Born Again (1978) User Reviews (7)

Weak and of little interest

[mobile707 · 4/10 · 23 June 2007]

Spiritual awakenings and conversions are probably the most difficult subjects to effectively portray on screen. And much as I have enjoyed many of Dean Jones' performances down through the years, I can't say that he made Colson's conversion dramatically credible to me. I realize that this movie was not intended to tell the story of Watergate, yet in all honesty this chapter of Colson's life really doesn't make any sense except in the context of Watergate.

The movie's heart is in the right place but when it's all said and done, that's not enough reason to spend two hours of your life watching mediocrity.

I had to laugh at the comment from 2002 which seemed to say that (1) Colson's pre-Christian life was sleazy, so (2) therefore, his post-conversion life was not to be taken seriously. Our correspondent from Maine could not have missed the point any more completely than that. But for someone who evidently despises the "Born Again bunch" I suppose it is not surprising.

Accepting Christ into Your Life

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 25 February 2019]

A strange companion piece to 'All the President's Men' that falls into two halves defined by the presence in supporting roles initially of Jay Robinson as Jewish athiest lawyer David Shapiro, who Colson befriends on the way to the White House; and then Raymond St. Jacques as a streetwise dude who takes Colson under his wing in prison. (Seen today, what Charles W. Colson actually did to be sentenced in 1973 to 1 to 3 in the slammer is far less clear to audiences than it would have seemed forty years ago.)

Directed by eighty year-old veteran Irving Rapper, it strongly resembles one of Billy Graham's World Wide Pictures of the fifties, complete with appropriate music and title song by veteran composer Les Baxter (fresh from 'Switchblade Sisters'), and like the earlier films has a superficially glossy veneer aided by familiar faces in the cast led by Disney regular Dean Jones and the radiant Anne Francis as his wife (in fact Colson's second wife, which the film doesn't tell us).

The Reverend Graham is actually billed eight in the credits on the strength of a brief clip of him addressing one of his crusades at Madison Square Gardens, and as in his fifties films embracing Jesus is depicted as an act of rebellion requiring an uphill path.

By November, this will all be forgotten. Yeah right.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 16 January 2022]

Herbie's not going to rescue Dean Jones from this one. He's Charles Colson, the attorney under Richard Nixon who became known as one of the men convicted of crimes during the Nixon administration (his in particularly were unrelated to the Watergate break-in), and becoming a born-again Christian while in prison. This is a religious trauma dad has a surprisingly long list of Veteran actors, starting with Jones and Anne Francis (who plays his wife) and classic actors Dana Andrews and George Brent and smaller parts. The director is Irving Rapper, once a Warner Brothers contract director, best known for directing a few Bette Davis movies. Andrews plays an old associate of Jones who tells him bluntly that he's come to accept Jesus Christ and would like to discuss it with him more. Jones at that time reacts simply with a nod and basically ignores it. His later conversation with Andrews features Billy Graham in one of those big venue evangelist meetings (at Madison Square Garden) doesn't ring completely true with Andrews, from his huge estate, discussing his being born again as if he's describing a new suit that he's just bought.

The actors playing Nixon and Kissinger seem to be doing a Rich Little like impression, with Harry Spillman in particular seeming like he's imitating Ed Sullivan imitating Nixon, and it brings on left. Real life Senator Harold Hughes portrays himself, having been one of Colson's biggest enemies but supporting him when he accepts Jesus. This is not a comedy, and for the moments when Nixon is on camera, it definitely seems like one. It's prior to his conviction that Colson begins to think about his religious convictions, and from there he seems to be a changed man feeling guilty over the things that he did in the election Administration to help him win the election, at one point breaking down in tears in realizing the sins that he's committed for power and success. The way this is written, it appears to be very dated so it probably wouldn't convert anybody, and it's more interesting in the relevance of history. "I've gone to church all my life" wife Francis says, adding "But I've never agonized over Jesus Christ." It's almost like when Yvonne De Carlo said in "The Ten Commandments", " I found him when he went to seek his God. I lost him when he found his God." But we're not at Mount Sinai. We're in mid-1970's Washington D. C. The setting where this all happened really does add to the impact. Maybe not a great film, but certainly one with integrity that as a moderate Christian I can appreciate.

Colson and his prison ministry

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 16 January 2012]

Charles Colson was probably one of the most controversial, yet colorful of the Nixon gang who was caught up in the Watergate Scandal. He entered Bartlett's Familiar Quotations with his thoughts on motivation, those being "when you've got them by the gonads, their hearts and minds will follow". A guy like that Machiavelli would have learned to love.

Dean Jones plays the controversial White House Counsel to the President who was in charge of the infamous White House Plumbers group. Though Colson was not directly connected to the Watergate break-in he was inextricably linked to the theft at Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office and did his jail time for that.

But before that Colson became in that overused phrase 'born again' becoming an evangelical Christian and part of a Washington Prayer Group headed by Democratic Senator Harold Hughes. In those days before the founding of the Moral Majority by Jerry Falwell you actually could be a Democrat and an evangelical.

This film is an interesting exercise in sophistry, so much so that Colson as played by Dean Jones comes out a martyr for his faith, not a guy who was ruthless beyond all bounds of decency in pursuit of political aims.

The story of Born Again is not about Colson and Watergate, the bulk of it is his time in what looks like Club Fed. Believe me, I'm not sure if this guy had been in general population in a place like Leavenworth his story might not have come out the same. Colson is in a prison that the military are in charge of and these guys look like the security is minimal. The story here is about his deciding that what God intended him to do is found a prison ministry. He's left with few options because he's been disbarred.

What really got me was that the power of prayer is supposed to be proved by the fact that Jones's protector in the joint Raymond St. Jacques is granted parole after the group all prays for him. I mean, really.

I can't get into Chuck Colson's mind and know if his conversion was real or became real at a certain point. That's the trouble with these kind of films, the subject's conversion is based on faith and you're supposed take that on face value.

Anne Francis is Colson's wife, the second Mrs. Colson the film doesn't mention that he was married before. The film was directed by Irving Rapper who was one of those folks from the big studio system days in Hollywood who was taking any work he could get. Among his credits are those Bette Davis classics Now Voyager and The Corn Is Green. Born Again doesn't come close to, not even light years as good as those films.

Dana Andrews plays the businessman who witnesses and converts Jones, Jay Robinson plays his law partner and attorney. Born Again was the farewell film for George Brent who had not been on the screen for about 20 years when he did this film. He did not look well, he died the following year and I suspect this short role as Judge Gerhard Gessell was done because he need money for medical expenses. All of these guys were well past their prime.

If you're a born again believer than this film is for you. I think the rest of us will be scratching our heads.

A commercial for the Born Again bunch.

[yenlo · 6 December 2002]

Charles Colson who was perhaps the sleaziest of all of the members of Richard Nixons core of Watergate gang members is portrayed here by Dean Jones most widely known for his many roles in Disney films. Much of this film deals with Colsons conversion as a born again Christian. The actual Watergate activities are only touched on. If you're looking for a film about the Watergate scandal this isn't one of the better ones. Dean turns in an admirable performance but yet doesn't come off well as a person of Colsons character, which for the most part was that of a villain. Any one who knows of the Watergate affair and knew of Charles Colson will look upon this story with a bit of skepticism over his claim to have become a born again Christian when the heat was suddenly turned up on him . Those who are deep into the Christian message will no doubt enjoy this film as it is pretty much a commercial for becoming `Born Again'

Dishonest and of Poor Quality

[ScottAmundsen · 1/10 · 21 November 2010]

It is a shame that the once-great Irving Rapper, who directed such classics as NOW, VOYAGER, THE CORN IS GREEN, and THE BRAVE ONE, put paid to his career with two extremely lurid and exploitative films: 1970's THE CHRISTINE JORGENSEN STORY, and this lame attempt to hop on the Watergate bandwagon.

Let's face it: Alan J Pakula's ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN set the bar pretty high when it comes to Watergate, which is probably why so few movies came out about what is probably the biggest domestic scandal of the Twentieth Century in America. Pakula's epic was so good, in fact, that I find myself getting caught up in the suspense of the story even though I know how it turns out.

Which brings us to Rapper and this mess. I am not sure what drew Rapper to this project, but I presume that the real Charles Colson never got anywhere near the set, because Rapper was a gay man who in his later years made little secret of his sexuality, and he and Colson would have got along like oil and water. Though it seems as though someone was looking to cover Colson's ass; his role in the Watergate scandal, if you believe this film, was as something of a stooge who went along with his peers, not quite understanding what he was doing. History has long since debunked that myth; Colson was one of the major players in the Nixon administration, and his role in Watergate was pretty well-known even then.

So this movie starts out with dishonesty and then tries for redemption but somehow does not quite make it there either. The "born again" Colson is about as interesting as a raw potato, Dean Jones spends the entire second half of the movie looking as if he wished he were anywhere but on that set (which by then he might have been), and the dialogue is so stilted and forced that at some moments it makes the viewer extremely uncomfortable and at others it draws laughs.

Perhaps Rapper thought he saw something that was not there; or perhaps he just could not bring himself to give up making movies and this was all he could get. I don't know. I just think it's a sad finale to a once- great career.

You'll probably like it...or hate it.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 14 December 2023]

I decided to watch "Born Again" after my friend Angelo found it for me on YouTube...and he knew I adored the work of Dana Andrews....who appears in this film. I also was thrilled to see George Brent in the movie...well after his career seemed to have ended in 1960. Thanks Angelo...I appreciate it for sending me the link to the picture.

This film is about Chuck Colson, a White House staffer who was convicted for his part in the Watergate coverup. It mostly concerns his life after this conviction...his life in prison and his religious conversion. But it also touches a bit on his involvement in Watergate as well as his life post-prison. Not surprisingly, Dean Jones plays the man, as Jones had long been very open and vocal about his conversion.

This film is aimed primarily at Christians and not other viewers. It's not that others might not appreciate the film, but its strong religious message is one you'll either appreciate or hate. I noticed a review that was very negative about the Christian message...obviously the film wasn't aimed at them. This is NOT meant as an insult...the film is just one that is self-selecting.

So is it well made? Very much so. It has an awfully good cast and is a nice drama. How TRUE it all is...well, who knows?! Was Colson sincere, was his involvement in Watergate greater than the film shows, and many other questions I cannot answer. But it is a well made film and seemed to sum up his later life well.