The Midnight Cry! William Miller And the End Of the World

Narrated by Cliff Robertson, this is the story of William Miller, a rural politician-turned-preacher, whose message that the earth would burn and Jesus Christ would return (issuing in an era of peace and prosperity--the millennium) spread throughout the nation during the 19th-century spiritual awakening, and resonates today. Along the way he acquired support from newspaper publishers, and became a forerunner in the practice of using media to shape public opinion. A crisis point came when Miller's predicted date for the second coming, October 22, 1844, turned out to be a no-show. In the wake of this great disappointment, his followers were divided into factions according to their interpretation of the event. Miller himself died still faithful, still waiting. Although the primary focus is on an incident of religious history, the film includes much more, placing the event within the context of the day and giving a well rounded picture of the influences that created this belief and fostered its growth. Scholarly commentary and skillful use of archival sources add authenticity to this sympathetic portrait of a man, a movement and a point in history. As the year 2000 approaches, discussions about a second coming continue. Most collections would benefit from this purchase. (J. Reed)