The Promise

Oh, dear such a low scoring rating, which is a bit unfair as the rating is given by adults for a mid-teenage film. For today's viewers it is more of a curiosity piece but it really did reflect how a significant number of people felt at the time. It was aimed at teenagers as they were settling on their religious beliefs as a choice and not as a given.

It is good see some familiar faces popping up and they must have given their time for minimal rates as they were doing it for something they believed in. Thora Hird in particular went onto do years of religious based programmes, whether comedic or serious, and her genuine interest stood her in good stead.

More a Sunday school lecture than an actual film and thankfully free of the brashness that characterises the American model, 'The Promise' marked the beginning of the final phase of Norman Walker's career as a director making cinematic Sunday school presentations for his company G. H. W. Productions.

Within its budgetary limitations it does a satisfactory job in its depiction of the Nativity, done in an understated thoroughly British manner, with palpable sincerity and with a quietly dignified leading performance by Edward Underdown as the prison visitor continually being reminded how popular his successor was.