You Can Change the World (1950-1952) Bob Hope Bing Crosby Jack Benny
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- This short was the first of 30 films planned by the Christophers, a non-denominational, anti-totalitarian, anti-communist group with the motto "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness", founded in 1945 by Father James Keller.
"You Can Change The World" was filmed in November 1949, and two hundred copies were offered without charge to any interested group. Obviously the circulation started in 1950, and 1952 "You Can Change The World" was released for TV.
Produced by
William Perlberg
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Eddie "Rochester" Anderson Rochester
Jack Benny Himself
Ann Blyth Herself
Johnny Burke Himself
Bing Crosby Himself
Paul Douglas Himself
Irene Dunne Herself
William Holden Himself
Bob Hope Himself
James G. Keller Himself (as Father James G. Keller)
Jimmy Van Heusen Himself
Loretta Young Herself
(From the Daily Boston Globe - February 26, 1950...)
Catholic Priest Appearing in Movie With Hollywood Stars
HOLLYWOOD. Feb. 25 - There's a new kind of movie-making under way out there.
Under the flood of arcs on a big sound stage stands a tall, handsome Roman Catholic priest. He's doing his first movie-acting, performing acceptably with such boxoffice luminaries as Irene Dunne, Loretta Young, Ann Blyth, William Holden, Jack Benny, Rochester and Paul Douglas.
Father James Keller,49, of New York City, is founder-director of the Christophers, meaning Christ-bearers. There are at least 200.000 members chiefly in the United States. There are no dues, no meetings, no denominational requirements. The basic idea is to get people to do something besides just grumble about things they don't like in education, government, labor-management and so on.
"You can change the world" is the thought behind the Christophers and its the title of Father Keller's movie.
One day here, Father Keller, was relaxing from a nationwide speaking tour by playing golf. His partner, a lawyer friend, said, "Why don't you get these Christopher talks into a picture? They'd reach a lot more people than you ever can."
Father Keller broached the suggestion to his friend, director Leo ("Going My Way") McCarey. McCarey said, "it's a swell idea. But you can't just stand there and talk. Now maybe if there were a little group in somebody's home, and you dropped in..."
McCarey helped spread the word, and the stars volunteered. Bing Crosby sang a song. Bob Hope did a telephone sequence. Stars, director, cameramen, producers and others contributed at least half a million dollars' worth of free time.
Art director Bill Flannery lent the set - a hand-carved, walnut living room, more than two centuries old which he bought in England. In the picture it's Jack Benny's living room.
Fr. Keller stands behind a plush chair, in the center of the group. He ad-libs his lines. Sometimes he requires several takes. McCarey wants naturalness. It's hard for Fr. Keller to laugh at one of Benny's penny-pinching lines with the same spontaneity he managed in rehearsal.
Between scenes, McCarey tells you the priest is "a very good actor. He's not as self-conscious as most people because he has very little vanity."
Several denominations are represented in the cast. Crosby and the Misses Blyth, Dunne and Young are Catholics, Douglas is an Episcopalian, Holden a Congregationalist, and Rochester a Methodist.
Hal Roach lent the sound stage. McCarey and two others wrote the script. William Perlberg of 20th Century Fox and Bernard Carr of Cascade Pictures handled productions. The song Bing sings "Early American" was composed by his movie tunesmiths, Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen. Bing plans to make a record of it and donate the proceeds to the Christophers.
The film's $30.000 cost for film, set erection, and labor was met out of contributions to the Christophers. Two hundred 16-millimeter prints of the half-hour film are planned for free distribution among church, club and other groups.
Other Christopher films planned by Father Keller include "Your Role in Government," "Secretarial Work With a Purpose," and "How to Get a Job With a Purpose."
Father Keller is a Maryknoll missionary and the author of two books.
Of Hollywood he tells you:"I've always felt that there is a lot of goodness here. You hear about the freaks, but the majority are good people."
(Daily Boston Globe, Feb.26,1950)
Wow. We need this more than ever RIGHT NOW
I wish Hollywood would stand behind our Nation like this NOW.....
These people are disgusting.
That seems pretty antithetical to the entire idea of freedom 🤡
remembering Fr Keller...he brought out and recognized the good in all...had nothing to do with religion...we all can contribute to "Lighting one candle instead of cursing the darkness"
DeputyDoug829, do you still have this video somewhere with the full credits, if there were some? My grandmother's sister passed away last week from COVID-19 and my mother believes she was one of the editors on this film, but can't find any credits anywhere. I thought maybe there might be extended credits at the end of the film? Thanks
This was an inspirational Video and it would be nice if more people would see it.
This is such a wonderful display of Christian works bringing salt and light to American Culture! Also that our rights come from God and not government! How far America has strayed from our Father's founding Documents! Thankyou. James Sasse. GodWhoisGod com
Wonderful philosophy. Interesting that such a diverse group of Hollywood stars signed on to do this short. Ann Blyth is a devout Catholic and Jack Benny was Jewish. This proves the Christophers were non-denominational.
A truly fascinating video by a group I am not familiar with. I like their idea of infiltrating the one percent with do-gooders who can truly effect change in the world. Sad to say that 60-odd years later that one percent seems pretty inpenetrable!
These religious leaders must have read a different set of documents than the ones I've read. Our leaders wanted us to have religious freedom, not have any religion forced on us.
Which religion is being "forced" on us? (You do know that "humanism" was declared a "religious" belief by our Supreme Court).
+Melodae Farley Your understanding of this film indicates a very naive view of the constitution and the thoughts and intentions of the founding fathers; and a strange takeaway from watching this film. You seem to be indicating that people should not have freedom of speech in discussing their religious and patriotic views because you feel they are forcing religion on you. This is a far cry from the founding fathers actual intention that people should have the right to freedom of religion (in both speech and actions). Their intention was that the Federal Government should simply be forbidden from establishing a specific national religion.
Right wing propaganda. Absolute bullshit.
This is as fine a movie as I have ever seen. I am, and always have been a believer in The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution together.
Seeing William Holden shocked me.... perhaps there was some good in him.
Note at 1:32, Paul takes out a pack of the cigarettes that sponsored Jack's radio (and eventually, TV) show.............
What a mind indoctrination.
Love God. Do good. Avoid evil. Build up your country. Get young people to enter important occupations to promote the good of society.
How’s that mind indoctrination?
I wonder what they would have said about Islam had they known........a great short never=the=less....
And the butler is still a black man. Oh yeah
Disgusting.