The Next Voice You Hear is Dore Schary’s earnest liberal leaden message movie, in which God speaks to the nation via radio.
The drama stars James Whitmore and Nancy Davis (who would become First Lady, after marrying Ronald Reagan, future president of the U.S.).
The movie was based on George Sumner’s short story of the same name, published in the 1948 issue of Hearst’s International Cosmopolitan.
It is one of the most pretentious and silly movies ever made by MGM–or any other studio.
In the opening credits, MGM’s Leo the Lion stares forward but does not move his head or roar, as expected.
It begins with: “…neither was the Word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.” First Book of Samuel Chapter III, Verse 7
The voice of God is heard on the radio, preempting all programming throughout the world and causing widespread hope and alarm.
The story is told through Joe and Nancy Smith, a presumably “typical” American couple.
The six messages (one for each day, Tuesday through Sunday, but “on the seventh day He rested.”) that God speaks on the radio are read aloud by different characters in the film.
End credits: “In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God.” John Chapter I, Verse I
The making of the film is the subject of producer Dore Schary’s book “Case History of a Movie.”
Cast
James Whitmore as Joe Smith, American
Nancy Davis as Mrs. Joe Smith
Gary Gray as Johnny Smith, their son
Lillian Bronson as Aunt Ethel
Art Smith as Mr. Brannan
Tom D’Andrea as Hap Magee
Jeff Corey as Freddie
