John Wycliffe: The Morning Star (1984)

Date: 14th Century

Cinematic Quality: 3 stars

Historical Accuracy: 3 1/2 stars

This B-movie is a biopic of John Wycliffe that is biased toward Protestantism and suffers from an understandable bit of anachronism—constantly pointing toward the coming “Great Reformation.” If you can appreciate the bias and tolerate the low budget, it’s a suitable production. Peter Howell plays the role well and portrays Wycliffe accurately as lacking humor but making up for it with sincerity and purpose. The film also fairly summarizes some of Wycliffe’s most important views, particularly those that challenged certain aspects of the late medieval church in the west.

The supporting cast includes Lollards, clerical opponents like Bishop Courtenay and the ever-important John of Gaunt, 3rd son of King Edward III. It accurately portrays a number of anticlerical sentiments circulating at the time and places his life within the context of the Black Death, the English Peasants Revolt, and the widespread discontent with the worldly aspects of the Late Medieval church. The low-budget film lionizes its protagonist, of course, but could have benefitted from a little nuance that included a sympathetic view from the other side.

Suitable for children.

For context, read the Fisher’s anthology Being a Pastor: Pastoral Treatises of John Wycliffe by Davenant Press. For a scholarly introduction to Wycliffe, see Ottto’s John Wyclif (Wycliffe Studies in History, Church, and Society).

IMDb Synopsis: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390145/

Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/John-Wycliffe-Morningstar-Peter-Howell/dp/B001PVT1SA