Classic Christian Films: Volume 1

AS WE FORGIVE (1952): A leather-jacketed juvenile delinquent sees the error of his ways when he discovers a passion for playing the church organ. As We Forgive stars Darryl Hickman, an actor who specialized in juvenile roles in the 1940s. The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Men of Boys' Town (1941) and Leave Her to Heaven (1945) are among his credits. In 1951, he abandoned Hollywood to enter a monastery. Darryl returned to acting some time later, appearing in Tea and Sympathy (1956) and The Tingler (1959) with Vincent Price, but his faith is reflected in films he made for the church such as As We Forgive. Famously, he is also the older brother of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis' Dwayne Hickman.

SYMPHONY OF LIFE (1951): Little is known about this beautifully-shot Technicolor film featuring Dale Evans, 'Queen of the Cowgirls' (billed here as Dale Evans Rogers.) Dale, sitting in a plush armchair, tells us "the story of Man, his creation, his fall, and his redemption. It's like a great symphony...the greatest symphony ever written. The symphony of life." We are then shown representations of the Book of Genesis, the Nativity, and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This stunning footage is the work of Richard Cunha, an acclaimed cinematographer who also made four low budget B-movies for Astor Pictures - Giant from the Unknown, She Demons, Missile to the Moon, and Frankenstein's Daughter - all in 1958. The film concludes with Dale singing the 19th century hymn "Softly and Tenderly (Jesus is Calling.)"

THE SILVER THEATRE "THE GUIDING STAR" (1949): The Silver Theatre was a weekly anthology series from the very early days of television. This episode, "The Guiding Star," aired on December 19, 1949. It was later released in a home-movie version available for screenings at church groups. Character actor Clem Bevans plays a kindly old man who teaches his extended family the Christian spirit when he invites a young woman and her baby to live with them at Christmastime. Also featured are Clara Blandick (Auntie Em from The Wizard of Oz) and sci-fi actor Robert Clarke (The Man From Planet X, The Hideous Sun Demon.)

PLUS: CROSSROADS "THE INNER LIGHT" (1956): Every Sunday morning on ABC, the anthology series Crossroads presented uplifting religious tales starring some of Hollywood's biggest names. This episode, "The Inner Light," tells the story of Po Ling, a young Chinese man who loses the will to live after being blinded by an explosion. With the help of Father Raymond, a Jesuit medical missionary, Po Ling finds a new purpose in life. "The Inner Light" stars two of the famed Chinese-American actors who played Charlie Chan's sons: Benson Fong ("Number Three Son") and Keye Luke ("Number One Son.") Hollywood veteran George Brent (42nd Street, Dark Victory) plays the Jesuit missionary, and the episode is directed by George Waggner (The Wolf Man.)