BORN AGAIN

US, 1978, 110 minutes, Colour.
Dean Jones, Anne Francis, Jay Robinson, Dana Andrews, Raymond St Jacques, George Brent.
Directed by Irving Rapper.

Born Again is the story of Charles Coulson who was involved in Watergate. He was considered a hatchet man for President Nixon and one of the sleaziest of the Watergate criminals. He served his time in jail – and during his imprisonment he had a religious conversion and was born again.

Coulson is portrayed by Dean Jones, star during the 1970s of many wholesome Disney films. Anne Francis portrays his wife. This is not a film so much about Watergate as about being born again and the religious experience – an earnest film which wants to promote conversion and being born again.

The film was directed by Irving Rapper who had a very strong career in the 1940s and 1950s directing many significant films including Shining Victory, Now Voyager, The Corn is Green, Rhapsody in Blue as well as The Glass Menagerie. He directed fewer films during the 1950s with Marjorie Morningstar and The Miracle at the end of the period. In Italy he made two films, Joseph and His Brethren as well as Pontius Pilate. He then had a gap between the Pontius Pilate film and The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) and then Born Again in 1978. He is joined in the cast by some of the veterans of older Hollywood days including George Brent, Dana Andrews and Jay Robinson who was Caligula in The Robe and Demetrius and the Gladiators.

An interesting reflection on the Watergate scandal of the 1970s – and the possibility of someone changing their life and values. A very earnest film.

1. The dramatic and religious impact of the film? The audience expected? For those converted, born again? Or non-religious audiences? For an American audience, international audience?

2. The presuppositions in an audience about religious experience, its nature, credibility, repercussions? How convincing was the presentation of Charles Colson's religious experience? The screenplay with its inbuilt lines offering critique of the credibility of the religious experience?

3. The stars and their performances, their agreeing to perform in this religious film? Technical qualities: Panavision, colour, Washington locations, the prison background? The replaying of historical situations? Authentic newsreel footage included?

4. Audience attitudes towards Richard Nixon, his administration? To the Watergate break-in and the cover-up? Audience judgments on American politics, American morality - especially Nixon's decision to remain in office as long as possible, even with cover-ups? The justice in the exposition of the cover-ups and the administration? Audience knowledge of the events, personalities? The aftermath?

5. Audience interest in the seventies and the people who played such roles in American politics? The response to seeing people and events dramatised? How authentic?

6. Charles Colson within this framework? His loyalty to Nixon, his being the hatchet man with the mind for dirty tricks? His treatment of Daniel Ellsberg? his not being privy to the Watergate break-in and cover-up? The experience of his conversion during Watergate days, his religious activity prior to his going to trial? How credible was the religious change within this political and social climate?

7. The introduction to Colson in the film: his Washington background, his going to prison and the continued flashbacks? The presentation of his political personality, activity, legal career - hard, loyal, pleased to be in with the administration, his tactics, campaigns. relationship with his family? The contrast with his going to prison with the routine for all prisoners? His being ridiculed for his position? Audience judging him at this stage of the film, or not?

8. The film's condemnation of Nixon and his men, the forthright attitude of the film? Colson sharing this - and the scene of his listening to Nixon's resignation speech?

9. Dana Andrews' style as Tom Phillips? A credible character? Friendship with Colson, his explanation of his religious experience? the flashback to Billy Graham rally? The credibility of Co1son's conversion in talking with Phillips? The introduction to the other Washington men who were born again? Harold Hunt as the victim of Colson's tricks? His being a religious man? The irony of Colson meeting him at the instigation of friends? The interrogation, the embrace and reconciliation? The importance of Harold Hunt acting as himself - how much credibility did this give the film and the events? Hunt and his group and their prayer meetings, continued help to Colson, sustaining him in prison, the interviews? The importance of Hunt and Colson going on television with Mike Williams for a severe interrogation - and its effect on Colson? Their legal aid - even to the extent of substituting for the prison sentence for Co1son?

10. The portrait of the Colson family - conventional American family? Pattie and her continued support, her discussions about religion and her own religious background? His children and their being seen at school, university? Their being criticised by friends? Princeton and the rowing team? The importance of the arrest for marijuana and Colson’s reaction?

11. The personality of Dave Shapiro - his background as lawyer, causes especially his discussions about the Hollywood Ten, his Jewish background? His concern about Colson, their partnership, his decision to help? His criticisms of Colson's stances? His scepticism about the religious experience? The presentation of the case to Judge Gesell? Gesell's listening to the case, his arguing Shapiro down, the sentence?

12. The credibility of the hostility towards Colson? His decisions about pleas, discussion with his children, with Dave Shapiro? The repercussions of the strong sentence?

13. The prison sequences and the echoes of prison films? His arrival, the friendship with Jim, the threats by Scanlan and the killing attempt? The friendship with Paul Kramer? The detail of life in the prison - dormitories, meals, riots, work, recreation? The visits and the introduction of Jim’s father to Pattie? Colson at prayer, the prayer
group and the discussions, the prayer for Jim’s parole and its effect? how convincing the presentation of prison?

14. The effect on Colson of his prison experience? The prayer group and his involvement after release in prison chaplaincy work?

15. The religious aspects of the film and their particularly American tone? How similar to international audiences' religious experience?

16. The film reflecting the politics and social attitudes of the seventies, social change, religious change?

17. The type of Christianity presented - conversion experience, Billy Graham and his rallies and their spirit, reliance on the Bible, good works?

18. Cinema as a vehicle for films with religious message? How much was the message communicated through the drama and the biography, how much through the specific moralising?