A Man Called Peter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Man Called Peter |
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| Directed by | Henry Koster |
| Produced by | Samuel G. Engel |
| Written by | Eleanore Griffin (screenplay) |
| Starring | Richard Todd Jean Peters |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Harold Lipstein |
| Editing by | Robert L. Simpson |
| Studio | 20th Century Fox |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | April 1955 |
| Running time | 119 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.74 million |
| Money made | $4.5 million (US rentals) |
A Man Called Peter is a 1955 American drama film. It was directed by Henry Koster and stars Richard Todd. The movie tells the true story of Peter Marshall. He was a famous preacher who became the Chaplain of the United States Senate. This means he was a spiritual leader for the U.S. Senate. He was also a pastor at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Peter Marshall passed away at a young age.
The film is based on a book called A Man Called Peter. His wife, Catherine Marshall, wrote this book in 1951. The movie was very popular when it came out in 1955. It was even nominated for an Oscar in 1956. This was for its amazing color cinematography (how the movie was filmed).
This movie was the last big film for actress Jean Peters. She played Catherine Marshall in the movie. The music for the film was created by Alfred Newman. He used some of his music from an earlier film, The Walls of Jericho.
Contents
The Story of Peter Marshall
The film follows the life of Peter Marshall. It shows his journey from a young boy to a respected leader.
Peter's Early Life
As a boy, Peter Marshall grew up in Coatbridge, Scotland. He loved the ocean and dreamed of working on a ship. One day, he almost fell off a cliff in a thick fog. This scary moment made him decide to dedicate his life to helping others through faith.
He worked very hard to save money. His goal was to go to school in America. Once in America, he kept working hard. He saved enough to attend divinity school. After finishing school, he became a pastor. His first church was in a small town called Covington, Georgia.
Finding Love and a New Church
Peter's sermons were very popular. People traveled from far away to hear him speak. A young woman named Catherine Wood heard him. She was a student at Agnes Scott College. Catherine was very impressed by Peter's words.
Catherine helped Peter at an event for college students. She gave a speech using quotes from his sermons. Peter was impressed by her too. They eventually fell in love and got married. They spent their honeymoon on a fun ocean trip. Catherine got seasick, though, and didn't want to go fishing.
After their honeymoon, they moved to Washington, D.C. Peter became the pastor at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. At first, not many people came to services. Peter invited everyone, no matter who they were. Some people in the church didn't like this. But soon, the church was full of people!
Family Life and Challenges
Peter and Catherine had a son named Peter John. He was born on December 7, 1941. This was the same morning that Pearl Harbor was attacked. Peter was preaching at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis that day. The news inspired him to change his sermon. He spoke about death and eternal life. He described death as like falling asleep in one room and waking up in the room where you truly belong.
Later, Catherine became very sick with tuberculosis. She had to stay in bed for a long time. One day, she listened to Peter's sermon. He spoke about a woman who was healed by touching Jesus' robe. When Peter came home, Catherine had gotten out of bed. She walked down the stairs for the first time in three years!
Peter and Catherine bought a vacation home in Cape Cod. Peter took his son fishing there. But Catherine still didn't want to go on the water.
Peter's Legacy
When they returned home, Peter became very ill while preaching. He was rushed to the hospital. He had a serious heart problem. After resting for a short time, he went back to preaching. He was then chosen to be the Chaplain of the United States Senate.
One night, Peter woke Catherine. He told her he was in pain. As an ambulance took him away, Catherine wanted to go with him. He told her to stay with their son. He said he would see her in the morning. Later, the hospital called. They told Catherine that Peter had passed away. That summer, Catherine took their son to the cottage at Cape Cod. Peter John wanted to go out on the boat. Catherine realized he couldn't go alone. So, she bravely got in the boat with him.
Meet the Cast
Here are some of the main actors in A Man Called Peter:
- Richard Todd as The Reverend Peter Marshall
- Jean Peters as Catherine Wood Marshall
- Marjorie Rambeau as Miss Laura Fowler
- Jill Esmond as Mrs. Findlay
- Les Tremayne as Senator Willis K. Harvey
- Gladys Hurlbut as Mrs. Peyton
- Richard Garrick as Colonel Evanston Whiting
- Gloria Gordon as Barbara
- Billy Chapin as Peter John Marshall
- Ricky Kelman (uncredited)
- Charles Evans as the President of Senate
Film Premiere
A Man Called Peter premiered in three cities at the same time. These cities were Glasgow, Scotland; London, England; and New York City, USA. In New York City, there was a special parade to the theater. It included war veterans, nurses, and a large color guard. The author of the book, Catherine Marshall, attended the premiere. Many important religious leaders from New York City were also there.
