List of films about Martin Luther facts for kids
The life of Martin Luther, an important church reformer and theologian (born in 1483, died in 1546), has inspired many movies and TV shows. These adaptations tell the story of the Reformation, a big change in Christian history. Some of these productions were made by large movie studios with big budgets, while others were created by local Lutheran churches.
Contents
Movies About Martin Luther
Many films have been made about Martin Luther's life and his role in the Reformation. These movies help people understand the challenges he faced and the changes he brought about.
Early Films and Documentaries
Some of the first movies about Luther were made almost 100 years ago!
- In 1923, a silent film called Martin Luther was released.
- Another early film, Luther, came out in 1928 and was filmed in Berlin, Germany.
Later, documentaries helped tell his story:
- Where Luther Walked (1981) was a documentary narrated by a famous scholar, Roland Bainton.
- Here I Stand: The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther (2002) was a biography released directly to video.
Notable Film Adaptations
Several well-known films have brought Luther's story to the big screen:
- 1953: The movie Martin Luther starred Niall MacGinnis. It was even nominated for two Academy Awards for its cinematography and art direction! This film was re-released on DVD in 2002.
- 1973: Luther was a film based on a popular play by John Osborne. It featured famous actors like Stacy Keach as Luther, and also Judi Dench.
- 1983: The BBC produced Martin Luther, Heretic, with Jonathan Pryce playing Luther.
- 2003: A major film called Luther starred Joseph Fiennes as the reformer. This movie also featured well-known actors like Alfred Molina and Peter Ustinov. It was partly funded by a Lutheran financial group.
- 2017: More recently, Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer was released, looking at Luther's life and what he left behind.
Television Shows About Martin Luther
Martin Luther's story has also been told on television, reaching many viewers.
TV Adaptations and Documentaries
- 1964: An Australian TV show called Martin Luther adapted the John Osborne play for television.
- 1965: The BBC's Play of the Month series also presented an adaptation of the Luther play.
- 1983: A German-language TV documentary titled Martin Luther was released by Eikon Film.
- 2001: PBS aired Opening the Door to Luther, a travelogue hosted by Rick Steves. It explored places important to Luther's life.
- 2002: As part of the PBS Empires series, a show called Martin Luther was released. It featured Timothy West as Luther and was narrated by Liam Neeson.
Stage Productions
The story of Martin Luther has also been performed live on stage.
- 2017: A stage play titled Martin Luther was produced by Puritan Productions in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.
