What is the 7th Commandment? This movie won't tell you, but rest assured, all 10 of them are violated in this one. Actually, lesson presented, or sermon presented, once you violate the first one the others will also be violated in quick succession. So here we are...be warned...there are no good guys in this gritty and vicious film of a preacher in a small town. Lies and falsehoods take hold from the beginning and permeate to one deranged ending. Our film today is 1961's "The 7th Commandment," directed by Irvin Berwick.
Ted (Jonathan Kidd), a dweeb, gives the commencement address at his graduation from night college. He graduates with degrees in Business Administration and Public Speaking. Outside, not into boring speeches, is his girl, the sultry vixen Terry (Lynn Statten). She is quite the dish and the two drive off together. She kisses him on a two-lane road, distracts him, and a head on collision occurs. Terry is knocked out and Ted sees he has killed the driver in the other car. Fraught with guilt, Ted develops amnesia, wanders away, and is picked up by a traveling fire and brimstone preacher, Noah (Frank Arvidson). Terry is left at the scene and the cops arrest her and she does a stint in prison. Fast forward seven years. Ted has developed into a preacher, built a big church, and heals crippled children by laying hands on them.
All is going well for Ted, who still doesn't remember the events of seven years ago or his true identity. He is building a children's hospital with the donations from his faith healing events. Terry has shacked up with a brute, Pete (John Harmon), who slaps her silly on a daily basis. When Terry reads about her old buddy in the newspaper, she is shocked. She knows who this preacher really is, and what's more, did time for him. Now she blackmails Ted. Then keeps doing it. Now Ted remembers and is encouraged by Noah to keep the secret and keep healing crippled kids. Terry is slapped harder by Pete and now has the ultimate plan. Ted will fall victim to Terry's ultimate plan and descend into madness. What follows is madness, murder, and some real soul searching.
Is Ted's ability to heal crippled kids by putting hands on them evidence that God wants him to stay a preacher and keep his past secret? Is Terry, with her stint in prison, and the daily abuse she gets from Pete, entitled to any of the donations in the offering plate? Will Terry's ultimate plan lead to the violation of the Sixth Commandment? This one poses great moral and theological questions. Here's the takeaway point, once you violate the First Commandment, the others will fall quickly...look that one up. To be convicted and edified in your faith, see "The 7th Commandment."
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