The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)

A marvelous spectacle spanning six decades and two continents, The Keys of the Kingdom is the glorious epic that introduced audiences to screen newcomer Gregory Peck.

After losing his parents and his childhood sweetheart to tragedy, Francis Chisholm (Peck) joins the priesthood and devotes himself to a life of service and compassion. But Chisholm?s unorthodox beliefs raise eyebrows among his superiors, especially Bishop Angus Mealy (Vincent Price). And when he is sent to the farthest reaches of China to rebuild an abandoned mission, Chisholm faces his greatest challenge of all: to tame a hostile land, win over a superstitious people and save his parish from an invading army. Nominated* for four Academy Awards®, including Best Actor (Peck), The Keys of the Kingdom is a ?towering film stamped with greatness? (The Independent).

'Keys' to Inspiration

Truly inspiring, the film's merits are mostly propelled by an early and acclaimed performance by Gregory Peck who plays a hapless Scottish priest going to China as a missionary. Facing scorn, revolution, and poverty, Fr. Francis Chisholm leads his new flock by gentle wisdom and perseverence. Overlong even with some heartwarming and important episodic developments, the film remains a substantative viewing experience. (Includes Vincent Price and a young Roddy McDowell as the boy Francis Chisholm. Also a winner of several Oscars and nominations.) December 11, 2008

Wishing

Gregory Peck, the supposedly inept priest becomes the kindly Christ-like spiritual shepherd to a group of Chinese peasants and is finally recognized for what he is in the last reel. It's a familiar formula, one Ingrid Bergman did with a larger screen, and color to boot, in "Inn of the Sixth Happiness." They are wholesome, they are touching, they even bring a tear to the eye. But unfortunately they are so predictable. Hollywood has always gone for the wholesome and the touching and the spiritually uplifting, knowing perhaps that audiences wouldn't buy any other product. I, for one, would like to see a little more tension in the story, a little more ambiguity, a priest who isn't quite so sure of himself, a congregation that maintains a healthy skepticism about its shepherd, even as it hungers for the real article so rarely encountered, and too often punished and destroyed when discovered. I remember one such film: Humphrey Bogart playing a bogus priest on the lam in China, forced to enact the real thing in spite of himself. "The Left Hand of God" peaked my curiosity and left an impression. But that was so many years ago, memory may be deceiving me. I just wish it was available on DVD for me to see again. It may be no better than the rest, but it's nice to think about the possibility.

Meanwhile, if you like wholesome and uplifting and the story of a good man who manages not only to stay good but helps a whole bunch of people who obviously need helping, "The Keys of the Kingdom" is a safe bet. You'll like it. I did. But I still wish..... October 12, 2008

a great story well told

A man who has to struggle through life, not realizing how much his struggles enrich those around him. Well acted, one of those "old classics that they don't make anymore." October 10, 2008

Excellent film for the whole Catholic family

An excellent movie for a Catholic family. Gregory Peck's "unorthodox beliefs" are petty issues, not having to do with Church dogma, etc... and it's basically pitting a humble, Saintly man against Church leaders who are only interested in "numbers" of converts and their own rise to power. So I think a more accurate description would be that THEY were unorthodox, not this lovely, humble priest.

It's the story of a priest who has a really hard time with the people he has come to convert and help: How hard it is to be accepted by them, and the way that God works through him and them to change the hearts of the people, the people who become so dear to this wonderful priest in the end. A really uplifting, wonderful story that I highly recommend.

Some notes for parents: there are obvious cultural issues in China that are dealt with, nothing major, but there is a difference in religions. Some classic war scenes, nothing obnoxious or obvious but they are there, and during one the priest actually joins in to defend. There are lower Church officials shown in a negative way, although there are plenty shown positively too, so I would say that's a fair depiction. There is a mention of the story of a young lady who makes the wrong choices in life and has a child out of it, who then passes away. Those are the things I can think of off the top of my head. All of these are minor things and I suggest that you watch the movie with the entire family. Like many classic films, even when dealing with some harsh issues they don't elaborate on them; and the little ones don't quite catch them. October 6, 2008

Keys of the Kingdom

Gregory Peck's 1st movie and a chance to see a young Vincent Price not in a horror role. An excellent family movie, worth watching many times. September 21, 2008

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