Born Again (film)

Born Again
Film poster
Directed by	Irving Rapper
Produced by	Frank Capra Jr. Robert Munger
Written by	Walter Bloch
Starring	Dean Jones Anne Francis Jay Robinson Dana Andrews
Music by	Les Baxter
Cinematography	Harry Stradling Jr.
Edited by	Axel Hubert Sr.
Distributed by	Avco-Embassy
Release dates	October 1978 (1978-10)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Born Again was a 1978 film depicting the involvement of Charles W. Colson in the Watergate scandal, his subsequent conversion to Christianity, and his prison term stemming from Watergate. It starred Dean Jones as Colson, Anne Francis as his wife, Dana Andrews as Tom Phillips, Harry Spillman as President Nixon, former Senator Harold Hughes as himself, and George Brent in his final film. The director was old Hollywood classic filmmaker Irving Rapper, and the film was released by Avco-Embassy. The cinematography was by Harry Stradling Jr.

Summary

As President Richard Nixon’s Special Counsel, Colson had his own office in the White House, power and prestige. After Watergate he had a prison record… and a strong faith. Colson, played by Dean Jones, pleads guilty to Watergate-related charges and is sent to prison. The experience leaves him radically changed, and he decides to establish Prison Fellowship – a ministry that now reaches around the world.

Cast

• Dean Jones - Charles W. Colson
• Anne Francis - Patty Colson
• Jay Robinson - David Shapiro
• Dana Andrews - Tom Phillips
• Raymond St. Jacques - Jimmy Newsom
• George Brent - Judge Gerhard Gesell
• Harold Hughes - Himself
• Billy Graham - Himself
• Harry Spillman - President Richard M. Nixon
• Scott Walker - Scanlon

Reception

Jones's performance was well received.

From the TV Guide review: "In Born Again Colson (played by Jones) realizes the error of his ways and is born again. His faith sustains him through his prison term. In this sympathetic script Colson emerges as an innocent who is drawn into the devious machinations of Washington without his actually engaging in anything untoward."

External links

• Born Again at IMDb
• Born Again at the TCM Movie Database