Instructive, but not exactly entertaining. Since I wasn't well-informed about Luther, this film filled in several details, while failing to address some of the main facts, generally well-known, about this significant historical figure. This is a filmed play, but I don't see what's wrong with that. I enjoy plays as much as (good]) movies. This is a bit of an oddity however. Difficult to tell what John Osborne was setting out to promote. Luther's reported anti-semitism was ignored, but it could hardly have been any more intense than the anti-semitism of the Roman church. Osborne seemed to be primarily concerned to demonstrate Luther's Oedipus complex, and strained relationship with his father, as motivation for his actions. This was a novelty for me.
Keach was good, but the actors featured on the DVD case puzzled me. Robert Stephens ? Leonard Rossiter ? I recognized them, but hardly saw them as stars. Judy Dench was employed for about two minutes at the very end, and her part as Luther's wife could have been taken by anyone. The impressively powerful performances were by Hugh Griffiths, as the bloated indulgences salesman, and Alan Badel as a creepy spokesman for the Pope. These two are not mentioned at all on the DVD case. Patrick Magee, as Martin's conflicted father was a strong presence, but the full significance of his role escaped me.
Great attention was paid to the esoteric rituals of the brotherhood in the early part. Towards the end the director, or the playwright, seemed to lose interest, especially in Luther's failure to stand up for the citizens who had supported his Reformation. This was in any case promoted by Henry VIII in England , for personal reasons; and his actions had already been significantly preceded by Gustavus Vasa in Sweden
Other significant actors were Maurice Denham, as Luther's mentor, and Julian Glover as a strange cross between narrator and chorus. Not sure if that was originated by Osborne. Generally a curious piece of work by Osborne, otherwise. I'm glad I sat through it, but it needed a bit of stamina. Take that as a recommendation, if you like. Check Wikipedia.
