LUTHER

US, 1973, 112 minutes, Colour.
Stacy Keach, Patrick Magee, Hugh Griffiths, Robert Stephens, Alan Badel, Julian Glover, Judi Dench, Leonard Rossiter, Maurice Denham.
Directed by Guy Green.

Luther is an adaptation, by screenwriter Edward Anhalt, of English playwright John Osborne's famous play. It was produced by Eli Landau for the American Film Theatre. Direction is by Guy Greene, who made many film in England and the united States - generally popular entertainment films - in the '60s and '70s.

Stacy Keach, who had a strong American stage background, is an offbeat and interesting Luther. He is supported by an excellent cast of British stage and screen stars. They each have episodes with Keach and make the most of the drama and the oratory. The settings have the atmosphere of the 16th. century and the Reformation - even though all sets are interiors. There is a device of having a soldier act as a chorus and commentator.

Osborne's interpretation of Luther was as a critic of the abuses of the Catholic Church, a man tormented by fear in himself, physically unwell as well as mentally but then devoting himself to study of scripture and turning arrogant against Church authority. He is also a patriot who is able to influence the formation of a new Germany. He is criticised as being supportive of the princes against the peasants. He is also presented as a 1960s-70s figure with the changes in ecclesiastical style, especially so many clergy and nuns entering lay life.

The film shows a complex character, touches on the history of the times and dramatises them effectively. While the film is a filmed play. it is fluid and persuasive.

1. The work of John Osborne: his work for the stage, use of language, dramatic confrontations? Probing of religion? Politics? Insights into Luther? A filmed play - the quality of the adaptation? The emphasis on language and character? Interchanges between two characters? Monologues? Indications of pageantry but avoiding this? The soldier and his role as chorus and critic?

3. Colour photography, sets, period, the atmosphere of Germany, of the monastery, of religion? The Catholic Church in Germany? The Reformation? The use of liturgical music, hymns? The score?

4. Audience knowledge of Luther? Appreciation of him? His influence in Christendom? Influence on the Reformation and the reaction against the Catholic tradition? The establishing of the Lutheran Church? His theology, interpretation of scripture, ecclesiastical practice? The abuses of the time, especially indulgences? Luther's emphasis on faith and scripture? The role of the papacy and rebellion against it? Church authority, processes? Abuses? The nature of religious vocation? Vows and the leaving of religious life? Parallels with the late 20th. century?

5. The prologue and the setting, the issues and tone? The soldier and his critique? His role as chorus? Point of view? The attitude of the soldiery and the peasants towards Luther? Hopes? Critique? The attitude of the princes? The soldier's cynicism? His experiencing the wars?

6. The structure of the play: the focus on Luther, His development as a person, as a theologian and reformer? The set pieces with a succession of individuals influencing Luther's life?

7. Stacy Keach's presence and interpretation of Luther? Appearance, American background? His skill in communicating through Luther's speeches? Torment? Action? Crises?

8. The strong supporting British cast? Their skill in the speeches and language? Dramatic confrontations?

9. Luther's early life - as a man, his interior problems, the personal drive, development? His entering the monastery, the disrobing and the ceremony of his becoming a monk, the expectations and obligations of Augustinian life? His zealous dedication - the collage of his work, cleaning the latrines etc.? The effect on him? His motivation? The confession of faults by the community and his torment, neurotic outburst? His wanting to be perfect? His preoccupation with sin and repentance, absolution? His physical illness, constipation? The link between his psychology, physical state and spirituality? The build-up to his first Mass? His fear, the discussions with Brother Weinand? The indication of anger at God rather than God's anger with him? His scruples? Fear? Weinand's support and confidence in him? The significance of the reciting of the Creed - emphasising the forgiveness of sins? His helping him at his Mass? The experience of the Mass and the film's attention to it?

10. The way of life in the monastery: Ascetic, harsh, the preoccupation with infringements of the rule, their seeming pettiness? Luther and von Staupitz, assessment of monastic life? Von Staupitz wanting to hear that Luther was not absolutely certain in his stances? Von Staupitz' belief that there was holiness in that way of life?

11. Luther's father and his presence at the ceremony? His friend and their drinking with the community before Luther's appearance? The significance of Luther's mother not being there -her delicate health, her love for her son,' her concern about him when he was sick? His father's attitude to Martin? Martin's attack? The mutual clash? The memoir of Luther as young, vomiting, Cleaning up his sickness? His life at the university and motivation? The storm, his terror, the vow to St. Anne? His vocation as escape into a monastery? The truth of Luther's father's assessment of him? The social background. the mines, money. the expectations of men like Luther's father? The drinking of the wine? His glib remarks about theology and the Eucharist and the monks' reaction? The parting between father and son?

12. Tetzel and Hugh Griffith's comic style? His arrival in the cart, a huckster preaching indulgences. the content of his preaching, the explanation of sin. damnation, purgatory? The mercenary attitude towards forgiveness? The chests with the money? His style of persuasion? The people's reactions? Tetzel symbolising abuses in the Church? His Dominican background? The cardinal's indication of his infidelity to his vows? Yet his strict external stances.. especially as regards obedience and loyalty? Comparisons with the Italian cardinal, his roughness, unthinking?

13. Von Staupitz and his role in the Augustinians. at peace in the garden. a good man in religious life, a student of theology of grace and sin? His listening to Luther, encouraging him, apprehensions and warnings? His disappointment at Luther's stand at the trial? His reappearance at Luther's house as an old and hurt man, his friendship and fidelity to Luther, love?

14. 1517 and Luther's important sermon? His qualities of oratory? His text of Romans 1:17 and the focus on faith? The reaction to good works and the mercenary gaining of salvation? The attacks on indulgences? The emphasis on Sola Fide? His theses and the stance against Rome?

15. The cardinal and his suave style, Italian diplomacy, the Italian in Germany? Preparation for the interview? The exchange with Tetzel and the contrast in styles? The use of smooth talk, direct talk? His expectations of Luther's stances? Admiration for him? List of heretical statements? Luther's attitude towards the papacy - initial respect? The conditions and Luther deciding to take a stand for his own insights?

16. The Diet of Worms and von Eck? The court present, the emperor? The condemnation of Luther's stances? His wanting a day to consider? His 'here I stand'? The arrogant language and the attacks on the papacy? The transition from the uncertain Luther to Luther the reformer?

17. The comment of the soldier? The consequences for the princes? The slaughter of the peasants? Luther being used? Allowing himself to be used? The political and religious separation from Rome? The use of the German language and the emergence of a German nation? The historical and political significance of Luther? The soldier, carrying the corpse? Confronting Luther? The judgment on him?

18. The final sequence with the mellowing of age and experience, his love for his wife. her background as a nun, his comment to von Staupitz about her suitability as a wife? His expressing his uncertainties? His fondling the child - Luther and child as the final image? Intellectual and emotional responses to him?

19. How well did the film dramatise the complexity of Reformation issues? What was the audience left with in understanding of this religious leader?