The Salvation Army has been portrayed in a number of ways by Film producers over the years, starting with the Silent films produced by the Salvation Army in Australia from 1900 onwards. There have been films primarily about the Salvation Army (Joe the Turk, Major Barbara), films having fun at the Army's expense (Major Barbara, The Belle of New York, Guys and Dolls), or films with a fleeting glimpse of a Salvation Army canteen or a band carolling (see Cameos section).
Here is a list of all the known films where the Salvation Army appears (or made by the Army). It is not exhaustive, and is very much a 'work in progress". If you have any amendments, or additions, do not be shy - let me know.
ALTARS ON THE STREET (2002)
Film starring Bill Cosby, a dramatic description of two inner-city children's lives. Produced by the Salvation Army in the USA.
BELLE OF NEW YORK, THE (1919)
Silent Film, nearer to C M S McLellan's play, where the Salvation Army specifically is mentioned, instead of being called The Daughters of Right (see 1952 film). Marion Davies heads the cast.
BELLE OF NEW YORK, THE (1952)
Vera-Ellen plays Angela Bonfils, a member of the Daughters of Right (Salvation Army), along with Marjorie Main as Mrs Hill, and Alice Pearce as Elsie Wilkins.
BOWERY AT MIDNIGHT (1942)
Bela Lugosi stars as Karl Wagner, the proprietor of a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen as a front for a criminal gang.
DIE HEILSARMEE (1924)
German silent documentary film directed by Gertrud Dav
FIRES OF FAITH (1919)
Charles Ogle plays William Booth, Clarence Geldhardt plays Railton, James Neil plays Booth's Secretary, and Edythe Chapman plays Catherine Booth. There is also an appearance from Evangeline Booth, playing herself This film is based on the War Work of the Salvation Army in France in World War 1.
FRINGLE, THE (2001)
Children's film about God's love based on book ''Booth Tucker and the Fringle" by Doris Noland, produced by the Salvation Army in the USA.
GUYS AND DOLLS (1955)
Jean Simmons plays Captain Sarah Brown at the New York branch of the Save the World Mission (Salvation Army). Robert Keith plays Lieutenant Brannigan and Kathryn Givney plays General Cartwright. Also briefly Marlon Brando's character (Sky Masterton) is in Salvation Army uniform.
HAPPY END, THE (1979)
German TV movie based on the musical by Bertolt Brecht. The plot pits organised crime against the Salvation Army. Lieutenant Lilian Holiday makes an attempt to reform a group of gangsters, but is thrown out of the Army because they fear she is too close to them. The gang rob a bank, and give the money to Lilian Holiday, and together they form their own Salvation Army corps aimed at saving lost capitalists.
HEROES OF THE CROSS (1909)
Australian silent film made by the Salvation Army Film Unit in Melbourne.
HOT LEAD & COLD FEET (1978)
Jim Dale plays a Salvation Army officer (Captain Eli) at Bloodshy corps (a small town in the Midwest of America) - a Disney film.
JOE THE TURK (2000)
Cartoon about this colourful character from the Army's past, premiered at the Millennium Congress, 2000, in Atlanta.
LAUGHING SINNERS (1931) (also known as Complete Surrender)
Clark Gable plays Carl Loomis, a Salvationist who befriends Ivy Stevens (Joan. Crawford) an entertainer on the verge of suicide, who goes on the join the mission.
LOVE YOUR NEXT ONE! (1998)
German film directed by Detley W. Buck set in Berlin starring Lea Mornar as Josefine and Heike Makatsch as Isolde, two Salvationists working among down & outs, when they come across a bunch of yuppies in a squat.
MAJOR BARBARA (1941)
Wendy Hillier (Major Barbara Undershaft) and Rex Harrison (Adolphus Cusins) star in the film based on George Bernard Shaw's play. Sybil Thorndike also stars as the General.
MAN WITHOUT A PAST, THE (2002) - Finnish title'Mies vailla MenneisyyttC
A Finnish film about a man who arrives in Helsinki, gets beaten up and loses his memory, until he meets Irma, a Salvationist, played by Kati Outinen, and he slowly regains his past. Peter von Bagh plays a Salvation Army officer, and Marko Haavisto, Jouni Saarnio, Jukka Teerisaari and Jyrki Telila play members of an Army band.
MUSICIENS DU CEIL, LES (1940)
French film, with Michele Morgan playing Lieutenant Saulnier, Michel Simon playing Captain Simon and Auguste Boverio playing the Commissioner.
PHANTOM CART (1921)
Swedish short film about Salvationist Edith (Hilda Borstrom), herself seriously ill, rescuing a tramp addicted to drink from the gutter on New Years Eve.
SALVATION ARMY LASS, THE (1909)
Silent Film, with Linda Arvidsen heading the cast.
SALVATION NELL (1921)
A silent film, Pauline Strake plays Nell Sanders, the Nell of the title, and Edward Langford plays Major Williams.
SALVATION NELL (1931) - British title: "Men Women Love"
Remake of the above with Helen Chandler as Nell Sanders and Jason Robards Snr. as Major Williams.
SCOTTISH COVENANTERS, THE (1909)
Silent film made by the Salvation Army Film Unit in Australia.
SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933)
Cary Grant stars as a Captain Cummings, a police agent posing as a Salvation Army officer. Mae West stars as the owner of a bar (Lou) who falls in love with Captain Cummings with disastrous consequences.
SIDEWALK SANTAS (1993)
A short film directed by Elliot Erwitt, about the Volunteers of America Santa Claus training programme.
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS (1900)
Silent film made by the Salvation Army Film Unit in Australia, a story about the early day Christians in Rome.
WILLIAM BOOTH STORY, THE (2000)
Modern made for video film by Harvester productions.
Cameo Appearances
AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS (1956)
David Niven (Phileas Fogg) encounters the Salvation Army on his return to London, one of whom is played by Beatrice Lillie.
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997) AUSTIN POWERS 2: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME (1999)
One of Dr Evil's Council members is head of the "military wing of the Salvation Army" (sic).
BATTLE OF BRITAIN, THE (1969)
Two cameos- one of a Salvation Army van at an Airfield, and the other of Salvationist ministering to the homeless at a Rest Centre.
BERNARD AND THE GENIE (1991)
A Salvation Army band carolling is encountered in the shopping precinct.
BOOK OF LIFE, THE (1998)
Yo La Tengo star as a Salvation Army band.
CALL OF THE WILD (1972)
A couple of segments which show a Salvation Army open-air in an Alaskan gold-rush town.
CHRISTMAS ON DIVISION STREET (1991)
A Salvation Army band carolling is featured, with one of the cast (Badja Djola, playing Scorpio) playing with them.
COCKLESHELL HEROES, THE (1955)
Travelling through Britain in German uniform, one of the actors is given a lift and alludes to his uniform as pertaining to the "Irish Salvation Ariny".
GRINCH, THE (2000)
Apparently the Band at the beginning of the film is a Salvation Army band - strange uniform if it is!
HEAVENS ABOVE! (1963)
During the melees in the market place, the Orbeston Parva corps (complete with flag) march into the crowd.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
"Feel good" film about community spirit, has a segment featuring the Salvation Army,
LAST OF THE BLOND BOMBSHELLS, THE (2000)
June Whitfield plays Annie, a trombonist in a WW2 jazz band who has subsequently joined the Salvation Army.
LIKE MIKE (2002)
The rapper 'Bow Wow' stars in this movie. In one scene he is playing basketball in a pair of trainers from the Salvation Army with the initials 'My' inside them. He becomes a basketball superstar after this.
MALTA STORY, THE (1953)
Glimpse of the Red Shield hostel.
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
Usual American clip of a Salvation Army Christmas Carolling.
MERRY MISHAPS OF MR. BEAN, THE (1992)
Mr Bean is seen conducting a Salvation Army band which is carolling.
NORTH TO ALASKA (1960)
This John Wayne "comedy western" features James Griffith as a Salvation Army officer.
0 LUCKY MAN! (1973)
Musical about a coffee salesman in Europe with Philip Stone playing a Salvation Army officer, and Mary McLeod playing a Salvationist.
ON THE BEACH (1959)
A post-World War 111 film where Australia has survived the nuclear holocaust temporarily. John Carson plays a Salvation Army preacher.
PANDORA'S BOX (1929) - also known as "Lulu"
Silent film about music making (!) - features a Salvation Army band on the march.
PENELOPE (1966)
Lee-on-Solent born actor Arthur Malet plays Major Higgins, who accepts a donation for $1,000.
SAINT, THE (1997)
Roger Moore is a radio announcer, telling of a donation from the "baddy" lvan Tretiak, to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
WATERLOO BRIDGE (1940)
A glimpse of a Salvationist in a bonnet buying a ticket at the Railway Station.
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (1961)
Morecambe Band features in the opening sequence, and Patricia Hereghan stars as a Salvation Army girl.
WOMAN CHASER, THE (1999)
Patrick Warburton stars as the Woman Chaser of the title, and includes the seduction of a Salvation Army lady played by Pat Crowder.
WORMS 2 (1997)
Another appearance by the "military wing of the Salvation Army" (sic)
P.S. HELP WANTED TO TRACK DOWN FILMS
1. There is a Laurel & Hardy film (c1930) which shows them as members of a Salvation Army Band - cannot find out which film it is, however.
2. There is also an American film, which at one point shows troops marching off to war (c. 1916-1917) which shows some Salvationists waving enthusiastically. 1 do not know this film title.
3. There is a film set in Australia or New Zealand, which features two lesbians - one of whom is apparently a member of the Salvition Army which apparently explains why she is so authoritarian.
4. Apparently, Bombay Corps hall features in a number of ''Bollywood" movies.
5. The Salvation Army also, apparently, appears in these films - this has not been verified yet....
DIE HARD 2 (1990)
HOME ALONE (1990)
KINDER, KADER, KOMMANDEURE (1992)
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954)
TITANIC (1997) - brief moment at the beginning of the film
Any help in confirming the film titles above, or verifying whether or not the Salvation Army does appear in the films listed in the ''Bollywood" movies, or indeed putting other films on the list (in either section) would be of great
help.
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