“Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World,” the full-length feature film that premiered in selected theaters in February, is set to air nationally on PBS on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. Central time.
Congregations still may arrange screenings of the film at their local theaters. Visit NewLutherMovie.com for information on how to host and promote a screening, as well as resources including a sample bulletin insert, poster, artwork and the movie trailer.
Funded by Thrivent Financial, the film dramatizes the events that shaped Luther and examines the questions he wrestled with, such as “Who am I?,” “What is my purpose?” and “How do I get right with God?”
Included are insights and commentary from LCMS theologians and historians.
Posted August 14, 2017
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What is the Eastern Time slot? Too bad if it is as early as 6:00 pm. Miss a lot of working people.
Thank you for your comment. The Luther movie will be airing on PBS at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 Central on September 12.
6:00 mountain time, i assume?
Thank you for your comment. Please check your local listing for the time they are showing it in your area.
7 PM Central time is 8 PM Eastern time. But, as always, check your local PBS station for their broadcast time.
If it’s 7:00 Central, it would be 8:00 Eastern.
Thank you for your comment. There are two ways to get a DVD after it has aired on PBS.
A consumer version of the DVD will be available for $25.00 sometime after it has aired on PBS. Information on how to order one will be released at a later date.
In addition, churches and schools may request copy at http://newluthermovie.com/study.html. While this DVD costs $75.00, it includes a Bible study, PowerPoints, and the rights to show the film in a church or school.
Might be hard to get the church members to pay 12 dollars to see it if it is being shown on TV…I am very much looking forward to seeing it!
Thanks to Thrivent and to PBS!
Rev. Tom Noon
We’ll see if it is as accurate as the 1950’s version starring Niall MacGinnis.
The 1953 B&W movie, “Martin Luther,” can be seen on YouTube. The movie stars stars Niall MacGinnis (1913-1977) as Luther. The movie was produced by Louis de Rochemont and RD-DR Corporation in collaboration with Lutheran Church Productions and Luther-Film-G.M.B.H. The time frame of the film is 1505-1530.
Wikipedia has more information about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_(1953_film),the 1953 Luther movie.
Who’s producing it?
Thank you for your comment. It was produced by BT Media.
It is a fantastic movie. Plan on watching it again on PBS.
I have previewed the film and was very disappointed. The film focuses on the historic impact of Luther (from a worldly perspective) and gives little attention to Luther’s theology and its impact on the people and the princes of Luther’s day. For instance, no mention is made of the Augsburg confession and it is a full 45 minutes into the film before “a righteousness that comes by faith” is even mentioned. Luther’s Christo-centric, biblical theology is not mentioned nor is there any overt presentation of the pure Gospel (Justification by grace through faith in Christ) which Luther was completely passionate about and which drove his theology. Luther the man is depicted as a course, rude, angry, disrespectful and a clinically depressed individual. In Luther’s dealings with Zwingly he is labeled “intractable and uncompromising” when it came to his stand on the Word of Christ in regard to the Lord’s Supper. But this is not to Luther’s shame, but to his credit! Theologians from many denominations comment on Luther, none however more that Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan who postulated that it was the Germans greed for power and money that caused them to take Luther’s side in his opposition to the Roman Church. This view totally overlooks the German princes who stood before Charles the Fifth and said that they would rather have their heads removed than denounce the Augsburg Confession. Greed and power had nothing to do with the strength of their Biblical convictions. All in all, this is a “politically correct” film from Thrivant and a very unfair and incomplete picture of Luther, his theology and the man. Two thumbs down! Way down!
Thank you for your review. I wouldn’t expect any other view from a PBS production. Luther’s Christian beliefs are foolishness to them who put their faith in mankind (their progressive liberal mankind, not those other flat-farther types.)
It’s not a PBS production. Thrivent sponsored it. PBS is airing it. And isn’t that a good thing?
Read the information on this LCMS webpage and follow the links. PBS is broadcasting it; it did not produce the film.
There are 2 versions of the new reformation movie, by the same writer, producer. Both are through Thrivent. I believe the movie, A Return to Grace. Luther’s Life and Legacy portrays Luther’s beliefs much better.
In light of Brother Flamme’s review, it may be a better use of ur time to watch old reruns of “This is the Life!” instead. In my opinion, some of Thrivent’s “Lutheran” activity has been of questionable character recently.
Why only comments from LCMS?