Joseph is apprehensive because if Chia's son dies, Francis will be in danger, but Francis goes anyway. Chia ( Leonard Strong), to heal Chia's only son of his infection. Francis is summoned to the home of local official, Mr. Willie Tulloch (Thomas Mitchell), which allows Francis to offer services to the sick. Francis then receives medical supplies from his childhood friend Dr. Because the Church hadn't given the mission money for rice in over a year, 'the faith left them when the rice gave out.' Francis rents a small room in the city to evangelize, but because he has no money or influence, he is attacked by those same 'rice Christians' who were supposed to help him.Ī young pilgrim named Joseph ( Benson Fong) finds Francis in town, and restores his faith in his mission by offering to help rebuild the church out of Christian duty and not for money.

Francis arrives in Paitan, Chekhow Province in China to find the mission destroyed by floods, and not rebuilt because the true Christians all left, leaving only those who attended to receive free rice. Francis readily accepts the position, even though that means it would take him far from home as well as far from Judy, Nora's daughter. This prompts him to go back to seminary and follow through with his studies, and Francis becomes a priest.įrancis' first two assignments as a priest are unfulfilling to him, so the Bishop asks Francis to be a volunteer missionary to China. However, he finds out that after he left, Nora had a child out of wedlock with another man, and she dies before Francis can return to see her.

He still finds himself in love with Nora, a girl from his home. Francis studies at seminary for a year, but is unsure about all of the Church's teachings. He is raised by his aunt, and the next we see of Francis, he is leaving for the seminary with his childhood friend, Anselm 'Angus' Mealey (Vincent Price). As his mother attempts to lead her husband to safety, they both die in a bridge collapse, leaving young Francis an orphan. One night during his childhood, Francis' father was beaten by an anti-Catholic mob during a rainstorm. As the Monsignor begins to read the diary, a flashback begins. The Monsignor retires to his room in the rectory, and finds Father Francis' diary that recounts his story from 1878. The Monsignor informs Father Francis that the Bishop thinks it would be better if he retires, as Father Francis' somewhat unorthodox recent teachings have become a distraction. Father Francis Chisholm (Gregory Peck) is visited in his old age by Monsignor Sleeth (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) at his parish in Tweedside.

The keys to the kingdom aj cronin