Truly Dreadful Film

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Without going into storyline details, this 1944 title is uncannily similar to the story events of the later "Inn of the Sixth Happiness", produced in 1958. What is baffling is that the "..Sixth Happiness" movie is claimed to be the biographical account of Gladys Aylward; yet it seems to be "Keys of the Kingdom" in new clothes. Story similarities: (1) unlikely missionary called to China (2) must build their mission with few resources (3) wins favor of local provincial leader (4) starts a children's home (5) caught in the middle of the Chinese civil war (6) humble servant, recognized for a lifetime of service.I have looked online for a comparison of these two titles, without results but I believe the storyline must have emerged from the same source. I recommend watching both, then draw your own conclusions.

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM covers traditional A.J. Cronin material with warmth and simplicity--the story of an idealistic, compassionate priest who has to struggle against the sins of mankind in order to make his mark in the world.GREGORY PECK is more convincing as the young Father Chisholm than he is in his aged make-up, but this was only his second film and he does a commendable overall job as the earnest priest sent as a missionary to China during troubled times. A striking performance is given by the Mother Superior, Austrian actress ROSE STRADNER, who made only a few films. She distrusts him at first but gradually becomes his best confidante and close friend.THOMAS MITCHELL is fine as Peck's self-styled atheist doctor friend and VINCENT PRICE is effective as a successful fellow priest who puts ambition ahead of godliness.It is clear that Fox put all of its production finesse behind the making of the film, ensuring that it was cast with highly professional actors who would provide a fitting supporting cast for Peck, who was being showcased as the hottest new star discovery of the '40s. The Chinese are played by real Asians rather than Hollywood character actors made up to look Oriental and this is a big plus in creating the necessary realism.The running time of two hours and ten minutes can be a little too much at times, but then--when did A.J. Cronin ever write a tale that didn't take less than two hours to put on screen, especially one that covers a man's lifetime.Summing up: Respectable film but cannot avoid the sentimentality that weakens the film's ending. Nice job of direction by John M. Stahl.

The trailer for "The Keys of the Kingdom" compares the 1944 film to the prior classics "Goodbye Mr. Chips" and "How Green Was My Valley," and the comparisons are apt. Like the two earlier films, "The Keys of the Kingdom" is the narrated story of a man's life with present-day scenes as bookends. All three films follow ordinary men who leave indelible legacies, but fail to grasp the worth of their own accomplishments. While Mr. Chips is an English teacher and young Huw Morgan is a Welsh miner's son, Father Francis Chisholm is a Scottish missionary priest in China.In this well written adaptation of the A. J. Cronin novel by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Nunnally Johnson, Gregory Peck underplays the role of Francis Chisholm effectively and with the solid dignity that distinguished Peck's long career. In only his second screen role, Peck is a Christ-like figure who accepts people as they are, which puts him at odds with the dogmatic bureaucrats that run his church. Vincent Price is colorful as Angus Mealy, an ambitious fellow priest who puts personal advancement above godliness, and Thomas Mitchell is equally fine as Willie Tulloch, a doctor who puts his service to humanity above religion. Besides Price and Mitchell, the film has a rich cast of such other outstanding character players as Edmund Gwen, Anne Revere, Cedric Hardwick, Sara Allgood, Benson Fong, and Roddy McDowall. Each of these fine performers makes even the smallest role memorable. While Rose Stradner is fine as the Reverend Mother, the film treads a delicate line with its subtle hint at a love story between her and Father Chisholm. Perhaps there was an underlying attraction between the two that went beyond mere friendship, but, if so, that was daring territory to explore during the 1940's.While "Keys of the Kingdom" runs more than two hours, the engrossing story should hold the attention of viewers who loved "How Green Was My Valley" and "Goodbye Mr. Chips." The film provides an emotional payoff that equals those in the earlier films, and damp eyes and a sniffle or two will likely affect even the hardest hearts. While at times sentimental in the best sense of the word, "The Keys of the Kingdom" also has an important message of acceptance that is particularly relevant today. Father Chisholm does not criticize "heathens" or "atheists," but rather respects their points of view and loves them for their good deeds regardless of their philosophies. When one of Chisholm's non-believer friends lays dying, the priest does not pressure him to convert on his deathbed, and the dying man thanks his friend for his respect and for allowing him to die as he had lived. The film certainly makes a strong point when the kindest, most generous works were those done by the non-believers, the doctor and Mr. Chia, the Chinese landowner, while the most selfish individual was the self-serving social-climbing priest played by Vincent Price. Peck's acceptance of and offer of friendship to the Protestant missionaries was yet another example of the man's Christianity, which placed him at odds with his own church and did more to illustrate Christ's message than the bureaucratic church hierarchy that would not even send money to fund the mission and told him to convert people of means. Although there are a few slow stretches and the finished film is not the classic that its creators intended, "The Keys of the Kingdom" is rewarding and a showcase for a young Gregory Peck, who was poised at the dawn of his stardom.

I first saw this movie some 35 years ago. It is a brilliant move that goes to the heart of showing the difference between a spiritual relationship and religion. It covers clearly so many ethical issues of life.While the name of the movie may not in itself draw a person to watching it, it is nevertheless well worth watching. The entire cast of this movie was so well chosen that once seen in these roles it is hard to imagine them as playing any other part. Gregory Peck in the role of Father Francis Chisholm, Thomas Mitchell as Dr. Willie Tullock and Vincent Price as he Rev. Angus Mealey are a few examples of the excellent casting.A movie that promotes great introspection and a lot of tears