John Wesley (film)

John Wesley is a 1954 British historical film directed by Norman Walker and starring Leonard Sachs, Neil Heayes and Keith Pyott. It depicts the life of the father of Methodism, John Wesley. The film was financed by J. Arthur Rank, a prominent Methodist layman, and with contributions from the church.

John Wesley
Directed by	Norman Walker
Screenplay by	Lawrence Barrett
Produced by	Clifford Jeapes
Starring	Leonard Sachs Neil Heayes Keith Pyott
Cinematography	Hone Glendinning
Edited by	Duncan Spence David Powell (as Dave Powell)
Music by	Henry Reed
Production companies	G.H.W. Productions Radio and Film Commission of the Methodist Church in co-operation with J.Arthur Rank
Distributed by	General Film Distributors (UK)
Release date	20 April 1954 (1954-04-20) (US)
Running time	77 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Rescued from a burning house as a child, John Wesley (Leonard Sachs) believes the experience marked him for a higher purpose, a ‘brand from the burning.’ The film follows Wesley's years at Oxford and as a clergyman, his disagreements with the church over the social position of the clergy, his mission to America, the founding of Methodism, and his bringing of the Gospel into the lives of ordinary people.

Cast

• Leonard Sachs ... John Wesley
• Gerard Lohan ... Wesley as a Child
• Neil Heayes ... Wesley as a Student
• Keith Pyott ... Rev. Samuel Wesley
• Curigwen Lewis ... Susannah Wesley
• John Witty ... Peter Bohler
• Derek Aylward ... Charles Wesley
• Patrick Barton ... George Whitefield
• John Slater ... Condemned Man
• Philip Leaver ... Beau Nash
• Joss Ambler ... Trustee of Georgia
• Andrew Cruickshank ... Trustee of Georgia
• Horace Sequiera ... Trustee of Georgia
• Sydney Moncton ... Trustee of Georgia
• Erik Chitty ... Trustee of Georgia
• George Bishop ... Trustee of Georgia
• Milton Rosmer ... Trustee of Georgia
• Henry Hewitt ... Bishop of Bristol
• Patrick Holt ... Thomas Maxfield
• Arthur Young ... King George II
• Vincent Holman ... Beaumont, a Quaker
• Edward Jewesbury ... James Hutton
• Julien Mitchell ... Tom Dekkar
• Harry Towb ... Michael O'Rory
• Neal Arden ... William Holland
• F.B.J. Sharp ... Vicar
• Roger Maxwell ... General Holt
• Roddy Hughes ... Mr. Bligh

Critical reception

Allmovie wrote, "the budget didn't allow for a professional cast, thus many potentially worthwhile scenes are laid low by amateurish acting. On the other hand, the film is quite slick and accomplished on a technical level, thanks to the first-rate cinematography of Hone Glendenning and the assured direction of Norman Walker"; while TV Guide gave the film three out of five stars, noting, "This handsomely mounted biography of the title Methodist leader was originally conceived as a short black-and-white film, but was expanded to include more of Wesley's life and work...The plot is minimal, focusing on the young Wesley's studies and the development of his principles, but the production values are excellent and Leonard Sachs' Wesley is superb. The initial release of the film went to some 500 churches that contributed to the $200,000 budget in return for first rights on viewing."

External links

• John Wesley at IMDb