Billy: The Early Years

Last updated

Billy: The Early Years
BillyV1.jpg
Directed by Robby Benson
Written byWilliam Paul McKay
Jana Lyn Rutledge
Produced byLawrence Mortorff
Martin Shiel
William Paul McKay
Starring Armie Hammer
Stefanie Butler
Kristoffer Polaha
Cliff Bemis
Cinematography David Rudd
Edited byRyan Folsey
Music byAnastasia Brown (music supervisor)
Scott Brasher (composer: score)
Distributed by Rocky Mountain Pictures
Release date
  • October 10, 2008 (2008-10-10)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.6 million
Box office$347,328

Billy: The Early Years is a 2008 American biographical film directed by Robby Benson. The film tells the story of the early life of evangelist Billy Graham, played by Armie Hammer. After almost a year and a half of delays, the film was released on DVD on March 16, 2010.

Contents

World Wide Pictures, the film distribution and production company that was created by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, did not work on the film's production.

Plot

A reporter (Jennifer O'Neill) is interviewing Charles Templeton on his deathbed. Told through the eyes of Templeton, the film shows Billy Graham’s life as a teenager during the Great Depression living at the family dairy farm in North Carolina. During this time, Graham becomes a Christian at a tent revival meeting. Later, Graham goes to Bob Jones College, then transfers to Florida Bible Institute after being identified as a failure by Bob Jones, Sr. Following his time at Florida Bible Institute, Graham goes to Wheaton College where he falls in love with classmate Ruth Bell, whom he ultimately marries. In the 1940s, Templeton and Graham become close until Templeton's scientific skepticism causes him to lose his faith and his friendship with Graham. The film finishes with Graham inviting his listeners to accept Christ as their personal savior in his Los Angeles crusade of 1949.

Cast

Production

Casting

Screenwriter-producer William Paul McKay and producer Lawrence Mortorff originally wanted John Hagee to portray Mordecai Ham but director Robby Benson, concerned that Hagee's controversial public persona would cause a distraction, cast Cliff Bemis instead. [1]

To find the lead actor, producers held talent searches in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. [2]

Filming

The film was shot in Nashville and Watertown, Tennessee [3] with a production budget of $3.6 million. [1]

Release

Marketing

Advance screenings were held throughout the Bible Belt in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia and Arkansas. [4] Thomas Nelson published a novelization, Billy: The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham and the Test of Faith that Almost Changed Everything, written by McKay and Ken Abraham.

Reception

Billy: The Early Years opened on October 10, 2008, less than a month before Graham's 90th birthday, grossing $192,042 in 282 theaters during its opening weekend. The film would eventually gross a total of $347,328. [5] In response to the film's box office reception, Mortorff said that Fireproof , an evangelical film which had been released around the same time, might have unintentionally hurt the film. [6] Mortorff also said that his team was planning a "second wave" of theatrical releases and looking forward to recovering its losses through DVD sales and TV deals. [6]

Although Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham, criticized the film, Gigi Graham, eldest daughter of Billy Graham, supported the film, saying that the film has the "Gospel of Jesus in there" and is "positive toward my parents and their ministry." [7] In a review of the film, critic Roger Moore commented that a "bland leading man in a movie without much of a biographical spark to it makes for a dull sermon indeed." [8]

A CBN review said the film had "a simple and unassuming charm about it, much like the man it honors." [9]

Award nominations

At the Epiphany Awards, Hammer's performance received a Grace Award nomination for most inspiring performance in movies & TV. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelism</span> Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

In Christianity, evangelism or witnessing is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is sometimes associated with Christian missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Bright</span> American evangelist

William R. Bright was an American evangelist. In 1951 at the University of California, Los Angeles, he founded Campus Crusade for Christ as a ministry for university students. In 1952 he wrote The Four Spiritual Laws. In 1979 he produced the film Jesus.

Youth For Christ (YFC) is a worldwide Christian movement working with young people, whose main purpose is evangelism among teenagers. It began informally in New York City in 1940, when Jack Wyrtzen held evangelical Protestant rallies for teenagers. Rallies were held in other U.S. cities during World War II, attracting particularly large crowds in Chicago led by Torrey Johnson, who became YFC’s first president in 1944. Johnson hired Billy Graham as YFC’s first employee. Former YFC staff have launched over 100 related Christian organizations, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and World Vision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Duhamel</span> American actor

Joshua David Duhamel is an American actor. After various modeling work, he made his acting debut as Leo du Pres on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children and later starred as Danny McCoy on NBC's Las Vegas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Graham</span> American evangelist (1918–2018)

William Franklin Graham Jr. was an American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist minister, and civil rights advocate, whose broadcasts and world tours featuring live sermons became well known in the mid- to late 20th century. Throughout his career, spanning over six decades, Graham rose to prominence as an evangelical Christian figure in the United States and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luis Palau</span> Argentine-American evangelist (1934–2021)

Luis Palau Jr. was an Argentine-American international Christian evangelist. He was born in Argentina but moved to Portland in his mid-twenties to enroll in a graduate program in Biblical studies.

Ian Maxtone-Graham is an American television writer and producer. He has formerly written for Saturday Night Live (1992–1995) and The Simpsons (1995–2012), as well as serving as a co-executive producer and consulting producer for the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Beverly Shea</span> American gospel singer and hymn composer born in Canada

George Beverly Shea was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as "America's beloved gospel singer" and was considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records and television. Because of the large attendance at Graham's Crusades, it is estimated that Shea sang live before more people than anyone else in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Valenciano</span> Filipino singer (born 1964)

Edgardo Jose "Gary" Santiago Valenciano is a Filipino singer. Known for his musical versatility and performances, he is a recipient of various accolades, including 12 Awit Awards, 3 FAMAS Awards and the Myx Magna Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikki Gil</span> Filipina singer, actress, host, model and VJ (born 1987)

Monica Pauline "Nikki" Santos Gil-Albert is a Filipino singer, actress, host, model, and video jockey. She is known for being part of the afternoon remake of Carlo J. Caparas' Pieta (2008–2009) and, in 2009, for portraying Princess Punzalan in the afternoon drama Nagsimula sa Puso (2009–2010). She is also well known for her lead portrayal as Jennifer "Jenny" La Peña in the 2012 remake of the 1990 radio serial of Salvador Royales' Mundo Man ay Magunaw, originally played by Jennifer Sevilla in the film version produced by SEIKO Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Kendrick</span> American actor

Alexander Kendrick is an American pastor, film writer, producer, director, and actor. He is best known for directing and starring in notable faith-based films, including Facing The Giants, War Room, Overcomer, Courageous, and Fireproof. He is one of only two film directors to have three films receive an "A+" grade on CinemaScore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Graham Lotz</span> American evangelist (born 1948)

Anne Morrow Graham Lotz is an American evangelist. She is the second daughter of evangelist Billy Graham and his wife Ruth Graham. She founded AnGeL Ministries, and is the author of 11 books, of which her best known is Just Give Me Jesus.

<i>Fireproof</i> (film) 2008 American film

Fireproof is a 2008 American Christian drama film released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Affirm Films, directed by Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote and co-produced it with Stephen Kendrick. The film stars Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, and Ken Bevel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armie Hammer</span> American actor (born 1986)

Armand Douglas Hammer is an American actor. He began his acting career with guest appearances in several television series. His first leading role was as Billy Graham in the 2008 film Billy: The Early Years, and he gained wider recognition for his double role portraying the twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in David Fincher's biographical drama film The Social Network (2010), for which he won the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Cameron</span> American actor (born 1970)

Kirk Thomas Cameron is an American actor, evangelist, and television host. He first gained fame as a teen actor playing Mike Seaver on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains (1985–1992), a role for which he was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.

<i>Two a Penny</i> 1968 British film by James F. Collier

Two a Penny is a 1967 British film, released nationally in 1968, directed by James F. Collier and starring Cliff Richard. It was produced by Frank R. Jacobson for Billy Graham's film distribution and production company World Wide Pictures The original story and screenplay was by Stella Linden.

<i>C Me Dance</i> 2009 American film

C Me Dance is a 2009 American Christian thriller film, written and directed by Greg Robbins. It was produced by Uplifting Entertainment, distributed by Freestyle Releasing, and was released on April 3, 2009. It has been endorsed by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The Dove Foundation. It has had songs written by Lincoln Brewster, Eowyn, Stephanie Fraschetti and Terri Shamar.

<i>Sarahs Choice</i> 2009 American drama film

Sarah's Choice is a 2009 American direct-to-video Christian drama film directed by Chad Kapper. The film was the first lead film role for contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Rebecca St. James as the title character, along with Andrea Logan White and Dick Van Patten. Christian comedian Brad Stine also appears in the film, along with Charlene Tilton and Staci Keanan. It was released to DVD on November 1, 2009, and was aired on February 27, 2010, on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

<i>Courageous</i> (film) 2011 American film

Courageous is a 2011 American independent Christian drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and written by Kendrick with his brother Stephen Kendrick. It is the fourth film by Sherwood Pictures, the creators of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. Filming in Albany, Georgia concluded in June 2010. The film was marketed by Sony's Provident Films, which also marketed their previous films.

References

  1. 1 2 Roston, Tom (October 12, 2008). "An Odd Career Twist for a Former Screen Heartthrob". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  2. "Billy: The Early Years Opens Nationwide Today". tn.gov. October 13, 2008. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  3. Riley, Jennifer (May 7, 2008). "Film on Billy Graham's Life in Production". The Christian Post . Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  4. Kimball, Josh (August 12, 2008). "Billy Graham Taps Bible Belt for Grassroots Support". The Christian Post . Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  5. "Billy: The Early Years of Billy Graham". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Chattaway, Peter T.; Moring, Mark (November 11, 2008). "'Fireproof' Is Hot". Christianity Today . Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  7. Moring, Mark (August 21, 2008). "Franklin Graham Criticizes Film About His Dad". Christianity Today . Retrieved December 25, 2008.
  8. Movie review: 'Billy: The Early Years' -- 2 of 5 stars
  9. Elliott, Belinda. "Billy: The Early Years: Movie Review". Christian Broadcasting Network. 2008-12-25 http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/screen/ElliottB_Billy-Early-Years.aspx.
  10. Kimball, Josh (February 6, 2009). "'Epiphany Prize' Nominees for Most Inspiring Movie, TV Program Announced". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2010.