The Twinkle in God's Eye

This film is somewhat of s hidden gem. I serendipitously happened upon it while searching YouTube for an old movie to comfort me on a particularly cold evening. I wont be placing any onus on storyline. Viewers can judge a film for themselves by simply watching them without the prejudice of subjective review. It's an Independent (Republic) Film. Standard Western fare, Produced by Mr. Rooney himself. It has fantasic production values and alot of good humour. One early scene, Rooney's rookie preacher walks into a town bar and is cordially invited by locals for a free drink. He asks for milk. It's old school funny but hey it's an old school film...top cast...a genuine little gem. Reviews and ratings is cyberspace can be cruel. It's more a reflection of modern humanity than the quality of this lovely, black and white, 1955 production, which is one that i am so happy to have found. Mickey Rooney was a masterful performer. His character and star quality shines very brightly here. Im clearly a fan...however...if this film were anything other than what this review purports, i wouldn't be doing anyone reading this review, or the film itself any service.

In its last years Republic Pictures after losing its biggest asset John Wayne did a number of interesting films to try and keep the studio going. One of them was this film, The Twinkle In God's Eye. It's the story of a newly minted minister wanting to take up where his deceased father left off and rebuild his church in the western town of Lodestone.

The casting is a bit unusual with Mickey Rooney, a bit old to play the idealistic young minister, but still giving a decent performance as the idealistic if a big ingenuous lead.

His biggest foe in the town is Hugh O'Brian saloon owner who sees a church cutting in on his business. Rooney wants to build his church on a hill above O'Brian's saloon and O'Brian even offers him money to go somewhere else in the town. But that's where Dad built his church and where Dad was killed. On that he's firm.

Rooney is a George Bailey type hero who in the end realizes just how much of an impact he's had on the people of Lodestone just as Bailey's impact is on Bedford Falls. His biggest impact might just be on Coleen Gray individually who is paralyzed as a result of a fall from a horse, but now won't give up. And life takes a funny old bounce for Hugh O'Brian in that he gets all he wants and more.

In fact everyone gets what they want and/or deserve in The Twinkle In God's Eye including the audience for this film.

While this is pretty standard 50s western fare, it allowed Mickey Rooney to try a characterization somewhat different from his more exaggerated portrayals in the Andy Hardy series or in comedies such as The Atomic Kid. I am not a fan of westerns myself, but having been raised in the 50s, this was more than nostalgia, it was comfort viewing! Mickey and Hugh O'Brian both do competent jobs, and the supporting cast is composed of many familiar faces. If you are fed up with overt sex, out of control profanity, in-your-face violence, then this is just what you need. Gentle, entertaining, and upbeat, I recommend it for a rainy day or to unwind from a stressful one.

I'm not always the greatest fan of Rooney but in this movie he is an absolute delight. Understated, enthusiastic, he absolutely nailed this characterisation and this under-rated little Western is a hidden gem due to this. You root for him, you really do and Rooney's performance makes the whole thing believable.

This story from Republic Pictures begins with Reverend Macklin arriving in Lodestone, a town in the old west. It seems that decades ago, the Reverend's father also tried to set up a church in this town but was killed by Indians. Now things are more peaceful in the town but the nearby saloon keeper (Hugh O'Brian) is not thrilled that the reverend is planning on rebuilding the church next door. Other problems that come into play during the film is establishing a relationship with the local tribe, a woman is injured and might never walk again and there's a cave-in.

I was surprised that I liked this film. I think I enjoyed its gentle amiable spirit as well as the way the preacher just showed decentness and kindness to everyone instead of condemnation. A most unusual change of pace for Mickey Rooney in the lead but a film worth seeing.