Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Martin Luther

      Released May 8, 1953 1h 43m Biography List
      Reviews 69% Audience Score 500+ Ratings In 1505, Martin Luther (Niall MacGinnis) abandons his law studies to become a monk. After being ordained a priest, Luther grows increasingly troubled by the Catholic Church's practices, including using Latin during services and offering absolution -- known as "indulgences" -- for sinners. In 1517, Pope Leo X (Philip Leaver) tries to bring the church much-needed money by selling indulgences. Outraged, Luther writes down his famous 95 Theses, publicly challenging church dogma. Read More Read Less

      Where to Watch

      Martin Luther

      Prime Video

      Rent Martin Luther on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

      Critics Reviews

      View All (2) Critics Reviews
      Manny Farber The Nation While De Rochemont's film may be somewhat tepid as biography and motionless as a movie, it is unique in its class in that it makes its play more to the mind than to the eye. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine As a motion picture which frankly expounds one creed's point of view, this biography of the father of Protestantism is a powerful human document. Nov 13, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (22) audience reviews
      Audience Member loved it, id say this was a better religious movie than the ones made now a days. most of its drivel, if the people that make movies now, made them like they do this one. i would actually go to the theaters to watch them. but aside that, i would recommend this one, its old and in black n white, but wow did it impress me. worth a watch. worth a blu ray too if i might add. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member While one may question the accuracy of a film about Martin Luther produced by the Lutheran Church, the film is top rate drama and quite accurate. The casting is almost perfect: Luther looks like Luther, Pope Leo looks like Pope Leo, Melanchthon looks like Melanchthon. The Diet of Worms is portrayed with great intensity and the film does not descend into an anti-Catholic rant. Staupitz, for instance is a gentle character distressed by Luther's break with the church. There are touches of humor (the proposal to Katherine von Bora). Spalatin provides the continuity thread throughout the film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I like this movie. Martin Luther was as worthy and courageous as our Martin Luther King Jr. Both have changed the world. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Rather dated, but actually quite a good bio-pic detailing the significant happenings in the life of one of history's great liberators. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member In honor of Reformation Day we watched Martin Luther. How great to be reminded. So many words of wisdom! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Things about this one I like better than the new one Luther, but some things about this I like least. Still worth the watch! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Photos

      View All Martin Luther photos

      Martin Luther

      Martin Luther (1953) Martin Luther (1953) Martin Luther (1953) Martin Luther (1953) Martin Luther (1953) Martin Luther (1953) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In 1505, Martin Luther (Niall MacGinnis) abandons his law studies to become a monk. After being ordained a priest, Luther grows increasingly troubled by the Catholic Church's practices, including using Latin during services and offering absolution -- known as "indulgences" -- for sinners. In 1517, Pope Leo X (Philip Leaver) tries to bring the church much-needed money by selling indulgences. Outraged, Luther writes down his famous 95 Theses, publicly challenging church dogma.
      Director
      Irving Pichel
      Screenwriter
      Allan Sloane, Lothar Wolff
      Production Co
      Louis De Rochemont Associates, The Lutheran Church in America
      Genre
      Biography
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 8, 1953, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 20, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 43m
      Sound Mix
      Mono
      Aspect Ratio
      35mm
      Most Popular at Home Now