October 2008 – It’s being touted as another coming-of-age story, and this time it’s about 20th century icon and evangelist Billy Graham. 

Solex/MATP and Rocky Mountain Pictures are bringing the independent film Billy: The Early Years to more than 300 screens October 10. 

“Everyone knows who he became,” said co-producer Larry Mortorff. “Our movie is about his journey to get there.”

The story 
The film explores the young adult years of Graham’s life including his commitment to Christ, his call to preach and his marriage to Ruth Bell. Growing from an awkward searching 17-year-old to a polished preaching 30-year-old, Graham’s life was full of fear, doubt, confusion, love, joy and faithfulness as he attempted to make sense of the Gospel. On one hand he enjoyed the blessings in his life. On the other, he encountered the skepticism of others and the World War II context that helped shape his generation. 

Graham’s faith was tested when his friend and evangelism cohort, Charles Templeton, abandoned the faith and denied his own belief in God. Billy: The Early Years is told through the eyes of Templeton on his deathbed as he reflects on his life and the impact Graham had on it. 

Telling the story through the eyes of an atheist exposes challenging issues of the faith with which many people wrestle. The film does a good job of identifying the struggles, but a weak job of getting to the depth of the resolution. 

In addition, the film was choppy, slow, corny and, at times, just plain uncomfortable. It had great potential and promising elements – i.e. the purpose, soundtrack, cast, appeal and charm – but was disappointing in overall impact. 

Behind the story
Franklin Graham, Graham’s son and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), was also disappointed as evident from the response posted on the ministry’s Web site: “The BGEA has not collaborated with nor does it endorse the movie, Billy: The Early Years.” 

Due to advanced screenings of the film being shown to ministry leaders, there is concern that some pastors are automatically connecting it to BGEA. Franklin does not want that mistake to be made. 

He elaborated: “The content lacks my father’s greatest passion: to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world and point men, women, and children to His saving power.”

Much of the movie’s focus is on Graham as an exceptional person, rather than on the exceptional work of Christ in and through Graham’s life. One could walk away from the film knowing more about Graham than about Christ, which doesn’t seem to be the filmmakers’ intentions.

“While the movie covers many aspects of my father’s early years, it depicts events that never happened or are greatly embellished,” Franklin added. 

“My father’s life has been documented in many ways, and I have always appreciated those who painstakingly sought to tell his story accurately.” 

Which is exactly what the filmmakers of Billy: The Early Years tried to do. 

“This movie, we have painstakingly spent two years making,” Mortorff explained to the AFA Journal. “We spent a year doing research on events in the early life of Billy and Ruth and their friends and family. … We’ve spent now eight months in making the movie.

“[So] our belief is we have made a wonderful, wholesome family movie about an amazing icon in world history. … We’ve been as true as one can be to the story of his life, how it should be told and to his religious convictions,” said Mortorff. 

Mortorff acknowledged fictionalizing some of the film’s contents but only for entertainment value, specifically in an attempt to reach today’s media-driven young people with the Gospel. Filmmakers call this creative license. 

“We are disappointed with Franklin’s point of view but respect the fact that he’s entitled to … [it] and certainly hope that in given time and distance he will appreciate that the work we’ve done is a tribute to his father,” Mortorff said. “That was what we intended to do, and I believe we have completed our assignment.”

Gigi Graham, the oldest of the Graham’s five children, agrees. She defends the film and questions her brother Franklin’s response. 

Mortorff noted that he and his crew have been in touch with BGEA, respect their work and knew from the start that an endorsement was unlikely.

“We knew from the beginning that they had a policy about no endorsements. And I respect that policy,” co-producer Bill McKay told Christianity Today. 

As of press time, the film was not yet rated nor had Billy Graham, who will turn 90 November 7, seen it. The movie was expected to receive a PG rating for the gruesome World War II images shown. 

Also, a young girl covered in blood is shown on a stretcher. There are several kissing scenes, mostly between Graham and his wife. 

However, one is of Templeton and another man’s girlfriend in a bar. In an unfinished cut of the film, it sounded like the “d”-word was used once, but Mortorff said he didn’t think so. The film’s contents raise some theological questions, as well. 

For more information, visit www.BillyTheEarlyYears.com.
Review by Rebecca Grace

Cloud Ten film offers riveting drama, solid Gospel
Saving God, a gripping and heart-wrenching film from Cloud Ten Pictures and Clear Entertainment, will release October 14 on DVD and into churches. 

Rev. Armstrong Cane, the key character, has just been released from a 15-year prison term for manslaughter. He came to faith in Christ in prison. 

God’s qualities of mercy, grace and patience are all demonstrated in the clear context of His redemptive power as Cane goes back to the inner-city neighborhood where he grew up. He has big plans to re-open and re-energize the church his late father once served as pastor. 

One of Cane’s first acts is to confront drug dealers and order them to leave the street in front of his church. He sets out to rescue Norris Johns, a young man who is dealing drugs for Blaze, the territorial drug lord. When Cane comes between Johns and Blaze, he risks his life and the conditions of his parole.

Johns is arrested in a drug bust and the cops confiscate $5,000 he owes Blaze. Cane applies for a bank loan to help Johns “buy back” his life, but the bank turns him down. When a $100,000 anonymous check comes to the church, Cane is finally able to help Johns, begin renovating the rundown church building and begin ministry.

Saving God is not rated but it has no offensive language. And in one pivotal scene, Cane clearly presents the Gospel to Norris. Given those elements, some would call it family-friendly. However, before having young children watch, parents should be advised of a few graphic violent scenes between combative drug dealers and between Cane and the dealers.

From a thematic perspective, Christian integrity, unwed pregnancy, family betrayal and life-and-death struggles add to the tension as the story runs rapidly toward its double-edged, emotional climax. 

Cloud Ten CEO Andre´ van Heerden co-produced the film. Cloud Ten (www.cloudtenpictures.com) is best known for bringing Left Behind: The Movie to the big screen.
Review by Randall Murphree

God-honoring family fare
Franklin Springs Family Media, based in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, is offering films aimed at providing “top-quality DVDs that set forth a vision for the fullness of a God-honoring family life.” Below are reviews of three of their titles. 

The Peasall Sisters: Family Harmony
Faith and family keep the Peasall sisters on key as the Grammy-Award-winning trio harmonizes on more than just their songs.  

The lives of the Peasall family changed overnight when the three oldest children were chosen to record songs for the soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou? The DVD titled The Peasall Sisters: Family Harmony tells their story. 

It is a concert of the sisters singing their blue grass melodies at Puckett’s Grocery near Nashville, Tennessee. It’s interspersed with personal interviews that highlight devotion to God, the importance of family and the value of motherhood and fatherhood. The DVD also focuses on the benefits of homeschooling. The Peasalls are a talented family with an uplifting story. 

Note: There is evidence of alcohol on the tables at the venue where the sisters perform. 

An American Adventure: The Living Legacy of Jimmy Gentry 
This is the inspiring story of a man whose simple life, rooted in faith and family, has touched countless others in his 82 years.

The Living Legacy of Jimmy Gentry is a 47-minute DVD that traces Gentry’s life growing up during the Depression; serving in World War II where he was among the soldiers who liberated the Dachau concentration camp; and becoming a renowned football coach of 50 years. Gentry still finds a place on the sidelines each fall as an assistant coach – a position he fills in hopes of impacting just one more life. 

With God-given charisma, Gentry has impacted countless lives by being a walking example of generosity, integrity, faithfulness, service and love.

A Journey Home
When one father chose to lead his family in service and in love, it turned their lives upside down. A Journey Home is a DVD documentary about Tom Waller, his wife and their 11 children as they go from a traditional life in the big city to an agrarian life on the creek banks to a ministry-centered life in Israel. 

Waller left his 80-hour workweek behind to live off the land all for the sake of his family. Choosing a simpler way of life allowed the family to grow in God, focus on each other, create a solid work ethic and build meaningful relationships in the community – all in preparation for a move clear across the world. 

A Journey Home is a good reminder about what’s important in life and the difference a father can make when he invests in his family and follows His Savior. Unfortunately, the DVD is slow at times and has poor film quality in places.
Reviews by Rebecca Grace