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Similarly, in a review of The Prodigal for the same magazine, Harry Cheney praised the "lush photography" and "superlative cast" but took issue with the film's reluctance to flesh out the title character: "It is a sanctified view of sin that doesn't always ring true. He remains an object lesson viewed from the outside." He also took issue with the conclusion at the crusade. "An encounter with Christ should propel the action, not end it," he wrote.

Others say the films have proved their worth, through the number of people who have come to Christ after seeing them. Guy Dowd, author of Molder of Dreams and winner of the National Teacher of the Year award in 1986, has traced his conversion to a screening of The Restless Ones that he attended when he was a student; so has Kathie Lee Gifford.

Over 120,000 conversions were reported in connection with that film within a year of its release, and World Wide Pictures claims on its website that over two million decisions have been recorded altogether, as a result of people watching their films.

As Collier said in 1983, "A friend who saw Time to Run said, 'There are holes in the story, Jim.' But as a result of that production, over 400,000 people indicated some sort of first-time commitment to Christ and have been contacted by the Billy Graham follow-up offices. That's what makes it all meaningful and gives purpose to what we attempt to do."

Werner credits Graham with having the vision to recognize the power of film to spread the gospel at a time when many would have preferred to avoid the medium altogether.

"This whole thing is based on his vision," he says. "None of this was created by some manager with some idea; Dr. Graham put wheels on that. I would attribute every decision, whether Dr. Graham preached in person or commissioned a film, to Dr. Graham. He was trusted by the church. When we made calls, doors would open for us."

© Peter T. Chattaway 2005, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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Billy Graham's Top Five	Printer view
For more than 50 years, the evangelist's organization has been making films for the purpose of bringing viewers to Christ. And it's worked—more than 2 million times.