La main gauche du Seigneur

I first saw the film, and found it quite good. The story was catching, and the actors were splendid. As far as Bogart is concerned, I rank this movie with "the Caine Mutiny", and above "African Queen". Lee J. Cobb I found quite good too, and much more credible than Curd Juergens in "the Inn of sixth happiness". The rest of the cast gives, I think, a quite good idea of the missionary life in China. Which was the weak part in the otherwise good "Sand Pebbles". I read the book at least once a year. It explains more of the movie plot, and I recommend to anyone interested in the ethics of the film, but it should have been too long, if strictly respected in the screenplay. I'd rate the movie 9,5/10, admitting, though, that Bogart is one of my favorite actors, which could biase my judgment !

Nice and intelligent film , being Humphrey's second to last movie providing an awesome acting . As he plays a pilot called James 'Jim' Carmody (Bogart , though Kirk Douglas and Gregory Peck were considered to star in this picture) attempting to escape in post WWIII , 1947 , dressed as a priest from the revenge of a Chinese warlord (Lee J Cobb) . At a Catholic mission in China , being long-awaited "Father O'Shea" but there shows up Carmody posing as a cleric and he proves to be a two-fisted guy . At this place lives the enticing nurse Anne (Gene Tierney) , a gorgeous war widow , who believes she is falling in love with someone she can't marry . Meanwhile , China disintegrates in civil war (1945-1949) , warlords , revolution and fights between Maoists and nationalists.

This is a sensitive film including emotions , interesting dialogue , a marvelous love story and fine performances . The hand of Edward Dmytryk tends to rely heavily on the enjoyable relationship between Bogart and Tierney . The film is pretty well , though results are rather dull and sincere with an abundance of narrative dialog . Interesting screenplay by Alfred Hayes based on the novel "The Left Hand of God" by William E. Barrett . Long time ago , William Faulkner completed an adaptation of the 1950 novel for director Howard Hawks , a longtime collaborator . Here Bogart in a new type of action role who proves to be surprisingly effective with the unusual character of an adventurer/pilot who disguised himself as a Catholic cleric . Gene Tierney is as beautiful as ever as the attractive woman . However , being last starring screen appearance of actress Gene Tierney, who had been suffering from mental illness for a number of years and entered various treatment centers . Support cast is frankly well , such as : Agnes Moorehead , E.G. Marshall , Jean Porter , Carl Benton Reid and Lee J Cobb is great as a warlord . The movie displays a luxurious and colorful cinematography by Franz Planer . Emotive and moving musical score by the classical composer Victor Young , including a stirring leitmotif .

The motion picture was well directed by Edward Dmytryk , though being slow-moving and with penchant to weight rather heavily on the proceedings . A veteran filmmaker, Dmytryck is one of Hollywood's most prolific directors who started his career in the early 40s . He was a craftsman whose career was interrupted by the activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), a congressional committee that employed ruthless tactics aimed at rooting out and destroying what it saw as Communist influence in Hollywood . A lifelong political leftist who had been a Communist Party member briefly during World War II, Dmytryk was one of the so-called "Hollywood Ten" who refused to cooperate with HUAC and had their careers disrupted or ruined as a result . The committee threw him in prison for refusing to cooperate, and after having spent several months behind bars , Dmytryk decided to cooperate . Dmytrick's biggest film was ¨The Caine Mutiny¨ , but he also realized another mutiny film titled : ¨Mutiny¨ with Angela Lansbury . Edward was an expert on warlike genre as ¨Back to Batan¨ , ¨Battle of Anzio¨ , ¨Young lions¨ and Western as ¨Broken lance¨ , ¨Alvarez Kelly¨ , ¨Warlock¨ , among others . Rating : 6.5/10 , better than average . It's recommended for drama enthusiasts and big stars lovers .

Humphrey Bogart experiences "The Left Hand of God" in this 1955 film also starring Gene Tierney, Lee J. Cobb, Agnes Moorhead and Lee J. Cobb. Bogart is Father O'Shea, who arrives at a mission in China to take over religious duties. The casting of Bogart should tell you something right away. While there, he wins the hearts of the people and that of a beautiful nurse (Tierney) who is a widow and, being a strong Catholic, finds her emotions unsettling. Father O has a relationship with a Chinese warlord, and now the village seems in danger. Can he save it? There's not a tremendous amount of action in this film, but the wonderful cast keeps us interested. Always a surprising actor, Bogart has a way with touching moments, such as receiving a blessing from the oldest man in the village. In 1955, Gene Tierney was still a young and beautiful woman, but for some reason, around 1950, she adopted a short, matronly haircut that I for one never found flattering. She's lovely in this as a lonely widow. Moorhead and Marshall give strong performances as the doctor and his wife. Lee J. Cobb is good, but seen today, his Chinese makeup is distracting.

Mildly interesting.

William E. Barrett wrote novels in various genres but his works containing a religious element have proved more popular with film-makers, notably 'Lilies of the Field'.

'The Left Hand of God' boasts the excellent production values of Twentieth Century Fox, filmed in Daryl F. Zanuck's beloved Cinemascope by Franz Planer, with a strong score by Victor Young and a top-notch cast.

None of these factors alas is able to compensate for the disappointing script. Screenwriter Alfred Hayes is certainly no Grahame Greene and one critic referred to its 'mock religiosity'.

Director Edward Dmytryk and Humphrey Bogart had previously worked together on the excellent 'The Caine Mutiny' but Mr. Bogart's character here is rather one-dimensional although this actor is as always eminently watchable and has star quality in spades. As the phoney priest O'Shea he falls for the lovely nurse of Gene Tierney. There is a distinct simpatico between them despite the obvious age difference and that neither actor was in the best of health!

Great support from Agnes Moorhead, E. G. Marshall and Lee J. Cobb. Mr. Cobb's casting as a Chinese warlord is bizarre to say the least but typical of Hollywood at the time. The individual scenes between the five protagonists are excellent and the high stakes dice game between priest and warlord is the highlight.

Suffice to say this is a must for Bogie devotees of which this viewer is one but the film itself lacks focus and momentum. One cannot help but feel that an opportunity has been missed and that it remains an example of the Left hand not knowing what the Right hand is doing!

You won't get the urge to hail with hallelujahs, but you'll walk away shrugging, and mumbling what the, especially when Yang's encountered, but the film was always downward, poor Lee J. Cobb is quite the opposite of stupendous. You may also have concerns about the mule, although there's several that compete to trick and fool, with a story that's so thin, Bogey's a fogey and quite thin, deserving better than this festering pustule. At least it's short which means you don't have to endure, a bit less than 90 minutes of Yak manure, but you'll not forget poor Lee, an Asian minstrel - could he see? A film with very low appeal, without allure.