IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Dorothy Adams
- Woman Behind Hope at Baptism
- (uncredited)
Joan Anderson
- Child
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam S. Hart was the guest of honor at the Hollywood premiere of this movie, since his movie The Silent Man (1917) figures prominently in the plot.
- GoofsAt the very end the assembled congregation sings the first verse of "The Church's One Foundation." After the first verse (of five) they sing double "Amens". The lyrics do not call for a single Amen, let alone two.
- Quotes
William Spence: [to his son, Hartzell] A pastor's family are in a special category. We are uh... Well, It's as if we walked a sort of tightrope. Balancing with one foot on earth and one foot already in heaven.
- ConnectionsEdited into Happy Times and Jolly Moments (1943)
- SoundtracksThe Children's Prayer
(uncredited)
from "Hansel and Gretel"
Music by Engelbert Humperdinck
Libretto by Adelheid Wette
Sung by the Robert Mitchell Choir
Featured review
For those who are cynical about the religious life, here's a movie which ought to put some of that cynicism to rest. "One Foot in Heaven" is the true story of a Methodist preacher and his family, and it rings true, not just for the humanity Frederic March brings to his role as the preacher, but for the situations and characters that many of us, regardless of creed, will easily relate to. My dad used to say, A church is its people. I think One Foot in Heaven is a perfect illustration of this truth. Though this is a story about a preacher, we aren't preached at. There's a wonderful scene, with the preacher gently urging his agnostic doctor to start coming to church. He doesn't beat him over the head with a Bible but tries a more "humanist" approach.
Someone else has compared One Foot in Heaven with It's a Wonderful Life. Another film to compare is Going My Way. In fact, One Foot in Heaven and Going My Way were released just a year apart. There are story similarities, like the building of new churches (The Bishop's Wife is another example), but it's interesting to see how religion in the community is seen respectively through Protestant and Catholic lenses.
Then, there's the final scene. In some ways it's corny, but it still moves me. It hearkens to a time when religion wasn't sectarian but seamlessly interwoven in community life, unselfconsciously and unostentatiously. It was before the battle lines between religionists and secularists were drawn, when America had a "civil" religion. Alas, a time past.
Someone else has compared One Foot in Heaven with It's a Wonderful Life. Another film to compare is Going My Way. In fact, One Foot in Heaven and Going My Way were released just a year apart. There are story similarities, like the building of new churches (The Bishop's Wife is another example), but it's interesting to see how religion in the community is seen respectively through Protestant and Catholic lenses.
Then, there's the final scene. In some ways it's corny, but it still moves me. It hearkens to a time when religion wasn't sectarian but seamlessly interwoven in community life, unselfconsciously and unostentatiously. It was before the battle lines between religionists and secularists were drawn, when America had a "civil" religion. Alas, a time past.
- jacksflicks
- Apr 26, 2001
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- En las puertas del paraíso
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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