THE FIRST LEGION
US, 1951, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Charles Boyer, William Demarest, Lyle Bettger, Wesley Addy, Walter Hampden, H. B. Warner, George Zucco, Barbara Rush.
Directed by Douglas Sirk.
The First Legion is a film about the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. It was first performed as a play in 1934 and adapted by the playwright, Emmet Lavery, for this film of 1951, directed by Douglas Sirk who was about to emerge as a significant director with melodramas in the 1950s including Magnificent Obsession, All that Heaven Allows, Imitation of Life…
While the film is a portrait of a religious community in the 1930s, it is also credible in its presentation of the community in the late 1940s, early 1950s.
The Jesuit community of San Diego is an intellectual centre, also housing the novitiate with, in those days, a large number of novices as well is the novice master and lecturing priests. The community is governed by a Rector, according to the vows with an emphasis on loyalty and obedience, derived from the founder, St Ignatius Loyola, with his military background, his Constitutions and the spirituality of his religious experience, The Spiritual Exercises.
There are a number of other priests in the community, some young ones who are having difficulty with their vocation, as well as a priest who has been seriously ill for several years.
The key member of the community as a former lawyer and lecturer played by Charles Boyer. He writes articles – which all those in the community do not necessarily agree with. However, the Rector relies on him to talk with the young priests having difficulties, discussing the potential miracle which occurs with the recovery of the sick priest, to deal with the beatification process of the founder of the community.
Lyle Bettger, often a villain in films, is the local sceptical doctor. Barbara Rush is a young woman who has had an accident rendering her paraplegic who has a great desire for a miracle.
The film has a strong cast of character actors including Leo G. Carroll as the Rector, George Zucco as the novice master, Walter Hampden as a visiting missionary with a mandate from the Superior General, Wesley Addy as the young priest with doubts. H.B.Warner is the sick priest who is healed – by miracle or by the psychosomatic suggestions by the doctor.
While the film has a great deal on the living of religious life and the living out of the vows, especially obedience, in the community, the screenplay also raises issues of miracles, the possibility, medical evidence, the desire of miracles on the part of the people and their pilgrimages., clerical leadership (and some healthy scepticism.
For light relief there is William Demarest as the local monsignor (traditional Irish) who spends a lot of his time visiting the Jesuits.
1. A portrait of the Catholic Church? The end of the 1940s, early 1950s (based on a play produced in 1934)?
2. The status of the Catholic Church in the US at this time, images of the church, the status of the clergy? The issue of miracles and pilgrimages?
3. The 21st century and looking back at this portrait of the Catholic Church, perceptions, Catholics, non-Catholics?
4. The title, the reference to the Society of Jesus, the status of the Jesuits, 400 year history? The touch of the military? The formalities of the structure of the Jesuits, the community life, ministry, governance? The role of authority, loyalty to the Pope?
5. The Jesuit priests, the intellectual background, the years of study, the explanation of seminary years, novitiate? Living in more closed intellectual life? Pastoral outreach? The contrast with diocesan clergy? And the role of the Irish parish priest, his comments about the Jesuits, his visits?
6. The sense of Jesuit community, the role of the Rector? The hierarchy within the house, the Deputy the jobs, the novice master? The younger priests and their roles in lecturing? The presence of the novices, the big numbers, formation processes?
7. The variety personalities of priests in the community, the background of the vocations, living out the ministry, issues of faith and commitment? Personal doubts, in terms of vocation, in terms of faith and commitment?
8. The story of the miracle, the repercussions for faith? The health of Fr Sierra, his physical decline, the years? His semi-consciousness? But the miracle in terms of physical change, emotional life, psychosomatic issues? True and false miracles? The response of people, faith, hopes, pilgrimages, healing and prayer? How much faith, how much echoes of superstition?
9. The central character, Fr Arnoux, Charles Boyer his presence, his background as a lawyer, late vocation, becoming a Jesuit, his explanation of his sense of belonging, his writing provocative particles and the critique of them, the support? His relationship with the Rector, his being urged by the Rector to talk with Fr Fulton about his vocation, his doing so? The doctor, his having taught him at Fordham University? His friendship with Fr Sierra, his illness? The Visitor with his background in India, and his authority from the Superior General? The experience of the miracle, his own scepticism, dealing with the doctor?
10. Peter, his background, coming from the town, his work, visiting the Jesuits, Fr Sierra? His sceptical stances? His later revealing what he had done, pretending to be the voice of the founder, the psychosomatic result? His not telling the truth, the development of the pilgrimages, Terry and her wanting to be healed? His final explanation – and then the witnessing of Terry’s prayer and her standing? Her prayer for him?
11. Terry, friendship with Peter, the background of her accident with the horse, paraplegic, her hopes, wanting a miracle, the prayer, her mother taking her to Europe, her being taught Latin, the visit to the Chapel, Fr Arnoux and his strictness trying to keep her out, her standing, the walk and her few steps? The comment that she was praying for Peter and was able to walk? The true miracle? Physical, emotional, psychosomatic?
12. Life in the community, Rector and his eagerness for the founder of the community to be beatified, his joy at the miracle, wanting Fr Arnoux to take the duty of promotion of the calls? Fr Arnoux’s refusal, the issue of the verbal obedience? The Rector collapsing, his dying? The role of Fr Fulton, going to the concerts, his love of music, playing the piano? The discussions with his friend about leaving? His friendship with Father Sierra, the Visitor and the slides? Fr Sierra coming down, wanting to see him? The effect on him and his vocation?
13. The death of the Rector, his substitute and his rather strict stances and his criticism of Fr Arnoux’s articles the Novice Master as his deputy? The message from the Superior General from Rome, Fr Arnoux as the new Rector =, the priest then being sent to work in the parish? To learn some pastoral compassion?
14. The character of the monsignor, the conventions of the Irish parish priest, cheerfulness, his car, his frequent presence in the community, chatting, the behaviour of the dog, his comments on the Jesuits, the touch of comedy?
15. The 1950s interpretation of the church, ministry, vocation, miracles and faith?,
