This is a truly wonderful movie. It really tells me how my great,great,great grandfather was and how he helped people. But I only wished that it had a little more to do with his first wife. There is a lot of descendants from his first wife out here and we just wished it had some of our heritage in it also. But besides that it was a very good movie. He was a spectacular man. I just wished there were still good people out there in the world today. He was a very honorable man in my part of the woods, and I am very proud to be kin to him. I also went to a school that is named after him, if that doesn't tell you he was a good man I don't know what will.
8 Reviews
Old Fashioned, Sin hating, fire and brimstone movie
JDouglasJ_116 April 2008
I came across this video again the other day and watched it with great enjoyment. Having watched it in 1977 when it was first released on the big screen, I was again delighted with the quality of cinematography that is common with a productions by Bob Jones University. The story takes us back to a simple time in America when most of the Appalachian Mountains area needed gospel preachers. The story opens with a confessional confrontation between a guilty ridden young man and the preacher Robert Sheffey. We are taken into a flashback very soon of the life of Sheffey and how he eventually comes to Jesus. The acting is first class, the music fits and the editing is superb. You will enjoy the light hearted moments and might even get a lump in your throat during the compassion of the Evangelist. The underlying theme of this movie is evangelistic. For people satisfied with their lives of sin, this movie will make a plea for you to get your life right with God. For people satisfied in their lives of religion, it will make a plea for you to get closer to God. This movie breaks the boundaries that were established in the 1970's by many denomonations in that day. Watch for the symbolic meaning of the lady with the rose who comes to the revival meeting! I found this movie thrilling, uplifting, clean and honest with the human condition as it is today. Even though this movie was produced over 30 years ago, it still has great relevance today.
Highly Recommended Movie
dochifi28 September 2004
For a family-safe film showing the gospel and Christian values espoused by our forefathers, this movie is great. It was produced in 1977 by Unusual Films at Bob Jones University, at that time one of the top three films schools in the nation. Although by current standards some effects are a bit cheesy, the story stands strong.
The story is to show how one man, looking for something he is missing, finds God and then finds that not all "Christians" act like one. Like many older sawdust trail preachers, he did what he was led to do and in turn touched lives all across the United States. This is his story, and the issues he had over the years as he watched those with learning try to tear down the Bible.
The new DVD version has an interesting making-of documentary that shows how the movie came about, its filming, the special effects, and shows how God blessed this movie all through its filming. For example, at the revival at the campground, some of those coming forward were not acting.
All in all, highly recommended. It is a good period piece filmed in beautiful scenery with humor and pathos, and strongly presents the gospel - but not watered down.
The story is to show how one man, looking for something he is missing, finds God and then finds that not all "Christians" act like one. Like many older sawdust trail preachers, he did what he was led to do and in turn touched lives all across the United States. This is his story, and the issues he had over the years as he watched those with learning try to tear down the Bible.
The new DVD version has an interesting making-of documentary that shows how the movie came about, its filming, the special effects, and shows how God blessed this movie all through its filming. For example, at the revival at the campground, some of those coming forward were not acting.
All in all, highly recommended. It is a good period piece filmed in beautiful scenery with humor and pathos, and strongly presents the gospel - but not watered down.
Circuit-Riding Preachers
tim-43-13756514 May 2018
Both my Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were circuit-riding preachers in Pioneer Florida and Georgia. This film was produced at Bob Jones University just before I became a student there. Many of the people in the film were students and faculty members, and several are my friends. What an encouraging and inspiring story of prayer and ministry. Watching it again with my youngest son. Great memories! :)
BJU's Masterpiece
reasonableconservativepls7 March 2018
Bob Jones is a small, Christian fundamentalist university in Greenville, SC. It holds many stout and fervent beliefs about many things in the world and in the church.
Their film department is very interesting, in that they only have the budget to produce a film about every 4 years, and for the first 20 of them, the movies were dominated by Bob Jones, Jr. and his son, Robert III. (They are "okay," but were mostly vehicles for Jr. to show off his acting chops, seeing as how he turned down a professional contract in his youth to stay with the college.)
Many of the BJU films have serious pacing problems. The editors apparently were so committed to their film process, they couldn't bear to see the scenes truncated or sped up.
Sheffey is the only movie where that actually works - and the pacing is very on-point and useful in the telling of this very excellent biography of a 19th century circuit-riding preacher.
It is the masterpiece of their film department. It is a truly wholesome and educational movie that looks at the background, conversion, and ultimate life story of a very unusual man in the 1800's. It absolutely fits in BJU's wheelhouse, and comes off nearly perfect.
The climax is perfect. Robert Sheffey leaves his life, while another repentant sinner gains hers in Christ. (If you are Born Again, you will know what this means.)
Very meaningful, and very touching, and they cover an exceptional amount of ground in this movie. Definitely does not come across as junior league, (although it does not have a high production look and feel.)
Highly recommended if you are a Christian, and recommended if you are not. (Who knows. You might get saved like Robert Sheffey, and what a life you might have!)
Their film department is very interesting, in that they only have the budget to produce a film about every 4 years, and for the first 20 of them, the movies were dominated by Bob Jones, Jr. and his son, Robert III. (They are "okay," but were mostly vehicles for Jr. to show off his acting chops, seeing as how he turned down a professional contract in his youth to stay with the college.)
Many of the BJU films have serious pacing problems. The editors apparently were so committed to their film process, they couldn't bear to see the scenes truncated or sped up.
Sheffey is the only movie where that actually works - and the pacing is very on-point and useful in the telling of this very excellent biography of a 19th century circuit-riding preacher.
It is the masterpiece of their film department. It is a truly wholesome and educational movie that looks at the background, conversion, and ultimate life story of a very unusual man in the 1800's. It absolutely fits in BJU's wheelhouse, and comes off nearly perfect.
The climax is perfect. Robert Sheffey leaves his life, while another repentant sinner gains hers in Christ. (If you are Born Again, you will know what this means.)
Very meaningful, and very touching, and they cover an exceptional amount of ground in this movie. Definitely does not come across as junior league, (although it does not have a high production look and feel.)
Highly recommended if you are a Christian, and recommended if you are not. (Who knows. You might get saved like Robert Sheffey, and what a life you might have!)
A truly great movie
littleamos17 January 2004
There are certain people that will not "get" this movie.
People that do not understand that there are values that endure past generations.
People that do not understand how precious it is when someone is able to look past the values of his generation and see the Eternal.
People that are looking for Hollywood-type action and editing.
Others will be able to rejoice in the truth, and enjoy the way God was able to do great things with a simple man that was just willing and obedient. May we have more Sheffeys in our world today! May be have the good sense to listen to the Sheffeys we have.
People that do not understand that there are values that endure past generations.
People that do not understand how precious it is when someone is able to look past the values of his generation and see the Eternal.
People that are looking for Hollywood-type action and editing.
Others will be able to rejoice in the truth, and enjoy the way God was able to do great things with a simple man that was just willing and obedient. May we have more Sheffeys in our world today! May be have the good sense to listen to the Sheffeys we have.
Pretty Good, but Reactionary Film
jkpush10 October 2003
If you are an evangelical Christian, and you don't expect professional cinematography from a Christian movie, you may like this one.
This film chronicles the life of circuit-rider Robert Sheffey, who travelled in West Virginia, Virginia, etc. preaching the gospel.
It takes you back to the "good" old days, wishing that you were alive then, and thinking that Christianity has gone straight to hell now.
It's neat to watch, and an interesting story. Evangelicals will like it; progressives will not.
A few problems I do have with the movie: 1. Since he couldn't get licensed to preach the gospel due to lack of training, why didn't he go to school or study theology on his own? Isn't this just an example of "zeal without knowledge"?
2. Is alcohol really sinful in and of itself? Does the Bible say so?
3. Why does the fading away of the camp meeting necessarily a bad thing? Camp meetings were popular in the day when there were no radio/TV broadcasts of preachers, and many rural folks only heard a sermon once a month or so. As automobiles became affordable and radio took off, the _necessity_ of the camp meeting subsided. Just because less and less people come to it does not mean that the whole of Christendom is sliding into liberalism.
4. Why did they not identify him as a Methodist? He was.
Anyhow, there are some anacrhonisms and hokey things if you're a history buff, but overall a fun family film. Just don't walk away convinced that the Church is not still a bastian of truth.
This film chronicles the life of circuit-rider Robert Sheffey, who travelled in West Virginia, Virginia, etc. preaching the gospel.
It takes you back to the "good" old days, wishing that you were alive then, and thinking that Christianity has gone straight to hell now.
It's neat to watch, and an interesting story. Evangelicals will like it; progressives will not.
A few problems I do have with the movie: 1. Since he couldn't get licensed to preach the gospel due to lack of training, why didn't he go to school or study theology on his own? Isn't this just an example of "zeal without knowledge"?
2. Is alcohol really sinful in and of itself? Does the Bible say so?
3. Why does the fading away of the camp meeting necessarily a bad thing? Camp meetings were popular in the day when there were no radio/TV broadcasts of preachers, and many rural folks only heard a sermon once a month or so. As automobiles became affordable and radio took off, the _necessity_ of the camp meeting subsided. Just because less and less people come to it does not mean that the whole of Christendom is sliding into liberalism.
4. Why did they not identify him as a Methodist? He was.
Anyhow, there are some anacrhonisms and hokey things if you're a history buff, but overall a fun family film. Just don't walk away convinced that the Church is not still a bastian of truth.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
