One Foot in Heaven (1941)
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100% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
54% of users liked it
(118 ratings)
Author Hartzell Spence's popular biography of his preacher father was the source for One Foot in Heaven. Fredric March stars as Methodist cleric William Spence, whose calling requires him to move his family from parish to parish on a near-monthly basis. The children resent the fact that… More Author Hartzell Spence's popular biography of his preacher father was the source for One Foot in Heaven. Fredric March stars as Methodist cleric William Spence, whose calling requires him to move his family from parish to parish on a near-monthly basis. The children resent the fact that they're never able to sustain friendships, while Reverend Spence is equally upset by what he perceives to be encroaching immorality in the early 20th century. Spence's stubbornness loses him as many parishioners as he gains, but he is gradually humanized by a series of random events. In the best of these, the Reverend, who has railed against movies from the pulpit, attends a "scandalous" picture show--and as the picture reaches its climax, he finds himself cheering on the good guys as loudly as everyone else! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Irving Rapper
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 1, 1941 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
Critic Reviews
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Out of Hartzell Spence's deeply affectionate biography of his ministerial father, William Spence, the Warners have derived a cheerful and warmly compassionate film, an excellent character study and an adult entertainment on the screen.
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Variety Staff, Variety
A warm and human preachment for godliness.
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J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
The movie's stiff sense of virtue won it an Oscar nomination, but more impressive is Scott's weirdly distant performance as a woman who impulsively accepts the life of a church mouse and then finds she can't do much for her children.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
In one of his finest performances, Fredric March plays Rev. William Spence, a Methodist minister who devotes his life to transforming wavering parishes into strong pillars of faith.
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Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
It's worth watching for March's performance -- although we don't get to hear him preach enough -- and for his take-down of a wealthy family determined to run his church for him.
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Cast
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Fredric March
as Rev. William Spence
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Martha Scott
as Hope Morris Spence
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Beulah Bondi
as Mrs. Lydia Sandow
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Gene Lockhart
as Preston Thurston
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Elisabeth Fraser
as Eileen Spence at eighteen
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Harry Davenport
as Elias Samson
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Laura Hope Crewes
as Mrs. Thurston
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Grant Mitchell
as Clayton Potter
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Moroni Olsen
as Dr. John Romer
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Frankie Thomas
as Hartzell Spence seventeen
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Jerome Cowan
as Dr. Horrigan
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Ernest Cossart
as John Morris
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Nana Bryant
as Mrs. Morris
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Carlotta Jelm
as Eileen Spence at 11
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Casey Johnson
as Fraser Spence at 10
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Roscoe Ates
as George Reynolds
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Clara Blandick
as Mrs. Watkins
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Hobart Bosworth
as Richard Hardy Case
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Harlan Briggs
as McFarland the Pharmacist
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Virginia Brissac
as Mrs. Jellison
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Sarah Edwards
as Mrs. Spicer
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Dick Elliott
as Casper Cullenbaugh
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Charles Halton
as Haskins
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Herbert Heywood
as Shopkeeper
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Olin Howland
as Zeke Harris
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Fred Kelsey
as Conductor
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Milt Kibbee
as Alf McAfee
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Vera Lewis
as Mrs. Simpson
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Frank Mayo
as Drummer
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Tempe Piggott
as Mrs. Dibble
- Ruth Robinson
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Paula Trueman
as Miss Peabody
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Dorothy Vaughan
as Mrs. Erlich
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Gig Young
as Groom
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Mary Field
as Louella Digby
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Ann Edmonds
as Bride
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Charlotte Treadway
as Ella Hodges
