Common Ground

As evangelist Billy Graham, who has inspired characterizations as diverse as "America's preacher" and "God's machine gun," approaches the twilight of his long ministry, this documentary takes an appreciative look back at the many lives changed on the "common ground" of Graham's crusades for Christ (Graham himself is never directly interviewed here, and this was made prior to his recent debilitating illness). Narrated by actress Julie Harris, Common Ground recalls Graham's early tent crusades, including the landmark 1949 Los Angeles rally, followed by radio and TV addresses, motion pictures, worldwide tours, and receptions by heads of state (former Presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford both remember Graham as a valued White House visitor and counselor in times of crisis). Other interviewees include a WWII war hero, an opera singer, a pioneering physician, a former Black Panther radical, and TV host Kathie Lee Gifford, who all praise Graham's healing message of hope, optimism, and joy. On the personal side, this biography includes insights from Graham's wife Ruth and his five children, most notably son and heir apparent Franklin, all of whom characterize Graham as a strict but loving father who always made time to listen. Produced by the FamilyNet channel, this profile is ultimately a low-key plea to the viewer to make a decision for Christ, but like Graham himself, the video is a class act. Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)