The Thorn
Encyclopedia
The Thorn is a comic, religious satire movie released on 1974 May 24 as The Divine Mr. J. It was first shown as The Greatest Story Overtold at the Detroit Institute of Art in 1971. It was released on video in the early 1980s as The Thorn. It was written, directed and produced by Peter Alexander
. Its release was legally challenged on grounds that its title and advertising deceptively exploited the fame of its co-star, Bette Midler
.
; John Greenburg as John the Baptist
; Fred LaBour
as the Angel Fred; Richard Pollard as Rabbi Gabriel; Diana David as Salome
; and Jack Castor and Chi Chi as Queens.
All of these actors were unknown and had no other film credits, with the exception of Bette Midler who was just beginning to build her singing career, had acted in a Broadway
musical, and had briefly played a lead role in the off-Broadway
musical Salvation
in 1969. Midler had a brief appearance as a boat passenger in the 1966 film Hawaii
.
. It was influenced by the increase in popularity and profitability of Christian evangelism
. Peter McWilliams
wrote, produced, directed and edited the film under the pseudonym Peter Alexander. He went on to write a broad range of mostly self-published, popular books.
Filmed in 16mm on a shoestring budget; the crew included Paul Josephson on camera and lighting; Craig Reynolds and Jay Cassidy
on camera; and Jon Duff on sound recording. It was filmed mostly in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan from 1970 to 1971.
The Divine Mr. J was re-released by Rochelle Films, Inc. in 1980 after Bette Midler's starring role in The Rose
. It was blocked from opening in the U.S., but it did show overseas in the early 1980s. It received poor reviews, and it was banned in Finland in 1984.
The film reappeared as The Thorn on a Magnum Entertainment VHS
video release around 1984. It was again blocked by the courts and returned underground.
Peter McWilliams
Peter Alexander McWilliams was a writer and self-publisher of best-selling self-help books. He was an advocate for those suffering from depression. And, in his later years, he was a cannabis activist. Terminally ill with AIDS and cancer, he became a vocal campaigner for the legalization of medical...
. Its release was legally challenged on grounds that its title and advertising deceptively exploited the fame of its co-star, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
.
Cast
The Thorn starred John Hassberger as Jesus Christ with supporting roles of Bette Midler as the Virgin Mary; James Harrison as JosephSaint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
; John Greenburg as John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
; Fred LaBour
Fred LaBour
Frederick LaBour , better known by his stage name Too Slim, is a Grammy award winning American musician, best known for his work with the Western swing musical and comedy group Riders in the Sky....
as the Angel Fred; Richard Pollard as Rabbi Gabriel; Diana David as Salome
Salome
Salome , the Daughter of Herodias , is known from the New Testament...
; and Jack Castor and Chi Chi as Queens.
All of these actors were unknown and had no other film credits, with the exception of Bette Midler who was just beginning to build her singing career, had acted in a Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical, and had briefly played a lead role in the off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
musical Salvation
Salvation (musical)
Salvation was a 1969 Off-Broadway rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Peter Link & C.C. Courtney. It opened on September 24, 1969 at the Jan Hus Playhouse and ending on April 19, 1970 after 239 performances.-Production:...
in 1969. Midler had a brief appearance as a boat passenger in the 1966 film Hawaii
Hawaii (film)
Hawaii is a 1966 American film directed by George Roy Hill and based on the novel of the same name by James A. Michener. It tells the story of an 1820s Yale University divinity student who, along with his new bride , becomes a Calvinist missionary in the Hawaiian Islands...
.
Conception and production
Originally conceived as The Greatest Story Overtold, an irreverent spoof of the 1965 movie, The Greatest Story Ever ToldThe Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens and distributed by United Artists. It is a retelling of the story of Jesus Christ, from the Nativity through the Resurrection. This film is notable for its large ensemble cast and for being the last...
. It was influenced by the increase in popularity and profitability of Christian evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
. Peter McWilliams
Peter McWilliams
Peter Alexander McWilliams was a writer and self-publisher of best-selling self-help books. He was an advocate for those suffering from depression. And, in his later years, he was a cannabis activist. Terminally ill with AIDS and cancer, he became a vocal campaigner for the legalization of medical...
wrote, produced, directed and edited the film under the pseudonym Peter Alexander. He went on to write a broad range of mostly self-published, popular books.
Filmed in 16mm on a shoestring budget; the crew included Paul Josephson on camera and lighting; Craig Reynolds and Jay Cassidy
Jay Cassidy
Jay Cassidy is an American film editor with more than 30 credits since 1978. He began his career in the 1970s working on documentaries and political advertising. He has had a notable collaboration with Sean Penn, having edited all of the films directed by Penn...
on camera; and Jon Duff on sound recording. It was filmed mostly in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan from 1970 to 1971.
Release, marketing and legal challenge
After its premiere showing in Detroit, the film remained underground until it was released by National Entertainment Corp. as The Divine Mr. J a few years later, to capitalize on Midler's growing fame as "The Divine Miss M". Its premiere showing under the new title at the Festival Theater in New York City on 1974 May 24 was picketed by Midler's agent, who also challenged the film's title and marketing in court. The film received very poor reviews and was soon closed.The Divine Mr. J was re-released by Rochelle Films, Inc. in 1980 after Bette Midler's starring role in The Rose
The Rose (film)
The Rose is a 1979 American musical drama film which tells the story of a self-destructive 1960s rock star who struggles to cope with the constant pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager...
. It was blocked from opening in the U.S., but it did show overseas in the early 1980s. It received poor reviews, and it was banned in Finland in 1984.
The film reappeared as The Thorn on a Magnum Entertainment VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
video release around 1984. It was again blocked by the courts and returned underground.