Lenny Esposito’s 10 films every Christian should see (due to their covert to overt Christian themes):

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Ten Movies Every Christian Should See But Probably Hasn’t by Lenny Esposito [source unknown]

Many people I’ve spoken with bemoan the state of Hollywood and the poor entertainment choices out there. However there are a good number of films with subtle or even overt Christian themes that most haven’t seen. So, if you’re going to the video store or organizing your Netflix queue, make sure that these are in there.

1. Sergeant York (1941)

Gary Cooper won his first Oscar in this movie, based on the real-life exploits of Alvin York, a hard-drinking Tennessean who ‘gets saved’ and is so radically changed he is torn between serving in WWI or being a conscientious objector since the Bible commands “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” Great story and a very powerful treatment of taking one’s faith seriously in difficult situations. Even more amazing since York was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, killing 20 German soldiers and capturing 132 others and did it nearly single-handedly.

2. The Robe (1953)

Hardened Roman Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) oversees the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. But problems arise when Marcellus wins Christ’s robe in a dice game, played beneath the dying man. Haunted by guilt, Marcellus hopes that destroying the garment — now in the possession of his escaped slave (Victor Mature) — will cure his hallucinations.

3. Chariots of Fire (1981)

Fueled by disparate desires, long-distance runners Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) face off in a quest to bring Olympic glory to Great Britain. Liddell — a staunch Christian — seeks victory as a tribute to God, while Jewish student Abrahams views winning as a repudiation of anti-Semitism. An amazing study of personal conviction versus immediate opportunity – something we all struggle with.

4. Shadowlands (1993)

Anthony Hopkins plays the great Christian Apologist C.S. Lewis in this true story of his meeting and eventual marriage to Joy Gresham. Lewis drew from this experience in his books The Problem of Pain and A Grief Observed. It also shows how life for the Christian isn’t neat and tidy and that knowing theology is different from putting it into practice.

5. A Man Called Peter (1955)

Based on a true story (and adapted from the best-selling book by Catherine Wood), this drama centers on young Scotsman Peter Marshall who heeds his calling from God to be a minister. Marshall leaves Scotland and travels to America, where he lands the position of pastor of the Church of the presidents in Washington, D.C., on his way to becoming chaplain of the U.S. Senate.

6. Black Robe (1991)

In 1634, Jesuit missionary Father Laforgue (Lothair Bluteau) arrives in the Canadian wilderness to convert the Huron and Algonquin Indians to Catholicism. This is probably the most historically accurate account of the attempts to convert the Native American peoples. It also puts to rest the myth of the “noble savage” that was developed in Europe. CAUTION: there are some difficult scenes in this R-rated movie, so watch it after the kids are in bed.

7. Lilies of the Field (1963)

Aimless ex-soldier Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) is on his way to California when his car overheats in the desert. He stops to get some water at an isolated farm and soon finds himself building a chapel for the nuns who live there. The stern mother superior (Lilia Skala) is certain God has sent Smith for just that purpose, and all of Smith’s words to the contrary fall on deaf ears. If you don’t love the scene where Homer teaches the German nuns to sing black gospel, then you’re not alive. Poitier won an Oscar for his performance.

8. Luther (2003)

This epic movie follows the life of Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes), author of the then-controversial 95 Theses and founding father of the Protestant church who, with the courage of his convictions, faced the wrath of the church in the 16th century, all in the name of religious freedom. Thinking about standing before the most powerful men in the world and denying them to their faces – “Here I stand, I can do no other.” Christian history at its most profound.

9. Twelve Angry Men (1957)

A guilty verdict means death — but the jury’s not about to let that spoil their day. Twelve men must decide the fate of an 18-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing his father. Only one (Henry Fonda) wants to take the time to coolly deliberate the case. Sidney Lumet (Network) made his directorial debut in this fiery drama that illuminates all the petty impediments on the path to justice. What a great study in the power of reason and persuasion when most are guided by the “easy facts”. Every apologist can learn from this.

10. Witness (1985)

Cop John Book (Harrison Ford) goes undercover in an Amish community to protect a boy who witnessed a murder. Once inside, the faux-Amish Block must adjust to major culture shock while cautiously romancing the child’s mother (Kelly McGillis). A great thriller and a look at how people can be devoted to their faith and one another. Blood and guts violence give this one an R rating, so be forwarned.

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Comments by others:

[1] ‘A MAJOR film from the 50s with a decidedly Christian theme, To Kill A Mockingbird, isn’t on the list.

Another that– while it’s not on the same caliber as the list you have given us is one of merit is the film “Born Again.”

I’d also seriously consider adding the film “The Hiding Place” to the list. It is overtly Christian, yet as I recall the film was Oscar-nominated.’

[2] ‘I’ve seen several on the list with my favorite of the 10 being Sergeant York. I do wonder why Lenny chose 12 Angry Men over some other movies with more overt Christian themes, but it still remains an excellent movie that I’d recommend as well. I know of many Christians who would have had The Passion Of The Christ in their top 10 if not their number one pick. One obscure movie I would recommend highly is The Vernon Johns Story starring James Earl Jones as Vernon Johns. The movie centers around Vernon Johns, his church and his involvement in the civil rights movement.’

[3] ‘People keep saying that Hollywood has “gone to Hell”, but I still see films like Superman, Spiderman, and Batman coming out with VERY Christian themes! I absolutely see a connection (in the world of ART)

between Super Heroes and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!’

[4] ‘My selection [from a liberal Christian]:

• 8 1/2
• The 400 Blows
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Annie Hall
• Apocalypse Now
• Amadeus
• Blowup
• Babbette’s Feast
• Casablanca
• Citizen Kane
• City Lights
• The Castle
• The Crying Game
• Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
• Doctor Zhivago
• The Exorcist
• Easy Rider
• Forbidden Planet
• Five Easy Pieces
• Full Metal Jacket
• The Godfather, Parts I and II
• Gone with the Wind
• Gallipoli
• The Graduate
• The Great Dictator
• A Hard Day’s Night
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Hexan
• King Kong
• Key Largo
• The Lord of the Rings
• Life of Brian
• Last Tango in Paris
• The Last Metro
• The Manchurian Candidate
• Metropolis
• Modern Times
• Mad Max
• My Fair Lady
• Nosferatu
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• Pinocchio
• Psycho
• Pulp Fiction
• Picnic At Hanging Rock
• The Phantom Of The Opera
• Philadelphia
• Rashomon
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Schindler’s List
• Star Wars
• A Streetcar Named Desire
• The Seventh Seal
• Snow White And The Seven Dwarves
• Taxi Driver
• The Terminator
• West Side Story
• The Wizard Of Oz

WORST MOVIE OF ALL TIME: Plan 9 From Outer Space’

[To an objector that some of these don’t have Christian themes, he responded: ‘ALL of life is a Christian theme because ALL of life belongs to God. There was line in Zorba The Greek who was questioned that he could chop some trees, and he replied something like “the trees belong to the monastery, the monastery belongs to God, and God belongs to everyone!”‘]

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The original source for the “Ten Movies Every Christian Should See but Probably Hasn’t” is from the http://www.comereason.org/ Web site. By the way, many have asked about movies such as The Passion of the Christ or To Kill a Mockingbird. I didn’t forget those, but my premise was to highlight movies that people most likely haven’t yet seen – and at least The Passion was seen by much of the known world. To Kill a Mockingbird might fit into this category, but it is pretty popular (and with many high schools highlighting the book and all) I figured I’d point out others.

Lenny.