 29, 2015

Martin Luther
Directed by Irving Pichel
Written by Allan Sloane, Lothar Wolff, Theodore G. Tappert, and Jarolslav Pelican
1953/USA/West Germany
Louis de Rochemont Associates/Luther Filmgesellshaft/Lutheran Church in America/RD-DR Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying. — Martin Luther

The Lutheran Church spared no expense on this very well-made biopic of its founder.  I am in the wrong demographic to fully appreciate it and found it pretty dry.

The story takes place in the first part of the 16th Century when Europe was dominated by the twin powers of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope.  In his search for peace and salvation, Martin Luther (Niall McGinnis) quits law school to become an Augustinian monk. He is later ordained a priest and becomes a theological teacher and scholar at the University of Wittenberg.

During this period the Roman Catholic church commonly sold “indulgences” that would absolve the sinning purchaser from specified times in Purgatory.  Pope Leo had embarked on the very expensive project of constructing St. Peter’s in Rome.  To finance it, he created a kind of super indulgence that absolved the sinner of all heavenly penalty.  Luther became the most outspoken critic of this practice and posted his Ninety-Five Theses in protest.

This rebellion was appreciated neither by the Church nor the Emperor.  Luther was given an ultimatum to retract his writings and when he refused was excommunicated and declared an outlaw.  He received sanctuary in Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German.  After some years, Luther returned to the public stage and Lutheranism and Protestantism were born.

Niall McGinnis lays it on a bit thick at various points but this is basically a fine film.  The problem is that it is all too clearly an explication of Lutheran Church doctrine and its origins.  This gives the proceedings a solemn and ponderous tone and made the film drag badly for me.

Martin Luther was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Cintematography, Black and White and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and White.

Clip

War of the Worlds
Directed by Byron Haskin
Written by Barré Lyndon from the novel by H.G. Wells
1953/USA
Paramount Pictures
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Radio Reporter: All radio is dead, which means that these tape recordings I’m making are for the sake of future history – If any.[/box]

This is the epitome of early 50’s science fiction and a ton of fun.

The film begins with a voice over narration describing the plight of the Martians, whose planet is slowly dying.  They have started to cast a longing eye at Earth for resettlement.

A group of campers witnesses an object fall to earth.  Conveniently, one of them is world-reknowned scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry).  He goes to the site and meets Sylvia Van Buren, niece of the local preacher.  Forrester and Sylvia will be partners in terror for the remainder of the film.

It soon becomes evident that the falling object was not a meteorite.  It has deposited a large blob of red-hot molten material.  Firemen hang around to see that the fire it started is truly out.  They are amazed to see a kind of door open at the top of it.  Weird and scary things happen in quick succession.  Flying machines blast everything in sight.  The armed forces can do nothing to stop the destruction, which we learn is happening at several locations world wide.

Forrester and Sylvia seek refuge in a farmhouse but are searched out by the aliens. Forrester manages to nab one outside its machine and to slay it.  This produces a blood sample and the pair head back to civilization to help in the search for a way to stop the carnage.  An atomic bomb is powerless against the Martians.  It looks like the Earth is doomed and human nature begins to show its ugly face as people fight to be first in line for evacuation of Los Angeles.

This movie has it all: B movie actors at their best; awesome 50’s special effects; and glimpses of scary aliens.  The film is less than 90 minutes and is tautly and suspensefully written. It is a classic of its genre.   Recommended.

War of the Worlds won the Academy Award for Best Effects, Special Effects.  It was nominated in the categories of Best Sound, Recording and Best Film Editing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9T9f3UbGuo

Trailer