Martin Luther (1953)
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- Approved
- 1h 45min
- Biography, Drama
- 25 Oct 1954 (Sweden)
- Movie
Biopic of German priest Martin Luther (Niall MacGinnis), covering his life between 1505 and 1530 A.D., and the birth of the Protestant Reformation movement.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Niall MacGinnis | ... |
Martin Luther
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John Ruddock | ... |
Vicar von Staupitz
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Pierre Lefevre | ... |
Spalatin
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| Guy Verney | ... |
Melanchthon
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| Alastair Hunter | ... |
Carlstadt
(as Allastair Hunter)
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| David Horne | ... |
Duke Frederick
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| Fred Johnson | ... |
Prior
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| Philip Leaver | ... |
Pope Leo X
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| Heinz Piper | ... |
Dr. Eck
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Leonard White | ... |
Emissary
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Egon Strohm | ... |
Cardinal Alexander
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| Annette Carell | ... |
Katherine von Bora
(as Annette Carrell)
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| Alexander Gauge | ... |
Tetzel
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| Henry Oscar | ... |
Zeremonienmeister
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| Irving Pichel | ... |
Chancellor Brueck
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| Ronald Adam | ... |
John, Duke of Saxony
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| Joss Ambler | ... |
Bishop
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William Abney | ... |
Erzbischof von Mainz
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Michael Maick |
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Wolfgang Oelze | ... |
Magister
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Hans Lefebre | ... |
Charles V
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John Wiggin | ... |
Narrator
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Ernst Fritz Fürbringer | ... |
Ernst Fritz Fürbringer
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| Peter Ustinov | ... |
Duke Francis of Luneberg (uncredited)
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Jaspar von Oertzen | ... |
Landgraf Philip (uncredited)
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| Mathias Wieman | ... |
German Narrator (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Irving Pichel | ||
Written by
| Allan Sloane | ... | (researched and prepared for the screen by) and |
| Lothar Wolff | ... | (researched and prepared for the screen by) |
| Theodore G. Tappert | ... | () (as Dr. Theodore G. Tappert) |
| Jaroslav Pelikan | ... | () (as Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan) |
Produced by
| Louis De Rochemont | ... | supervising producer |
| Robert E.A. Lee | ... | executive producer |
| Lothar Wolff | ... | producer |
Music by
| Mark Lothar | ||
Cinematography by
| Joseph C. Brun | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Fritz Stapenhorst | ||
Art Direction by
| Paul Markwitz | ||
| Fritz Maurischat | ||
Costume Design by
| Herbert Ploberger | ||
Makeup Department
| Walter Andrä | ... | makeup artist |
| Carl Eduard Schulz | ... | makeup artist (as Karl-Eduard Schulz) |
| Ellen Schulz-Donath | ... | makeup artist (as Ellen Schulz) |
Production Management
| Kurt Hartmann | ... | production manager |
| Anton Höhn | ... | unit manager |
| Heinz Karchow | ... | unit manager |
| Hans-Joachim Sommer | ... | unit manager (as Hans Sommer) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Fritz Stapenhorst | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Helmut Deukert | ... | props (as Helmut Deuckert) |
| Karl-Heinz Suhr | ... | props |
Sound Department
| Gustav Bellers | ... | sound |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Kurt Grigoleit | ... | assistant camera |
| Rolf Lantin | ... | still photographer |
| Günther Senftleben | ... | assistant camera (as Günter Senftleben) |
Music Department
| Munich Philharmonic Orchestra | ... | musicians |
Additional Crew
| Paul C. Empie | ... | advisor (as Dr. Paul C. Empie) |
| Henry Endress | ... | advisor |
| Robert Geisendörfer | ... | advisor |
| Peter Heinemann | ... | consultant (as Pastor Peter Heinemann) |
| Oswald C.J. Hoffmann | ... | advisor (as Dr. Oswald C.J. Hoffmann) |
| Hans Koch | ... | business manager |
| Melvin F. Schlake | ... | advisor |
| Johannes Stuhlmacher | ... | consultant (as Dr. Johannes Stuhlmacher) |
| Alfred Balthoff | ... | voice dubbing: John Ruddock (uncredited) |
| Wilhelm Borchert | ... | voice dubbing: Jaspar von Oertzen (uncredited) |
| C.W. Burg | ... | voice dubbing: Henry Oscar (uncredited) |
| Wolfgang Draeger | ... | voice dubbing: Student (uncredited) |
| Hans Emons | ... | voice dubbing: Ronald Adam (uncredited) |
| Sebastian Fischer | ... | voice dubbing: Leonard White (uncredited) |
| Clemens Hasse | ... | voice dubbing: Alastair Hunter/Alexander Gauge (uncredited) |
| O.E. Hasse | ... | voice dubbing: Philip Leaver (uncredited) |
| Malte Jaeger | ... | voice dubbing: Guy Verney (uncredited) |
| Robert Klupp | ... | voice dubbing: Canclavrik (uncredited) |
| Hans Georg Laubenthal | ... | voice dubbing: Pierre Lefevre (uncredited) |
| Wolfgang Lukschy | ... | voice dubbing: Niall MacGinnis (uncredited) |
| Arnold Marquis | ... | voice dubbing: Magister (uncredited) |
| Gerd Martienzen | ... | voice dubbing: Wolfgang Oelze (uncredited) |
| Heinz Piper | ... | voice dubbing: Heinz Piper (uncredited) |
| Siegmar Schneider | ... | voice dubbing: William Abney (uncredited) |
| Walther Süssenguth | ... | voice dubbing: Fred Johnson (uncredited) |
| Eduard Wandrey | ... | voice dubbing: David Horne (uncredited) |
| Walter Werner | ... | voice dubbing: Markgraf Georg/Geistlicher (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- RD-DR Productions
- The Lutheran Church in America (in collaboration with)
- Luther Filmgesellshaft (in collaboration with)
- Louis De Rochemont Associates
Distributors
- Louis De Rochemont Associates (1953) (United States) (theatrical)
- Wivefilm (1954) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Luther Filmgesellshaft (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1954) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Gateway Films (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- St. Clair Vision (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Filmjuwelen (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
- Kerygma (2011) (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
This biographical account of Martin Luther's actions that eventually created the Lutheran and Protestant denominations was filmed in conjunction with the Lutheran Church. Niall MacGinnis portrays the friar whose nailing of the ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg created such a stir that it shook the foundations of the medieval Church. This movie shows the struggle between Luther and Rome, and how the medieval Church did not fully explain things he questioned, which led to him to be labelled a heretic. |
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| Taglines | The Man Who Changed the World - FOREVER! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $500,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This movie was never released in Québec, Canada. At the time, Québec's movie censorship board (made up entirely of French-speaking Catholics) refused to approve this movie to be shown in Québec's movie theaters. Therefore, it could only be shown in the basements of Québec's Protestant churches. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Chapter 2: A Terrible Mistake (2017). See more » |
| Quotes |
Dr. Eck:
Martin Luther! Do you think you are the only one who knows the truth? Martin Luther: I will tell you what I think. I have the right to believe freely. To be a slave to no man's authority. To confess what appears to me to be true whether it is proved or disapproved, whether it is spoken by Catholic or by heritic. Dr. Eck: Then you deny the authority of the pope! Martin Luther: In matters of faith, I think that neither council, nor pope, nor any man has power over my conscience. And where they disagree with scripture, I deny pope and council and all. A simple layman armed with scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it. Dr. Eck: Heresy, Doctor Luther! Heresy! Martin Luther: Heresy? So be it. It is still the truth! See more » |