La voix que vous allez entendre

This is an amazing piece of 1950 Americana with a nice father, nice mother, nice son, nice people who believe in God and care about having decent morals - a far cry from films in the past 40 years.

The story, acting and photography is okay but nothing exceptional. Today, it would bore 95 percent of the viewing audience. The main appeal is simply its homage to an innocent age (if there ever was one!).

This was my first look, when I first saw this VHS about 15 years ago, at Nancy Davis, who became Nancy Reagan. I was surprised to see how plain her looks were. She didn't look as pretty and elegant as she did as an older woman, as the First Lady.....but that has nothing to do with this film, so bear with my senility.

The story, without spoiling it, is simply about people who hear God talking through the radio to them, trying to get them to think about things. Theology- wise, the movie is pretty vague and general, not wanting to offend anyone but it still had a good message. This is almost a curiosity piece.

When I turned the channel to this movie on TCM, I had no idea what to expect but as so often happens with this station, I was not disappointed with this captivating period movie from 1950 (directed by Robert Wellman) that seemed to be the cinematic equivalent of a Norman Rockwell illustration. The plot was unusual by today's standards but in 1950, we can imagine this movie would have had great appeal to a mass audience, who took religion more seriously than they do today. The acting was excellent and the on location background locales were evocative of the time -- the golf green lawns of the suburbs, the husband and father cranking up the engine of the family car before going off to his factory job, the couple and school age child eating their roast beef dinner. This family is what we used to call salt of the earth people who work hard, enjoy their home life and have time to joke and laugh. Of course this ideal image doesn't change even as the circumstances evolve. It is such a family that the voice of God coming over the radio would have had great appeal in 1950 as they look for inspiration to deal with the problems of work, a pregnancy,raising their child or just the daily frustrations of life. I was very impressed with James Whitmore as the father and the delightful young actor who played the son. Nancy Davis as the pregnant wife and mother played a patient and good humoured anchor for the family. I would really look forward to viewing this movie again.

The Next Voice You Hear is about Almighty God interrupting all the radio broadcasts on all frequencies on planet Earth at exactly 8:30 pm Pacific Standard Time. He does this for one week.

The film shows the affect hearing from the Almighty on one American family, the Smith family of Los Angeles. The Smiths are played by James Whitmore, Nancy Davis, and Gary Gray. Whitmore is an aircraft worker and Davis is quite pregnant with their second child.

Of course the film is made through an American Christian filter so to speak, that was the targeted audience back in the day. Yet it avoids any direct reference to Christianity or any other faith for that matter. It even says God is speaking to the ears listening behind the Iron Curtain, to places where His existence isn't acknowledged.

James Whitmore was supposed to be another Spencer Tracy for MGM and while his career never quite got that far it certainly has been lengthy and honorable. Nancy Davis of course opted for another career along with her husband. Both play well the parts of Mr.&Mrs. Average American, you'd never know there was a future First Lady in the cast.

The reactions to hearing from the Almighty himself run the gamut, in fact it does take a week to convince most it isn't some kind of gigantic hoax. Significant in 1950 that God uses the radio as His media outlet. Most families still did not have televisions. Good thing to because then the film would have had one huge casting problem.

Of course we never actually hear the Voice. When the first broadcast comes Davis and Gray are in the kitchen and Whitmore hears it in the living room. He comes back reporting on the strange thing that just happened and Davis remarks did it sound like Lionel Barrymore. I remember on All in the Family Archie Bunker once remarking God would sound like Bing Crosby. I suppose there are an infinite number of schools of thought there. We always get a report second hand on what the Voice has said.

The final message is I guess what encapsulates the interfaith message of the film is about. What this old world needs in equal measure is love, freedom, peace, and faith. Equal measure is important because a lack of any one of these causes problems. And it's not up to just nations to practice this, but more so for individuals.

This is a really odd little film starring some of MGM's secondary players, including James Whitmore and Nancy Davis in the leads. I really can't compare it to any other film because it's THAT unusual. After a suitable buildup, God contacts Earth to tell us he'll be making an announcement and we should stand by. Most of the film takes place at this time and it centers on everyone's reactions to the knowledge that something HUGE must be coming. Is it apocalyptic or what--no one knows and so people start to get very nervous. All this stuff is actually the best part of the movie. The problem, though, is that with this buildup, NOTHING can provide a fitting conclusion to make the film all fit together. In other words, the audience's expectations are probably too high, as no matter WHAT MGM did at the end, it would seem a let-down.

All-in-all, a fascinating and unusual film that dares to be different.

"You know," writer George Sumner Albee said, "wouldn't it be something if God would come on the radio and give people such a bad scare they'd wake up and behave themselves!" That quote appeared in MGM president Dore Schary's book "Case History of a Movie", which elevated "The Next Voice You Hear…" far above its station. It also places the "germ" of the story in the days of radio, when the magical medium would be natural place for God to speak to "Joe Smith, American". So, during the time it was written and filmed, this story must have seemed far less ludicrous.

The story focuses on the Smith family: James Whitmore (as Joe), Nancy Davis (as Mary), and Gary Gray (as Johnny). The names "Joseph" and "Mary" have Biblical implications, of course; and, in the film, "Mary" is pregnant. These facts, like the "voice of God" itself, never progress past the point of mildly intriguing, however. The Smith family proves to be an underwhelming choice to follow, through God's supposed manifestation. Interestingly, the filmmakers combine all the world's Gods into one; with the implication being that Jews, Muslims, and others hear a similar message.

A couple of supporting performers are nice, but Ms. Davis (later known as Nancy Reagan) is the best thing in the film. Though a surprisingly thin pregnant woman, she still endeavors to look like she's carrying a child; and, Davis gives the most realistic performance. She helps the other performers look believable, too, just by appearing on screen with them. For example, it looks like she covers for young Gray, when he almost knocks over a table. And, after a silly "drunk scene", ending with Mr. Whitmore walking a straight line into EVERY stool on his way out of a bar, Davis' presence dampens the mediocrity.

Davis is genuine in her manner and looks; she obviously worked on the character, with direction from William A. Wellman. Mr. Wellman keeps it interesting, for the most part; and, the film provokes some thought. Finally, many at MGM would agree with the observation that God's voice, if heard, would sound exactly like Lionel Barrymore.

***** The Next Voice You Hear… (6/29/50) William A. Wellman ~ James Whitmore, Nancy Davis, Gary Gray, Lillian Bronson