Out of the Past: It's MARJOE!

[blogslut]

Anyone remember Marjoe Gortner and his Oscar-Winning documentary from 1972?

A little background

Mr. Gortner was born into a family of evangelists. From the age of four, Marjoe was on the road, preaching, marrying couples and saving souls. He was billed as the "World's Youngest Evangelical Preacher". As he grew older, the novelty wore off and Marjoe left the circuit and found the non-violence movement. Eventually, Mr. Gortner returned to evangelism but his heart really wasn't in it. According to Marjoe, he never believed in God. He was just very good at whipping crowds into a furvor and taking their money. Towards the end of his ministerial career, Gortner invited a group of documentary film makers to follow him on his religious tour across the land. The result was this amazing piece of cinema.

In light of today's revelations about Ted Haggard, I advise you to rent or purchase this film. In fact, in light of the Bush administration's approval of torture methods such as waterboarding, "Marjoe" is more relevant than ever. In fact, it's the reason this man's movie re-entered my mind. When I saw the film as a young woman, I was stunned by Mr. Gortner's descriptions of his mother's disciplinary methods - methods designed to punish without leaving marks.

To read about the film, here is a link:

http://imdb.com/title/tt0068924/

If you wish to rent the film, I have just watched it a third time, thanks to my ever-wonderful Netflix subscription. If you wish to purchase the film, there are copies for sale @ Amazon.

For a little YouTube taste of Marjoe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zHqKI4X8bA

[graywarrior]

1. I've been a fan of Marjoe for years.

[blogslut]

2. Me too!

I was so thrilled when I saw him in the teevee movie, "The Marcus-Nelson Murders". It was the telefilm from which the show "Kojack" was born.

I rmember seeing him and thinking: "Look! It's Marjoe! He's free!"

According to online bios, Gortner now raises money for charity. I bet he does a a hell of a job. :)

[Tansy_Gold]

3. DUer connection

IIRC, there used to be a DUer -- name long ago forgotten by me -- who was a close relative of Marjoe Gortner.

Tansy Gold

[blogslut]

4. interesting

I wonder if that DUer might some day ask Mr. Gortner his opinion on waterboarding.

[Tansy_Gold]

7. I didn't know my PM files went back that far

but I was able to identify the DUer through an old private message. She is no longer on DU, and the connection between her and Marjoe was only by a marriage that has since dissolved.

But you make a good point. It would be interesting. .. .. .

[karlrschneider]

5. Wow, I hadn't thought of him in ...30? years?...I did see the movie

long ago but it would be fun to watch again. :D

[blogslut]

6. I made Blogslut Jr. watch it

We shared one of those warm moments of outrage that have been common for us since 2000.

[drm604]

8. I saw his film.

I saw his film a number of years ago on a local PBS station. I highly recommend it. K&R.

[blogslut]

9. Thanks!

It would be great for a double-bill home viewing with the classic "Elmer Gantry"


Burt Lancaster.....sigh. :loveya:

[no_hypocrisy]

10. I thought he had potential as an actor -- even after "Earthquake". n/t

[mitchum]

11. I'm still waiting for "Pray For The Wildcats" to come out on DVD

the world's greatest made for TV movie. Marjoe, Shatner, Robert Reed, Angie Dickinson, and Andy Griffith as a real mean sonofabitch