Our parish bulletin included some movie suggestions for Lent:
Looking for some good spiritual movie-viewing for Lent? Here are a few ideas to consider. You could watch one for free by checking with your local library to see if it has a copy of any of the following: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)—The classic silent film that is considered the best of all St. Joan of Arc depictions, using the actual words recorded from her trial in the 1400s.
The Song of Bernadette (1943)—Oscar-winning story of St. Bernadette, starring Best Actress Jennifer Jones
Going My Way (1944)—Classic Best Picture winner features Bing Crosby in his Oscar-winning role as a priest who rejuvenates a parish. A drama, comedy & musical all wrapped up into one!
Come to the Stable (1949)—Comedy-drama features stars Loretta Young & Celeste Holm as nuns hoping to build a children’s hospital.
Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)—A moving account of 3 children who see the Blessed Mary at Fatima.
The Ten Commandments (1956)—Charlton Heston & Yul Brynner star in this epic version of the Moses story.
Ben-Hur (1959)—Another Charlton Heston epic—one of the most Oscar-honored films ever!
The Story of Ruth (1960)—Colorful version about biblical Ruth.
Becket (1964)—Richard Burton stars as St. Thomas Becket, who stands up to King Henry II (Peter O’Toole).
A Man For All Seasons (1966)--Best Picture winner features Best Actor Paul Scofield as St. Thomas More who opposed King Henry VIII in 1530's England.
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)—Epic TV mini-series about the life of Jesus, featuring an all-star cast.
The Scarlet and the Black (1983)—Gregory Peck & Christopher Plummer star in this story based on real-life priest Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who helped save thousands of Jews & escaped allied POWs while in Nazi-occupied Rome during World War Two.
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)—Moira Kelly & Martin Sheen co-star.
Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)—PG-13--Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner star in this story about St. Paul.
We own many of these movies, and for the most part I agree with the list. Some of these movies are ones we watch every Lent.
I have not seen The Story Ruth. I looked it up; the critics were not kind. I have seen Entertaining Angels - we even had an old VHS copy of it. To be honest, as an admirer of Dorothy Day and as a writer of plays and a viewer of movies, I found it disappointing.
A few Franciscan movies I'd add to the list are Francis of Assisi (1961), a flawed Hollywoodized biopic about St. Francis, but still worth watching; The Flowers of St. Francis (1950) A movie that often makes lists of great films, consisting of a series of vignettes depicting the lives of the original Franciscans. The Reluctant Saint (1962), a personal favorite about St. Joseph of Cupertino, a Franciscan priest who was not gifted intellectually, but was very gifted spiritually; Clare and Francis (2007) a fine television movie - think of Brother Sun, Sister Moon without the music and not Zefferellied!; and Padre Pio (2000), another good television movie.
I'd also recommend Risen (2016), the story of a Roman Centurion sent to find the body of Jesus and who instead finds faith; and Barabbas (1961) about ... Barabbas.
Pax et bonum
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