The World of Cinema: On the Film "A Man Called Peter"

"She smelted her tragedy in the crucible of the positive spirit.. and fashioned from it necklaces of light and goodness.."

A few weeks ago there was shown in Beirut the film "A Man Called Peter".. It is a true story, lived by a woman at the side of a husband she loved.. And the fates willed that death should snatch away her beloved; so she defied oblivion, and made the story of her love immortal in a book..

And thus Catherine Marshall set down a splendid example of the positive character; in the space of seven years — that is, since her husband's death — she has produced seven books about his life and his works..

And this is no ordinary thing, when the reader knows that the authoress had never once come out into the world of letters, nor had the spotlights of society ever been turned upon her; rather she lived behind the stage, pushing her husband forward.. And then there is the chronic disease of tuberculosis, which lives with her and shares her every breath..

With all this, despair never seeped into her soul; she still keeps her spirit of gaiety and activity, spreading it through her circle, and she says always to her friends: God is able to create good out of the severest afflictions and tragedies.. She smelted her tragedy in the crucible of the positive spirit, and fashioned from it necklaces of light and goodness..

Catherine was able to raise her husband with her own hands, and with her calm, reassuring encouragement, from a preacher in a little church to pastor of the "Lincoln" church, where the members of the American Senate and the residents of the White House worship.. But she lost him in the prime of his youth, leaving in her keeping his only son.. And so she has lived seven years for the beloved boy, and for the memories of the departed husband.

It happened that some Russian journalists visited America, and one of them turned to his escort and asked him: Is Catherine Marshall a real person?.. The journalist had been moved by seeing the film, and supposed that Catherine was nothing but an imaginary creature, invented by American propaganda..

The sales of her book "A Man Called Peter" have reached a million and a half copies, and her style is distinguished by grace, sobriety of phrase, and elegance of composition...

And although writing has given her great inner satisfaction, she still says: "Nothing need keep a woman from a happy marriage."

In a house surrounded by gardens and wrapped about in silence, Catherine lives today with her son Peter; and every year she takes him with her to spend the summer.. where she used to be, in days gone by, with the elder Peter..