The Thorn (film)

The Thorn (also known as The Greatest Story Overtold and The Divine Mr. J) is a 1971 American comedy film written, edited, directed and produced by Peter Alexander, and starring John Hassberger and Bette Midler. A religious satire, its release was legally challenged on grounds that its title and advertising deceptively exploited Midler's fame.

The Thorn
Video box cover in classic religious painting style showing Bette Midler, in traditional Madonna robes and headdress, holding a male toddler. Title "The Thorn" in large stylized print. Other text, "Magnum Entertainment", "A religious satire", "Bette Midler in her film debut", and "rated R, in color".
VHS cover, c. 1984
Directed byPeter Alexander
Written byPeter Alexander
Based onNew Testament
by various authors
Produced byPeter Alexander
Starring
CinematographyPaul Josephson
Edited byPeter Alexander
Production
company
Magnum Entertainment
Distributed byNational Entertainment
Release date
  • 1971 (1971) (Detroit)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Cast

All of these actors were unknown and had no other film credits, with the exception of Midler, who was just beginning to build her singing career, had acted in a Broadway musical, and had briefly played a lead role in the off-Broadway musical Salvation in 1969. Midler had a brief appearance as a boat passenger in the 1966 film Hawaii.

Production

Development

Originally conceived as The Greatest Story Overtold, an irreverent spoof of the 1965 epic film The Greatest Story Ever Told, the project was influenced by the increase in popularity and profitability of Christian evangelism. Peter McWilliams wrote, produced, directed and edited the film under the pseudonym Peter Alexander. He went on to write a broad range of mostly self-published, popular books.

Filming

Shot in 16mm on a shoestring budget, the crew included Paul Josephson on camera and lighting, Craig Reynolds and Jay Cassidy on camera, and Jon Duff on sound recording. Filming primarily took place in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan from 1970 to 1971.

stock image of Bette Midler next to text: "National Entertainment Corp. presents Bette Midler in her film debut, The Divine Mr. J, a religious satire, More than a movie... it's a Happening, In the tradition of Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen, a film by Peter Alexander, [R], World premiere now, The Festival (Theater)"
Poster for premiere showing on 1974 May 24 in New York City

After its premiere showing in Detroit, the film remained underground until it was released by National Entertainment Corp. as The Divine Mr. J a few years later, to capitalize on Midler's growing fame as "The Divine Miss M." Its premiere showing under the new title at the Festival Theater in New York City on May 24, 1974, was picketed by Midler's agent, who also challenged the film's title and marketing in court.[2] The film received very poor reviews[3] and soon closed.

The Divine Mr. J was re-released by Rochelle Films, Inc. in 1980 after Bette Midler's starring role in The Rose.[4]

See also

References
  1. "The Divine Mr J (1974)". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. 2011. Archived from the original on May 26, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  2. Mair, George (1995). Bette: An Intimate Biography of Bette Midler. Secaucus, NJ: Birch Lane Press/Carol Publishing Group. pp. 96–98. ISBN 9781559722728.
  3. "Movie Review: The Divine Mr. J at Festival Theater". movies.nytimes.com. May 25, 1974. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  4. "Bette on the Boards". betteontheboards.com. 1979. Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
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