PRAY TV
US, 1982, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Ritter, Ned Beatty, Richard Kiley, Madolyn Smith- Osborne, Louise Latham.
Directed by Robert Markowitz.
Pray TV is an interesting and entertaining telemovie about tele-evangelists. There is a long tradition in American religious history of evangelists. From the nonconformist and puritanical preachers of the early centuries to the roving ministers of the West. In the 20th. century there have been quite a lot of high-profile evangelists - and many films made about them e.g. Barbara Stanwyck as The Miracle Woman (based on Aimee Semple Mac Pherson) and Faye Dunaway as Mac Pherson in The Disappearance of Aimee. Burt Lancaster won his Oscar for his portrayal of Sinclair Lewis's Elmer Gantry. Evangelists have appeared in such films as Angel Baby and The Day of the Locusts as well as What's The Matter With Helen and Rachel Rachel.
With many reputable preachers, there is nevertheless a public opinion that sees evangelists like this as charlatans. The unmasking of several evangelists, multi-millionaires, in the '80s only confirmed this. Marty Feldman set it all up in his spoof In God We Trust.
This is a serious film. John Ritter is excellent as a newly-ordained minister invited to participate in Ned Beatty's ministry. He looks at both sides and finally opts for a more personal church, church focused ministry.
An interesting and topical film of the '80s.
1. Interesting and enjoyable? Topical? American religious tradition? Evangelical preaching? The films about evangelists?
2. The portrait of the small American town: homes, church---the television station? Authentic USA?
3. The. title and its irony: Freddie Stone Show opening the film - Ned Beatty and his presence and style. his own preparations, warm-up, the television hosts, the studio atmosphere, the use of the applause,. the audience mood, the music and the songs, the lyrics of the songs, the personable preaching, the focus on Jesus, the disdain of other religions, the interaction of the preacher with his audience, the quoting of the Bible, the fundamentalism? The change with the talk about money and costs? The benches of phone answerers? The number on the television set? Tom and Charlotte, enjoying the show. Tom surprised and invited to be interviewed, the sincerity of his mission?
4. Pray TV and the TV church: busy, little time for human interaction, Freddie Stone's absence from his friend's funeral. his friendship with Tom, memories of his father, offering him the job, showing him round the huge plant. commenting on its size, the staff and their identifying with the firm? The image? South America and the money for satellite dishes for more evangelism? Tom and the Bible course, the spreading it out for the sake of the income? The effect of this ministry on Freddie Stone? The move to politics, the influence, conservative courses - and the mouthing of the conservatism of fundamentalists of the '80s? His growing. success? The confrontation by Tom, his not coming to his sermon, his accepting Tom's criticism? The final images with the personal group in the church versus the television programme?
5. Tom as a pleasant young man, his years of study. sense of mission, his being in the audience, the sincerity of the interview? At Charlotte's home, praying and sharing with her? The husband and his illness? Liz and her arrival. the attack? Talking? Bill and his conservatism? The father's death and their having to cope? The funeral and Freddie too busy? The contrast with Gus, talking with him, the visit? Offered the job, its effect, the comparison of ministries especially with the funeral? His biblical programme? Discussions with Liz? Seeing the satellite dishes going to Brazil? The effect, his decision to leave? Confronting Freddie? The sermon? His final sermon and its sincerity, his emphasis on the place of the church and people gathering?
6. Charlotte and her welcoming Tom, pleasant, the devotion to Freddie, in the studio audience? Her husband's illness, his death? Her emotional breakdown? Talking with Tom, his prayer, in the studio? her concern about Bill and his conservatism?
7. Liz and her return, sardonic remarks, her story and her broken relationship, the effect on her religion, with Tom, her disdain of Freddie, her decision to leave, the attachment to Tom, listening to his sermon? Their future?
8. A picture of American Christianity, beliefs and traditions. the contrast between literal interpretation of the Bible. experience with Tom and his years of study and interpretation? Church and media? The effect on audiences, numbers? The power of politics and the election of the candidate? Money? The contrast with the local church?
9. The blending of the exploration of the theme with personal and dramatic issues?
