L'affaire Colson

Charles Colson who was perhaps the sleaziest of all of the members of Richard Nixons core of Watergate gang members is portrayed here by Dean Jones most widely known for his many roles in Disney films. Much of this film deals with Colsons conversion as a born again Christian. The actual Watergate activities are only touched on. If you're looking for a film about the Watergate scandal this isn't one of the better ones. Dean turns in an admirable performance but yet doesn't come off well as a person of Colsons character, which for the most part was that of a villain. Any one who knows of the Watergate affair and knew of Charles Colson will look upon this story with a bit of skepticism over his claim to have become a born again Christian when the heat was suddenly turned up on him . Those who are deep into the Christian message will no doubt enjoy this film as it is pretty much a commercial for becoming `Born Again'

A strange companion piece to 'All the President's Men' that falls into two halves defined by the presence in supporting roles initially of Jay Robinson as Jewish athiest lawyer David Shapiro, who Colson befriends on the way to the White House; and then Raymond St. Jacques as a streetwise dude who takes Colson under his wing in prison. (Seen today, what Charles W. Colson actually did to be sentenced in 1973 to 1 to 3 in the slammer is far less clear to audiences than it would have seemed forty years ago.)

Directed by eighty year-old veteran Irving Rapper, it strongly resembles one of Billy Graham's World Wide Pictures of the fifties, complete with appropriate music and title song by veteran composer Les Baxter (fresh from 'Switchblade Sisters'), and like the earlier films has a superficially glossy veneer aided by familiar faces in the cast led by Disney regular Dean Jones and the radiant Anne Francis as his wife (in fact Colson's second wife, which the film doesn't tell us).

The Reverend Graham is actually billed eight in the credits on the strength of a brief clip of him addressing one of his crusades at Madison Square Gardens, and as in his fifties films embracing Jesus is depicted as an act of rebellion requiring an uphill path.

I decided to watch "Born Again" after my friend Angelo found it for me on YouTube...and he knew I adored the work of Dana Andrews....who appears in this film. I also was thrilled to see George Brent in the movie...well after his career seemed to have ended in 1960. Thanks Angelo...I appreciate it for sending me the link to the picture.

This film is about Chuck Colson, a White House staffer who was convicted for his part in the Watergate coverup. It mostly concerns his life after this conviction...his life in prison and his religious conversion. But it also touches a bit on his involvement in Watergate as well as his life post-prison. Not surprisingly, Dean Jones plays the man, as Jones had long been very open and vocal about his conversion.

This film is aimed primarily at Christians and not other viewers. It's not that others might not appreciate the film, but its strong religious message is one you'll either appreciate or hate. I noticed a review that was very negative about the Christian message...obviously the film wasn't aimed at them. This is NOT meant as an insult...the film is just one that is self-selecting.

So is it well made? Very much so. It has an awfully good cast and is a nice drama. How TRUE it all is...well, who knows?! Was Colson sincere, was his involvement in Watergate greater than the film shows, and many other questions I cannot answer. But it is a well made film and seemed to sum up his later life well.

Spiritual awakenings and conversions are probably the most difficult subjects to effectively portray on screen. And much as I have enjoyed many of Dean Jones' performances down through the years, I can't say that he made Colson's conversion dramatically credible to me. I realize that this movie was not intended to tell the story of Watergate, yet in all honesty this chapter of Colson's life really doesn't make any sense except in the context of Watergate.

The movie's heart is in the right place but when it's all said and done, that's not enough reason to spend two hours of your life watching mediocrity.

I had to laugh at the comment from 2002 which seemed to say that (1) Colson's pre-Christian life was sleazy, so (2) therefore, his post-conversion life was not to be taken seriously. Our correspondent from Maine could not have missed the point any more completely than that. But for someone who evidently despises the "Born Again bunch" I suppose it is not surprising.

Was Charles Colson's conversion to Christianity something you believed in? I do. Charles felt hollow once news reports began to surface about his involvement in the Ellsberg break-in and the Watergate affair. He chose to follow in his client's footsteps after witnessing how Christianity gave him a sense of serenity. I believe he did all the necessary things to carry out his conversion: he asked those he hurt for forgiveness, he confessed his sins, and he showed love for his neighbors. Many seemed to think he was feeding himself to the wolves by making the choice he did, but Colson understood that in order to make amends with God, he had to obey his commands. Sadly, his candor had repercussions, but it also made him a better person. He was also successful in converting a lot of other people.