Martin Luther (1953 film)
The research was done by notable Reformation scholars Theodore G. Tappert and Jaroslav Pelikan who assisted Allan Sloane and Lothar Wolff.Returning from Rome, Luther opines that the common people could more easily find God merciful if the Holy Scriptures were in their vernacular.Luther meets George Spalatin, who has also left law for the church: in his case to serve Frederick III, Elector of Saxony.In 1517 Pope Leo X arranges with Archbishop Albert a jubilee indulgence in Germany with Johann Tetzel as the main preacher.Sales of Tetzel's indulgences fall off, moving Archbishop Albert of Mainz to send Luther's theses to the pope.The Augsburg Confession is presented to the emperor followed by the pealing of bells, and Luther offers a prayer of thanksgiving for God's faithfulness to his generation.His congregation, young and old, rich and poor alike, sing his hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" The film received positive reviews from critics.Bosley Crowther of The New York Times praised the film as "a brilliant demonstration of strongly disciplined emotions and intellects," with dialogue "done with such forceful delivery and in such well-staged and well-assembled scenes that it commands intelligent attention and stimulates the mind."[5] Variety wrote: "An artistic achievement of its kind, reflecting careful research and preparation, boasting a magnificent performance by Niall MacGinnis, of London's Old Vic, in the title role, and given reverential, straightforward, honest, sincere treatment, as well as eschewing anything savoring of sensationalism, it is well calculated to stir the enthusiasm of Lutheran and Protestant ministers along with the more devoted laity."[7] John McCarten of The New Yorker wrote that every player in the cast "commands attention," and thought that the documentary-like film techniques were used "to good advantage.
Irving PichelAllan SloaneLothar WolffNiall MacGinnisJoseph C. BrunMark LotharMartin LutherLouis de RochemontNational Board of ReviewOscarsBest Cinematography (Black-and-White)Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black-and-White)Fritz MaurischatPaul MarkwitzWest GermanyJaroslav PelikanSt. Augustine's MonasteryErfurtAugsburg ConfessiongospelNinety-five thesesDiet of WormsA Mighty Fortress Is Our GodHoly Roman EmpireGeorge SpalatinVicar GeneralJohann von StaupitzvernacularFrederick III, Elector of SaxonyDoctorate of TheologyrelicsEpistle to the RomansPope Leo XAlbertindulgenceJohann TetzelconfessionThe Ninety-Five ThesesAndreas KarlstadtPhilipp MelanchthonJan HusJohann EckTo the Christian Nobility of the German NationOn the Babylonian Captivity of the ChurchOn the Freedom of a ChristianexcommunicationDesiderius ErasmusCharles VWartburgEisenachNew TestamentElectorate of SaxonyKatharina von BoraJohn RuddockPierre LefevreAndreas Bodenstein von KarlstadtDavid HorneFrederick the WiseJohn EckLeonard WhiteAleanderAnnette CarellAlexander GaugeJohn TetzelBrueckHenry OscarRonald AdamWilliam AbneyPope Julius IIOrlamündeDiet of AugsburgCoburgBosley CrowtherThe New York TimesVarietyHarrison's ReportsJohn McCartenThe New YorkerThe Monthly Film BulletinQuebecProtestantAFI Catalog of Feature FilmsTCM Movie DatabaseInternet ArchiveThe Most Dangerous GameBefore DawnThe Gentleman from LouisianaBeware of LadiesLarceny on the AirThe Sheik Steps OutThe Duke Comes BackThe Great CommandmentThe Man I MarriedEarthboundHudson's BayDance HallSecret Agent of JapanThe Pied PiperLife Begins at Eight-ThirtyThe Moon Is DownHappy LandAnd Now TomorrowA Medal for BennyTomorrow Is ForeverColonel Effingham's RaidThe Bride Wore BootsO.S.S.TemptationThey Won't Believe MeSomething in the WindThe Miracle of the BellsMr. Peabody and the MermaidWithout HonorThe Great RupertQuicksandDestination MoonSanta FeDay of TriumphBibliographyResources about Martin LutherSermon on Indulgences and GraceAgainst Henry, King of the EnglishLuther BibleThe Adoration of the SacramentFormula missaeFlood prayer