THE LEFT HAND OF GOD

US, 1955, 87 minutes, Colour.
Humphrey Bogart, Gene Tierney, Lee J. Cobb, Agnes Moorhead, E.G. Marshall, Gene Porter, Carl Benton Reid, Philip Ahn, Benson Fong.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk.

The Left Hand of God is an early Cinemascope action adventure. During 1954 and 1955, this kind of film was churned out by the major studios, capitalising on the wide screen process and exotic locations and stories.

The film is set in China, prior to the takeover by Mao Tse Tung and the communists. The film focuses on American missions, with earnest missionaries, played by Agnes Moorhead and E.G. Marshall as well as American nurses helping out. The priest arrives on the mission, but surprises people by his tough action rather than his capacity for priestly ministry. This is, in fact, because he is not a priest but is posing as a priest in order to work in China and confront the local warlord.

Of all people, the priest is played by Humphrey Bogart. This is one of his final roles. He died in 1956. Gene Tierney is the nurse and the love interest. Lee J. Cobb is more than a touch over the top as the Chinese warlord.

The film was directed by Edward Dmytryk who began his career in the 1940s with tough films like Murder My Sweet and emotional films like Tender Comrade. He was brought up before the House of Un American Activities as one of the Hollywood Ten. After his release from prison, he was shunned by many who were on the blacklist. However, after some time in Europe, he returned to the United States and was to make a range of successful films for the next twenty years starting with such films as The Caine Mutiny, Raintree County.

1. The significance and tone of the title, its irony? Indications of adventure, achievement, religious overtones?

2. The importance of the Chinese atmosphere: Americans, the Missions, the mountains, villages. warlords, dangers?

3. How important was the film as a Bogart vehicle? In the fifties, now?

4. The importance of the structure and its flashbacks later? For tension? Sympathy with Father O’'Shea, surprise at his identity, enjoying the resolution of the issues?

5. What kind of American hero was Jim Carmody? As a hero, with his gun, escaping from the warlord? How well did he assume the identity of a priest? Audience response to him as a priest? Bogart as priest? His quality of work, quick thinking, the amount of good done, the atmosphere of love created? What point was being made about his being a 'Left Hand of God’?

6. The impact of the truth on the audience? The irony of his service to the Chinese, his cowardice in not wanting to go back, the heroism and his final decisions?

7. How plausible was the irony of the dice game, the miracle story,# the significance of his mission, the memory of his being a priest among the people?

8. The contribution of Ann to the film, her story, heroic, capacity for love, religious motivation, her love at the end? More than a conventional heroine?

9. The significance of the Sigmans: their work, medical work contrasted with missionary work, Protestants and Catholics? Their insight into seeing the truth? The advice given?

10. How credible a warlord was Yang? His henchmen, tactics, cruelty, University background? His power over Carmody? The plausibility of the wager and its significance?

11. The Reverend Cornelius and the importance of his words to change Carmody's mind?

12. Comment on the film's use of adventure ingredients.

13. The religious ingredients? How tastefully done? Hollywood? Truly religious?

14. How enjoyable for popular audiences are films like this? Their values? Why?