The Left Hand of God
| The Left Hand of God | |
|---|---|
Original film poster
|
|
| Directed by | Edward Dmytryk |
| Produced by | Buddy Adler |
| Written by |
Alfred Hayes William Edmund Barrett (novel) |
| Starring |
Humphrey Bogart Gene Tierney Lee J. Cobb |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Cinematography | Franz Planer |
| Edited by | Dorothy Spencer |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
87 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,785,000 |
| Box office | $4 million (US) |
The Left Hand of God is a 1955 drama film made by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced by Buddy Adler, from a screenplay by Alfred Hayes, based on the novel The Left Hand of God, by William Edmund Barrett.
Set at a small American mission in China in 1947, at a time of civil war, it stars Humphrey Bogart masquerading as a Catholic priest and Gene Tierney in the role of a nurse, with a supporting cast including Lee J. Cobb, Agnes Moorehead, E. G. Marshall, and Carl Benton Reid.
While playing Anne Scot, Tierney became ill. Bogart had a personal experience as he was close to a sister who suffered from mental illness, so during the production, he fed Tierney her lines and encouraged her to seek help.
In 1947, Catholic priest Father O'Shea (Humphrey Bogart) makes his way to a remote mission in China to replace a priest who was killed there. He meets Dr. David Sigman (E.G. Marshall), his wife Beryl (Agnes Moorehead), and nurse Anne Scott (Gene Tierney), the only other Western residents. They run a hospital for the surrounding villagers, at a time when competing warlords and Communists are engaged in civil war.
O'Shea delivers his debut Sunday sermon, in both English and Chinese for his appreciative parishioners. His work among them and his respect for local customs soon earn him their respect.
Anne becomes uncomfortable as she is attracted to him. Beryl suggests to her husband that Anne be sent back to the United States, but he refuses to consider it, needing her work at the hospital. Beryl suggests that O'Shea consult with Reverend Martin, a Protestant minister at another American mission, for advice. He agrees.
When O'Shea meets Martin (Robert Burton), he makes a startling, unsolicited confession. He says he is not a Catholic priest, but Jim Carmody, an American pilot who had flown supplies over The Hump during World War II. He crashed during the war and was rescued by a local warlord, General Yang (Lee J. Cobb), becoming his trusted second-in-command ... and his prisoner. When one of Yang's soldiers killed Father O'Shea, Carmody deserted and decided to masquerade as the replacement priest. After recounting his story to Martin, Carmody writes a full account to the Catholic bishop.
...
Wikipedia