John Wesley

Another sober Sunday school lecture at the behest of J. Arthur Rank (in co-operation with The Radio and Film Commission of the Methodist Church) from the director of 'The Great Mr Handel'.

Like the earlier film garnished with sumptuous colour photography, with plenty of familiar faces in wigs and with an authoritative performance in the title role by Leonard Sachs, it passes the time engrossingly enough.

Surely John Wesley's life and career were more interesting than this! Leaden dialog, stolid acting, cheap sets, unimaginative direction - if you're not already a Methodist (and I grew up in that faith), I can't imagine this film inspiring anyone even to consider becoming one. There is also an almost complete lack of humor. One scene, involving a priest and two wealthy parishioners complaining about Wesley's zealous preaching, shows signs of trying to be mildly amusing, but it doesn't work. Wesley himself may not have been a laugh riot, but anything would have been welcome to relieve the endless sanctimony. An intelligent, balanced, human film about Wesley is still needed.

Overall this is a reasonably good film about. It has some interesting and even informative scenes showing some of Wesley's preaching, some real cinematic scenes - e.g. when the young Wesley is rescued from a burning building (and true too) - and even a couple of amusing scenes (e.g. when Wesley upsets some clergy with his preaching)

Note: this is an old film (let's just say that the dialogue isn't incredibly exciting), and probably isn't best to be watched purely for entertainment. Best to watch this if you're a Methodist or any Christian who want to learn about Wesley and do so in a fun way! A reasonably good film.

Also, I recommend this film just for Leonard Sach's acting. He plays the part of Wesley very well and carries off the lines authentically.

It represents a reasonable source about life and work of John Wesley, especialy in the case of members of not new Protestant denomination.

It is fair and poetic, that poetry of old fashion Sunday school films and Leonard Sach propose a more than decent portrait of Wesley.

Not the most inspired dialogue but the basic purpose of film can be a good excuse but nice use of Wesley writings.

So, image of a man of faith and his influence, inner battles, preaches and relation with the people near him.

I love this film! Major studio productions of the lives of Christians are often inaccurate and painful to watch. This isn't.

Wesley is not most famous simply for founding Methodism - rather, his claim to fame is as a powerful revivalist and evangelist. Like Whitefield, Finney, Moody and the like he was greatly used by God to bring challenge, salvation and blessing to thousands of lost souls.

The scriptwriter Lawrence Barrett had an invaluable source for his material - Wesley's own published journal. Many Christian viewers will recognise the scenes in the film - using word-for-word reproductions from Wesley's own recollections.

I was moved to tears during two of the scenes depicted - one when Wesley was a member of a congregation in a chapel and a later one involving the resolution of an earlier issue concerning a highwayman. In contrast there was a hilarious scene involving the reaction of some church members to one of his sermons (the reference "riff-raff" may identify this for you if you've seen the picture!).

If you are a Bible-believing Christian I would heartily recommend this film to you, and I thank God for those responsible for its production for not compromising or watering down the gospel.