There's minimal preaching in this until the arruval of Billy Graham results in decent religious drama with the master of all preachers. He is looking straight into the camera and overdramatically explains his view of the sinful nature of mankind. It's blunt and forceful, to the point that moderates might reach for the fast forward, but to experience the conversion of ruthless oil man Paul Power, it's important to witness all of the events leading up to his rebirth.
Graham never stops pounding his fist into the air which seems like a lecture, but historically, it's an interesting account of the life of the most beloved evangelist preacher of the 20th Century, and perhaps second only to Jesus himself. Power has kept his daughter, Colleen Townsend, from God pretty much all her life, hurting inward from the loss of his wife, and becoming ruthless in his desire to be the most powerful man in Texas which results in him threatening a rival with a gun, only stopped by the arrival of the very religious Reed Harper.
While this has the structure of an early 50's style soap opera (done in a very pastel like color photography), it grows on the audience by showing the dark soul of its leading man and his journey to atonement. Perhaps the religious discussions come at the audience like a sledgehammer, and some of the acting not very convincing (a very monotone Cindy Walker the obvious example), but it has good intentions for what it's trying to accomplish. Only a few cringe moments of the subject of heaven vs. Hell, done as only Billy Graham could do and only as he could get away with, having lived a scandal free life. For a moderate follower of Christian law like myself, it's more of a historical interest, but I was touched by how Powers came full circle in his journey.
Graham never stops pounding his fist into the air which seems like a lecture, but historically, it's an interesting account of the life of the most beloved evangelist preacher of the 20th Century, and perhaps second only to Jesus himself. Power has kept his daughter, Colleen Townsend, from God pretty much all her life, hurting inward from the loss of his wife, and becoming ruthless in his desire to be the most powerful man in Texas which results in him threatening a rival with a gun, only stopped by the arrival of the very religious Reed Harper.
While this has the structure of an early 50's style soap opera (done in a very pastel like color photography), it grows on the audience by showing the dark soul of its leading man and his journey to atonement. Perhaps the religious discussions come at the audience like a sledgehammer, and some of the acting not very convincing (a very monotone Cindy Walker the obvious example), but it has good intentions for what it's trying to accomplish. Only a few cringe moments of the subject of heaven vs. Hell, done as only Billy Graham could do and only as he could get away with, having lived a scandal free life. For a moderate follower of Christian law like myself, it's more of a historical interest, but I was touched by how Powers came full circle in his journey.
