"The West's First Missionaries"
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What You Need To Know:
The staging of their journey is compelling including the resistance of their guide, the jealousy of the minister and his wife who accompany them, the hostility of the Indians, and the Whitman's commitment to the Gospel in the face of adversity. At first, Dr. and Mrs. Whitman try to change the Indians' ways, but they only encounter resentment. Eventually, they learn that it is not demanding that the Indians adopt European ways, but rather it is the love of Jesus manifest in their lives which will reach the Indians with the Gospel. Rarely has a historical drama been told with such finesse, and seldom has a Christian missionary history been presented with such insight. NO TURNING BACK will speak to everyone who has felt a call to love their neighbor
Content:
(CCC, V) Christian worldview; no foul language; Cowboy & Indian violence including shooting & hatcheting, but done discretely; no sex; no nudity; and, no other objectionable material.
More Detail:
It takes real talent to make an entertaining successful historical epic. It take much more talent to do it on a limited budget. Writer/director Russ Houck has made a mini-masterpiece in his historical film NO TURNING BACK.
Set in the 1830s, it tells the story of Dr. Marcus (Mike Smith) and Narcissa (Janice Archer Cruse) Whitman who gave up everything to cross the Rocky Mountains to bring the Gospel to the Indians of Oregon. Their story is a series of firsts: Narcissa was the first white woman to cross the Continental Divide on the Oregon Trail; Marcus and Narcissa were the first missionaries to travel the length of the Oregon Trail; and, Marcus was the first doctor to brave the Oregon Territory.
The adventure begins in 1836 when Marcus enlists the help of well-known guide and trapper John McLeod (John Quade) to lead them to the Oregon Territory. The Rev. Henry Spalding and his wife, Eliza, accompany the Whitmans on their perilous journey. The staging of their difficult journey is compelling, including the resistance of their guide, the jealousy of the minister and his wife who travel with them, the hostile and resentful Indians, disease and dangerous terrain, and the Whitman’s commitment to the Gospel. Many times during the journey, it seems that tensions will tear the group apart, but Marcus and Narcissa maintain harmony by reminding the group of their goal.
Eventually, the tired, rag-tag band makes it for Fort Walla Walla in the Oregon Territory. The governor in charge of the Fort, John McLoughlin, a British citizen, tries to help settle the group among the Indians. At first, Dr. and Mrs. Whitman try to change the Indians’ ways, but they only encounter resentment and resistance, with the Indians asking the Whitmans if they really “love” them as they say that they do, since it seems that they do not “like” their Indian neighbors. Eventually, the Whitmans learn that it is not demanding that the Indians adopt Western European ways, but rather it is the love of Jesus Christ manifest in their lives which will reach the Indians with the truth of the Gospel. This love may even require that they lay down their lives for their enemies.
Produced on a meager budget, NO TURNING BACK is incredible. Thanks to careful, loving direction, the camera work, soundtrack, music, setting, costuming, and acting add up to a screen gem. The authentic Old West look of the movie is superior to most higher budget historical movies.
The key, however, to the entertaining quality of NO TURNING BACK is the script. Rarely has a historical drama been told with such finesse and elegance, and seldom has a Christian missionary history been presented with such insight. NO TURNING BACK is a tale that should speak to all Americans and to everyone who has felt a call to love their neighbor.
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