Aimee Semple McPherson (2006)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Richard Rossi

Writer:

Richard Rossi (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Sometimes the greatest battle is between flesh and spirit.

Plot:

A feature film about the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, the famed evangelist of the 1920s.

Plot Keywords:

Healing | Charlie Chaplin | Faith | Christian | Character Name In Title

Cast

Mimi Michaels	...	Aimee Semple McPherson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laura Anderson	...	Leita Mae
Carl Ballantine	...	Realtor in China
Teres Byrne	...	Minnie Kennedy
Kiera Chaplin	...	Myrtle Ste. Pierre
Barbara Kerr Condon	...	Sister Maria
Angela de Malignon	...	Speakeasy dancer
Jennifer Etienne Eckert	...	Emma Shaffer (as Etienne Eckert)
Joe Gonzalez	...	Ralph Jordan
Charles Gorgano	...	Asa Keyes
Melissa Greenfield	...	Louise Weick
JoAnn Green	...	Waitress
Rance Howard	...	James Kennedy
Charles Hoyes	...	Harold McPherson
Anjenique Hughes	...	Sister Susannah
Rex Kerr	...	Bartender
Brandy Maddox	...	Rosalee
David Mattey	...	The Enforcer
Obren Milanovic	...	Blind Man
Michael Minor	...	Kenneth Ormiston
Chad Nadolski	...	Robert Semple
Roy O'Reilly	...	Judge
Louis Pastore	...	Barker
Linda Pitak	...	Speakeasy Dancer
Joshua Rossi	...	Rolf McPherson
Karis Rossi	...	Roberta Salter
Richard Rossi	...	David Hutton
Sherrie Rossi	...	Juror
Laurie Shaw	...	Reba Crawford
Jenny Tallent	...	Sister Jane
Randy Toews	...	Defense Attorney
Suzanne Tsai	...	Aimee's Chinese Housekeeper
Jose Vega	...	Mexican Man
Selah Victor	...	Lulu
Laura Voethe	...	Mrs. Brooks

Also Known As:

Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, brief language and smoking.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Richard Rossi Productions

Trivia:

The speakeasy where David Hutton gives a sermon and collects money from the callgirls, is the actual 1920s historic Hollywood speakeasy where the events occurred, located on Hollywood Boulevard.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the D.A. gives his opening statement in Sister Aimee's trial, there is a large map on the wall behind him that clearly says, "Kern County, California." Her trial took place in Los Angeles County. Richard Rossi was given free use of a courthouse in Bakersfield (Kern County) by a judge who was kindly disposed toward the project and allowed free shooting on a Saturday.

Quotes:

James Kennedy: I know you're going through a tough time, darling, but remember Christ, when He was walking down the Via Del LaRosa.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Disappearance of Aimee (#26.1)" (1976)

What makes this superior

What makes this film and Rossi's work superior to other "Christian" filmmakers? Recently, "The Simpson's" did a brilliant parody of the evangelical movie "Left Behind," humorously demonstrating the preachy, didactic, elitist, proselytizing tripe of most Christian film. Rossi, though deeply spiritual, makes films as an artist, not a propagandist. In contrast to the Sunday School writing and wooden acting of TBN-type films, Rance Howard's nuanced performance and Mimi Michaels gifted presence reveal a filmmaker who believes deeply in his Saviour who brought director Rossi out of his much publicized past depression and despair and into recovery and grace, but who is willing to honesty look at that brokenness. His films are based on the maxim of Jesus "the truth shall set you free," rather than the evangelical agenda of a TV conglomerate or a national ministry. He is free to make work that matters critically. He explores the dysfunction and humanity of Aimee, Minnie, David and all his characters without the evangelical restraints of moralization. Though other faith-based film outfits like Cloud Ten, the Christiano brothers, Billy Graham's Worldwide Pictures, TBN's Gener8xion films, may have an appealing donor base and bank statement, they have an appalling critical track record with the movie-going public who come to the theater to be entertained not preached to. Rossi appeals as a crossover artist to the non Christian market with a Christian story and he is the only one among those mentioned above to merit serious artistic consideration. He's not pigeon-holed into apocalyptic pretentious fluff. He is an actor's director.