In 1904 Ontario, Canada, medical student Fredric March (as William "Will" Spence) visits his fiancée's luxurious mansion and shares some startling news. He has decided not to become a doctor, as planned. During a sermon, Mr. March reveals he received the "call" (from Jesus Christ) to become a minister, instead. Pretty and dutiful Martha Scott (as Hope Morris) agrees to the change in March's plans. They are in love. The happy couple moves to a run-down parish in Iowa, after being warned the US state is "inhabited by nothing but rascals and cattle thieves." This is the first of several moves for March and his growing Yankee family...
This is a first-rate production, from producer Hal B. Wallis and the crew at Warner Bros. Due to it being episodic, the artful direction from Irving Rapper moves it along quite well. With fine photography by Charles Rosher, Mr. Rapper varies his shots well. He starts off simply, but watch as the direction will occasionally become arched and angular. There aren't as many "ceiling shots" as in the contemporary "Citizen Kane" (out earlier in 1941), but they similarly serve the lead character. There are some artfully picturesque moments, also, especially with young son Peter Caldwell. These are in some beautifully decorated location sets...
"One Foot in Heaven" is based on the memoir of Hartzell Spence, played by Mr. Caldwell as a boy and Frankie Thomas as a young man. This may be why he seems like the one supporting character, of many, who can move the story. There is something missing in March's character. We're told (not shown) that he received the "call" and we simply accept this, without knowing much about the lead character. That being said, the March's impersonation of the pastor is excellent. He helps carry us through the different scenarios involving a preacher's family and their life though World War I. There is a subtle message about World War II, also...
In one of the film's most memorable sequences, March fears Hartzell (Caldwell) is a bad role model; the boy sneaked into a movie theater. "A pastor's family walks a tightrope, balancing with one foot on earth and one foot already in Heaven," he says. Intending to show the wickedness of movie pleasure, March takes his son to see William S. Hart in "The Silent Man" (1917) and ends up enjoying himself. Later, teenager Hartzell (Thomas) is accused by gossipy Laura Hope Crews (as Mrs. Thurston) of impregnating a girl. Thomas finds preacher's sons have an amorous reputation; big sister Elisabeth Fraser (as Eileen) laments the opposite is true for a preacher's daughter...
Another memorable episode concerns a three month delay in naming the Spence family's third baby. March wants to name the boy "William Frazer" but Ms. Scott insists on "William Jr." With baptisms coming up, March gives in and agrees with his wife's suggestion. It looks like a great moment for women's equality, but pay attention to the christening scene. Scott's role as the slavish preacher's wife is a traditional one; she's one step removed from man and two steps removed from God. When a tragedy occurs at one of her homes. Scott seems most concerned about the fate of her new hat. A hat was that important back then, especially a lady's hat.
******* One Foot in Heaven (10/2/41) Irving Rapper ~ Fredric March, Martha Scott, Frankie Thomas, Peter Caldwell
This is a first-rate production, from producer Hal B. Wallis and the crew at Warner Bros. Due to it being episodic, the artful direction from Irving Rapper moves it along quite well. With fine photography by Charles Rosher, Mr. Rapper varies his shots well. He starts off simply, but watch as the direction will occasionally become arched and angular. There aren't as many "ceiling shots" as in the contemporary "Citizen Kane" (out earlier in 1941), but they similarly serve the lead character. There are some artfully picturesque moments, also, especially with young son Peter Caldwell. These are in some beautifully decorated location sets...
"One Foot in Heaven" is based on the memoir of Hartzell Spence, played by Mr. Caldwell as a boy and Frankie Thomas as a young man. This may be why he seems like the one supporting character, of many, who can move the story. There is something missing in March's character. We're told (not shown) that he received the "call" and we simply accept this, without knowing much about the lead character. That being said, the March's impersonation of the pastor is excellent. He helps carry us through the different scenarios involving a preacher's family and their life though World War I. There is a subtle message about World War II, also...
In one of the film's most memorable sequences, March fears Hartzell (Caldwell) is a bad role model; the boy sneaked into a movie theater. "A pastor's family walks a tightrope, balancing with one foot on earth and one foot already in Heaven," he says. Intending to show the wickedness of movie pleasure, March takes his son to see William S. Hart in "The Silent Man" (1917) and ends up enjoying himself. Later, teenager Hartzell (Thomas) is accused by gossipy Laura Hope Crews (as Mrs. Thurston) of impregnating a girl. Thomas finds preacher's sons have an amorous reputation; big sister Elisabeth Fraser (as Eileen) laments the opposite is true for a preacher's daughter...
Another memorable episode concerns a three month delay in naming the Spence family's third baby. March wants to name the boy "William Frazer" but Ms. Scott insists on "William Jr." With baptisms coming up, March gives in and agrees with his wife's suggestion. It looks like a great moment for women's equality, but pay attention to the christening scene. Scott's role as the slavish preacher's wife is a traditional one; she's one step removed from man and two steps removed from God. When a tragedy occurs at one of her homes. Scott seems most concerned about the fate of her new hat. A hat was that important back then, especially a lady's hat.
******* One Foot in Heaven (10/2/41) Irving Rapper ~ Fredric March, Martha Scott, Frankie Thomas, Peter Caldwell