The story of Scottish-born Presbyterian minister and world-renowned author Peter Marshally, played by Richard Todd, “A Man Called Peter” is reliably but not excitingly directed by Fox’s craftsman Henry Koster.
In his youth, Marshall moves to Washington DC, where he becomes pastor of the Church of the Presidents. His conviction enables Marshall to communicate with men of all faiths.
In private life, the pastor is given moral support by his loyal wife Catherine Marshall (Jean Peters). At the time of his early death, Marshall becomes the chaplain of the U.S. Senate.
Marshall and his family are identified, but the secondary political characters are given fictional names; the President, played by William Forrest, has no name at all.
Jean Peters has one of the film’s memorable scenes, in which she overcomes her lifelong fear of the ocean for the sake of her son (Billy Chapin).
Oscar Nominations: 1
Cinematography: Harold Lipstein
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The winner was Robert Burks for Hitchcock’s French Riviera set To Catch a Thief.
Running time: 119 minutes.
Written by Eleanore Griffin.
Released: March 31, 1955
DVD: September 6, 2005
