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Poster for Merton: A Film Biography

Merton: A Film Biography

Seen it?

1984 | 57 min | Documentary

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for the curious.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 57 min.
What might put you off
Nothing much for most grown-ups.

In his lifetime, Thomas Merton was hailed as a prophet and censured for his outspoken social criticism. For nearly 27 years he was a monk of the austere Trappist order, where he became an eloquent spiritual writer and mystic as well as an anti-war advocate and witness to peace. Merton: A Film Biography provides the first comprehensive look at this remarkable 20th century religious philosopher who wrote, in addition to his immensely popular autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain, over 60 books on some of the most pressing social issues of our time, some of which are excerpted here. Merton offers an engaging profile of a man whose presence in the world touched millions of people and whose words and thoughts continue to have a profound impact and relevance today.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    Not enough engagement data yet

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Cast & crew

Directed by Paul Wilkes

  • Alexander ScourbyNarrator (voice)
  • Gregory AbelsThomas Merton (voice)
  • John BarberSelf
  • Jim ForestSelf - Int. Fellowship of Reconciliation
  • Robert LaxSelf
  • John Eudes BambergerSelf - Scholastic under Merton
  • Flavian BurnsSelf - Scholastic under Merton
  • Robert GirouxSelf - Publisher
  • Naomi Burton StoneSelf
  • James LaughlinSelf - Publisher, New Directions