FIRST LEGION, THE in 35mm
Produced independently, Douglas Sirk's treatise on faith and reason eschews his trademark irony for compelling sincerity. When the bedridden Father Sierra (H. B. Warner, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE KING OF KINGS) stands and walks, his fellow Jesuit priests are quick to label it a miracle, with devoted pilgrims flocking to witness the wonder. But Father Sierra's doctor (Lyle Bettger, ALL I DESIRE) harbors a secret, and confesses his involvement to Father Arnoux (Charles Boyer, GASLIGHT). A lawyer-turned-priest, Arnoux's own faith will be called into question as the case is brought all the way to the Vatican. Adapted from Emmet Lavery's (THE COURT-MARTIAL OF BILLY MITCHELL) play, this austere drama is one of Sirk's first masterpieces. DIR/PROD Douglas Sirk; SCR Emmet Lavery, based on his play. U.S., 1951, b&w, 86 min. NOT RATED
35mm restored print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive with funding provided by The Louis B. Mayer Foundation and The Carl David Memorial Fund for Film Preservation.
AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Opening Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023
Genre: Drama