Martin Luther (1953)
May 8, 1953Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently Martin Luther is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Hoopla, FlixFling, Apple TV, Fandor, Amazon Prime Video, Pure Flix, Freevee
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Media.
Details.
Release DateMay 8, 1953
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 45m
Filming LocationsBavaria, Germany
Genres
Wiki.
Martin Luther is a 1953 American–West German film biography of Martin Luther. It was directed by Irving Pichel, (who also plays a supporting role), and stars Niall MacGinnis as Luther. It was produced by Louis de Rochemont and RD-DR Corporation in collaboration with Lutheran Church Productions and Luther-Film-G.M.B.H.
The National Board of Review named the film the fourth best of 1953. It was nominated for two Oscars, for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) (Joseph C. Brun) and Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black-and-White) (Fritz Maurischat, Paul Markwitz). The music was composed by Mark Lothar and performed by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. It was filmed at the Wiesbaden Studios in Hesse in West Germany.
A notice at the beginning of the film characterizes it as a careful and balanced presentation of Luther's story: "This dramatization of a decisive moment in human history is the result of careful research of facts and conditions in the 16th century as reported by historians of many faiths." The research was done by notable Reformation scholars Theodore G. Tappert and Jaroslav Pelikan who assisted Allan Sloane and Lothar Wolff.
The film was commercially very successful.