The Prodigal (1983) User Reviews

Stuart family gets saved

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 3 September 2016]

Produced by the Billy Graham Association this is one of the films where the climax is the altar call at one of Graham's Crusades, this one in Seattle. A family with the surname Stuart all get saved.

John Cullum and Hope Lange are the parents and they're drifting apart. Cullum though a nominal Christian has become a workaholic and devoted to his business. Lange is not feeling the passion any more and is drifting toward a possible affair with writer Ian Bannen. Of course in his book discussion group quoting C.S. Lewis is not likely to be conducive to any illicit romance.

Then there's the kids, sons Arliss Howard and John Hammond. Howard is a seminarian who lives in the slum part of town, kind of like Kirk Douglas in is religious phase in Lust For Life. His real faith kind of frightens his parents though not in the way Douglas's did. Hammond is a ne'er do well. When we meet him he's first a fisherman and then takes up tennis and rich princess Morgan Brittany. He's in the title role as The Prodigal.

As this is a religious film specifically for revival audiences it follows most definite parameters. One thing I really could not believe that in 1983 even in the Reagan years Graham himself would be subject and do a university lecture and participate in a Q&A. Those students were a lot more respectful than I suspect college kids of the 80s would be.

This one is definitely for Christian audiences only.

Just remembered this movie

[duchessdreamweaver · 6 February 2007]

I saw this as a young teen. I don't remember much about it but I do remember it made a major impression on me. I liked it at the time that my church youth group went to it. Most of the kids in the group did not really enjoy it. Of course most of the kids in my youth group I don't think were thinking of the religious side of the group. Most of them just came for the fun events. When we were going to a movie we had a very large turn out. They were very unenthusiastic about the movie. It's funny that I really don't remember the details of the movie but I can remember how I felt and what the others reactions were when we discussed it afterwards. I was definitely in the minority of those that were impressed with it.

Shallow and Cheesy

[bjkitrel · 1/10 · 7 January 2019]

Terrible film in every aspect. The acting is terrible, the writers obviously had more important things to do than write a decent script, and the direction and meaning of this film is more shallow than a half filled kiddie pool. One can only hope the guys at MST3K discover this. I wish I hadn't.

Watch it

[chrisnope · 9/10 · 3 May 2011]

This is one of the strangest films I've ever seen. As a child I went to see it with a church group and certainly didn't understand it's depth. The sentiment of the film always stayed with me and I bought it to watch once more. 1st off this is not what I'd call a typical "Christian" film in ANY way. It's message is not about a down and out prodigal son who returns, instead it is about the dynamic of the American family and a true spiritual quest. I say it is 'strange' because it merely hints at the specifics and never completely resolves key points that are slowly revealed during the film. It focuses on a fairly well to do family who have grown apart by years of going thru the motions and communication break down. Although it is indeed a story about the eldest son (John Hammond,) it also focuses on the entire family's search for both truth, closure and peace amongst the chaos of their everyday lives. I'd highly recommend this film to anyone who values film because it has all the makings of a great artistic piece...even if it falls a tad short. The viewer finds the end curious because hardly anything is put to bed in the typical Hollywood style. But that's also why it's very thought provoking. The film is really a lesson in hypocrisy regarding the individuals (the world over) who simply live life without ever breaking down barriers to find real faith and truth. It's absolutely amazing that this film was commissioned by the Billy Graham ministries because there's nothing preachy about it. Yes Graham is a Christian and the film deals with a family of supposed christians, but the crux of the film really deals with the individual's soul and search to make sense of life.I love this film because it is incredibly real. It reminds me of "ordinary people" starring Tim Hutton and Mary Tyler Moore, but in some ways it's more effective at revealing just how families exist and devolve under the pressure of American life.It's a shame that more film lovers have yet to see this small and wonderful gem of a film.

Breathtaking

[tsek · 10/10 · 21 July 2002]

This is a very unusual film. The suspense does keep you wondering and the story of this runaway and his family provokes interesting thought.

The Music and song by BJ Thomas is inspiring and the story is about someone trying to find himself and his family figures are trying the best they can. In the end, he finds for himself the road he needs to travel. I have purposefully left out many details so you can view it on your own.

There are religious overtones, however, this is a very well done professionally done movie.

Another milder movie yet still well done and thought provoking is Cry from the Mountain.

Its a Movie everyone should think about. Enjoy.

"The Passion" of 1983

[Flamio · 9/10 · 12 March 2004]

I had just become a Christian when this film came out. The reason I bring this up is because I probably would've never heard of it otherwise! If memory serves, this film was shown for two weeks only in limited theaters with virtually NO advertising. This film was WAY ahead of it's time and it took balls to put it out. For that alone, and the fact that somehow they got the gorgeous Morgan Brittany to risk her entire career to appear in it, make me give it a 9/10. Other than that, the film wasn't that memorable, but hey, it's been 21 years, I should see it again. The film lacked a fluid movement. The storyline was very unusual and probably scared Hollywood like The Passion does now. If not for the power of Billy Graham being behind it, it never would've been on screen. Actually, I think God wanted it out there for awhile to reach some people. Maybe it still reaches some today. FLAMIO

Altar Call

[NoDakTatum · 8/10 · 17 November 2023]

Taking place in the northwest United States, the story concerns a family in crisis awaiting a Billy Graham crusade. John Hammond is Greg Stuart, a pot smoking fisherman who decides to take a job as a tennis pro at a country club. He gets along unwell with his parents, Anne (Hope Lange) and Elton (John Cullum), who have problems of their own. Elton is an insurance company executive who is working himself into an early grave, and ignoring his frustrated wife. Anne, looking for some kind of affection, begins flirting with Riley Wyndham (Ian Bannen), a local author. Scott (Arliss Howard) is Hammond's brother- a seminarian who lives in a bad part of town, and the rest of his family makes light of Scott's apparently showy poor living. He and his girlfriend begin empowering their fellow tenants, which gives the violent property owner reason for concern. Greg takes up with Sheila (Morgan Brittany), a spoiled rich girl who plans to market Greg as a major tennis pro. Unfortunately, not all of these plot points are resolved at an altar call.

Despite the subject matter and Graham's involvement, this is by no means a wishy washy film. Graham's few scenes are wonderful, and he speaks more truth in his statements than others do in their lifetime. His analogy about the ant hill serves to answer those who wonder why God is not a part of some lives. I do wish the writer/director had closed out the various stories he had going. What about the tenants? Did Elton leave his job? Did Anne begin writing? These are especially noteworthy in that the viewer comes to be very involved in these people's lives. The early 1980's filming looks a little dated, although there are some shots of the ocean that are breathtaking. The most jarring aspect of "The Prodigal" is its unapologetic talk of Jesus Christ. Considering the subject matter of motion pictures today, it is shocking to hear the lost give their lives to Jesus Christ and not be embarrassed about it, or get shouted down by idolaters and tree worshippers. While not a perfect film, "The Prodigal" is very good, and does its job very well. I definitely recommend it.