One Foot in Heaven (1941)

100% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(109 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 they're… 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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Irving Rapper
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 1, 1941 Wide
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

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.
Variety Staff, Variety
A warm and human preachment for godliness.
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.
, 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.
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.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Frederic March gives an honorable performance in this sentimental and fictionalized biopic of the reverend William Spence in this Oscar-nominated picture.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Cast

            Fredric March as Rev. William Spence

            Martha Scott as Hope Morris Spence

            Beulah Bondi as Mrs. Lydia Sandow

            Gene Lockhart as Preston Thurston

            Elisabeth Fraser as Eileen Spence at eighteen

            Harry Davenport as Elias Samson

            Laura Hope Crewes as Mrs. Thurston

            Grant Mitchell as Clayton Potter

            Moroni Olsen as Dr. John Romer

            Frankie Thomas as Hartzell Spence seventeen

            Jerome Cowan as Dr. Horrigan

            Ernest Cossart as John Morris

            Nana Bryant as Mrs. Morris

            Carlotta Jelm as Eileen Spence at 11

            Casey Johnson as Fraser Spence at 10

            Roscoe Ates as George Reynolds

            Clara Blandick as Mrs. Watkins

            Hobart Bosworth as Richard Hardy Case

            Harlan Briggs as McFarland the Pharmacist

            Virginia Brissac as Mrs. Jellison

            Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Spicer

            Dick Elliott as Casper Cullenbaugh

            Charles Halton as Haskins

            Herbert Heywood as Shopkeeper

            Olin Howland as Zeke Harris

            Fred Kelsey as Conductor

            Milt Kibbee as Alf McAfee

            Vera Lewis as Mrs. Simpson

            Frank Mayo as Drummer

            Tempe Piggott as Mrs. Dibble

            Ruth Robinson
            
            Paula Trueman as Miss Peabody

            Dorothy Vaughan as Mrs. Erlich

            Gig Young as Groom

            Mary Field as Louella Digby

            Ann Edmonds as Bride

            Charlotte Treadway as Ella Hodges
See full cast

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