Luther (1974)

A man's views cause a rift between peasants and the church.

Director:

Guy Green

Writers:

Edward Anhalt (screenplay), John Osborne (play)

Stars:

Stacy Keach, Patrick Magee, Hugh Griffith

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stacy Keach	...	Martin Luther
Patrick Magee	...	Hans
Hugh Griffith	...	John Tetzel
Robert Stephens	...	Johan Von Eck
Alan Badel	...	Thomas De Vio
Julian Glover	...	The Knight
Judi Dench	...	Katherine
Leonard Rossiter	...	Brother Weinand
Maurice Denham	...	Johann Von Staupitz
Peter Cellier	...	Prior
Thomas Heathcote	...	Lucas
Malcolm Stoddard	...	King Charles
Bruce Carstairs	...	Duke of Saxony
Matthew Guinness	...	Reading Monk

Storyline

A man's views cause a rift between peasants and the church.

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Plot Keywords:

church | reference to the new testament | hairy chest | bare chested male | spirituality | 

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Taglines:

In 1525 the world was rocked by a powerful explosion. His name was Luther.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1976 (UK)

Also Known As:

John Osborne's Luther

Company Credits

Production Co:

The American Film Theatre, The Ely Landau Organization Inc., Cinévision Ltée

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Julian Glover created the part of the Knight in the original stage production.

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Quotes

Martin Luther: Maybe if I break wind in Wittenberg, they'll smell it in Rome.

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Connections

Version of BBC Play of the Month: Luther (1965)

User Reviews

Finney versus Keach

Albert Finney created the role of Luther, which he played in both London and New York between 1961 and 1964. Every review of Finney's performance that I have seen was positive. So I can't help wishing that he had played the part on film.

I believe Stacy Keach is one of the best American actors, but he seems to struggle with this role, at least during the early scenes, in which he uses, bizarrely, a pseudo-Irish accent. Later on, however, Keach digs more deeply into the role; and his performance is ultimately impressive, even moving.

The play seems a little dated, particularly regarding its neo-Brechtian touches over Luther's diatribe against the peasants. But given Keach's work and that of the splendid supporting actors (especially Robert Stephens, Judi Dench, Patrick Magee, Alan Badel), the film remains well worth seeing.

"Luther" was part of the American Film Theatre series, in which certain plays were adapted for film and exhibited in some 500 US theatres on a subscription basis --