FRANCIS OF ASSISI

US, 1961, 107 minutes, Colour.
Bradford Dillman, Dolores Hart, Stuart Whitman, Eduard Franz, Pedro Armendariz, Cecil Kellaway, Finlay Currie, Mervyn Johns, Athene Seyler.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.

Francis of Assisi is a biography of the saint, based on the popular novel by Louis de Wohl. It has the distinction of having many of its locations the actual places where Francis lived and worked: Assisi itself and Perugia. It is attractively filmed in colour and Cinemascope.

However, the film suffers from the over-reverent treatment of the saint in the typical Hollywood style. The film, despite its aura of holiness, seems to be a mediaeval story about an unusual character - who happened to be a saint. Bradford Dillman, at the beginning of his career, does quite well with Francis. Stuart Whitman has a stronger role as Paolo, his friend and later enemy. There is a strong English supporting cast. The film may be compared with Roberto Rossellini's version of The Legends of St. Francis, The Little Flowers of St. Francis, and Franco Zeffirelli's colourful and romantic treatment, with Donovan's songs, Brother Sun, Sister Moon.

1. The popularity of Francis of Assisi? For Catholic audiences? Christians? Non-Christians? The subject of a 20th Century Fox spectacular of the early 60s? Re-creation of history, portrait of a man and his times, of a saint?

2. The quality of the location photography? Sense of authenticity? The re-creation of the 13th century? Assisi, Perugia? The way of life in the city? Rome? The Papal Court? The musical score - with the reverent tone?

3. Hollywood treatment of saints? The style of reverence and awe? The use of poses, postures, heavenly choirs? 'Holy' dialogue? The strength of the portrait of Francis? How much affected by this reverent treatment? Holy card treatment? Biblical epic treatment?

4. How well did the film explain Francis as a saint? His life in Assisi, family, work, the wars? His conversion? His change of lifestyle? The renunciation of wealth? Love of poverty? Relationship with Paolo and his friends? With Clare? The restoration of the churches? The encounter with Pope Innocent III? His followers? The material from the legends of St. Francis - the healings. the leper, the love of animals? The significance of his mission to the Holy Land? The reaction of the sultan? The changes in organisation of the Franciscans themselves and his disappointment? The loneliness of his death, hermit, stigmata? The reconciliation with Paolo? The biography of a saint? The portrait of his holiness? To be understood within the customs and religious ideas of the times?

5. The contrast with Paolo? Francis as wealthy, his family as cloth merchants compared with Paolo and his noble rank but poor? Comradeship in battle? Saving lives? Paolo's reaction to Francis' conversion? His falling in love with Clare? His disappointment with Clare? Hatred for Francis? Paolo and the Crusades? The military brutality? The final reconciliation? The two contrasting in offering the portrait of holiness and worldliness?

6. The portrait of Clare - aristocracy, place in Assisi. attitude of her family, Francis' family? Paolo's love? Clare's following of Francis? The religious vows? Community? Restoration of the churches? Imitating Francis' spirituality?

7. The portrait of the Assisi families? Francis' father and his reaction to his son's conversion? Clare's family? The reaction of the people of Assisi to Francis' conversion? Hostility? Change?

8. The disciples of Francis - their enthusiasm, fraternity, his spirit? Their organisation? His presence in the Holy Land and the greater organisation? Was it an abandoning of Francis' principles?

9. The background of warfare in the Middle Ages? In the Italian cities? Brutality of battles? Expectations? Effect on people? The transfer of the warlike energies to the Crusades? The brutality against the Muslims?

10. The importance of Francis' visit to the Holy Land? His love of Christ and wanting to be in his land? Reaction against Paolo? The encounter with the sultan?

11. The portrait of Rome, Pope Innocent III, the bishops? The hostility towards Francis, his imprisonment? His suffering for the church?

12. How satisfying a blend of history, holiness, romance?