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Added references for Road to Redemption. Also added {{need more sources}} as, with the I added, it now only has 4.
 
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{{For|the US film distributor (1927-1933)|Sono Art-World Wide Pictures}}
{{about||the US film distributor (1927–1933)|Sono Art-World Wide Pictures|the British film production company of the same name founded in 1942|World Wide Pictures (UK)}}
{{more sources needed|date=May 2024}}
{{For|the British film production company of the same name founded in 1942|World Wide Pictures (UK)}}
{{Infobox Company
{{Infobox company
| name = World Wide Pictures
| name = World Wide Pictures
| logo =
| logo =
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| foundation = 1951
| foundation = 1951
| founder = [[Billy Graham]] and Dick Ross
| founder = [[Billy Graham]] and Dick Ross
| defunct =
| defunct = 2003
| location_city = [[Minneapolis]]
| location_city = [[Minneapolis]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
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}}
'''World Wide Pictures''' ('''WWP''') is a [[film distributor]] and [[production company]] established as a [[subsidiary]] of the [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]] (BGEA) in [[1951 in film|1951]]. It is involved in the production and distribution of [[evangelism|evangelistic]] [[film]]s, the production of Graham crusade films, and [[publicity]] for Graham crusades.
'''World Wide Pictures''' ('''WWP''') is a [[film distributor]] and [[production company]] established as a [[subsidiary]] of the [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]] (BGEA) in 1951. It is involved in the production and distribution of [[evangelism|evangelistic]] [[film]]s, the production of Graham crusade films, and [[publicity]] for Graham crusades.


== History ==
WWP got its start after Graham met [[Dick Ross]], who had produced a [[documentary film]] of Graham's 1950 crusade in [[Portland, Oregon]]. That film's success led the BGEA to buy Ross's production company, and hire him as the president of a new BGEA subsidiary incorporated as the '''Billy Graham Evangelistic Film Ministry''' (which was to be WWP's official name until 1980).
WWP was established in 1951 after Graham met Dick Ross, who had produced a [[documentary film]] of Graham's 1950 crusade in [[Portland, Oregon]].<ref> John Lyden, ''The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film'', Taylor & Francis, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2009, p. 82 </ref> That film's success led the BGEA to buy Ross's production company and hire him as the president of a new BGEA subsidiary incorporated as the ''Billy Graham Evangelistic Film Ministry'' (which was to be WWP's official name until 1980).


WWP's first [[feature film]] was ''[[Mr. Texas]]'', produced during Graham's 1951 [[Fort Worth, Texas]] Crusade. It was also during the 1950s that WWP established production facilities in [[Burbank, California]].
WWP's first [[feature film]] was ''[[Mr. Texas (film)|Mr. Texas]]'', produced during Graham's 1951 [[Fort Worth, Texas]] Crusade. It was also during the 1950s that WWP established production facilities in [[Burbank, California]].


Perhaps WWP's best-known production was the [[1965 in film|1965 film]] ''[[The Restless Ones]]'', featuring [[Kim Darby]]. According to an October 14, 1966 issue of ''[[Christianity Today]]'' more than 120,000 professions of faith were recorded after more than two million people viewed the film. Other major feature films included ''[[Two a Penny]]'' ([[1965 in film|1965]]), which starred [[Cliff Richard]]<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140642/ Two a Penny (1967) IMDB.com] <!--accessed September 22, 2008--></ref>. Both ''[[The Hiding Place (film)|The Hiding Place]]'' ([[1975 in film|1975]]) <ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073109/awards The Hiding Place (1975) IMDB.com] <!--accessed September 22, 2008--></ref> (with [[Julie Harris]]) and ''Time to Run'' ([[1973 in film|1973]])<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070806/awards Time To Run (1973) IMDB.com] <!--accessed September 22, 2008--></ref> received [[Golden Globe]] nominations for Most Promising Newcomer.
Perhaps WWP's best-known production was the 1965 film ''The Restless Ones'', featuring [[Kim Darby]]. It was the first theatrical movie.<ref>{{Cite journal | author = Peter T. Chattaway | title = Billy Graham Goes to the Movies | url = http://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2005/08/billy-graham-goes-to-the-movies.html | journal = patheos.com | date = August 23, 2005 | access-date = 2013-08-01}}</ref> According to an October 14, 1966, issue of ''[[Christianity Today]]'' more than 120,000 professions of faith were recorded after more than two million people viewed the film. Other feature films included ''[[Two a Penny]]'' (also 1965), which starred [[Cliff Richard]]. Both ''[[The Hiding Place (film)|The Hiding Place]]'' (1975, with [[Julie Harris (American actress)|Julie Harris]]) and ''Time to Run'' (1973) received [[Golden Globe]] nominations for Most Promising Newcomer.


WWP stopped national releases of its films in the late 1980s. The company sold its Burbank studio, [[Companies based in Minneapolis-St. Paul|moved its headquarters to Minneapolis]], and switched to working with independent producers and distributing films to churches, on home video, and as [[Television movie|made-for-TV movies]].
WWP stopped national releases of its films in the late 1980s. The company sold its Burbank studio, [[Companies based in Minneapolis-St. Paul|moved its headquarters to Minneapolis]], and switched to working with independent producers and distributing films to churches, on home video, and as [[Television movie|made-for-TV movies]].


They cautiously returned to [[2001 in film|feature films in 2001]], with the limited national release of ''[[Road to Redemption (film)|Road to Redemption]]'', WWP's first comedy after over 125 films (including nine major motion pictures). The film starred [[Pat Hingle]]. It was followed by ''[[The Climb (2002 film)|The Climb]]'', which starred [[Jason Winston George]], [[Ned Vaughn]], and [[Dabney Coleman]], and featured [[Todd Bridges]]. In 2003, the company released its last film ''[[Last Flight Out]]''.
They cautiously returned to feature films in 2001 with the limited national release of ''[[Road to Redemption (2001 film)|Road to Redemption]]'', WWP's first comedy after over 125 films.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ruble |first=Renee |date=2001-02-01 |title=New release for faithful youngsters not preachy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/519105042/ |newspaper=[[Lebanon Daily News]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |page=2B |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-05-30}}</ref> The film starred [[Pat Hingle]], Julie Condra, [[Leo Rossi]], [[Jay Underwood]], [[Tony Longo]], and [[Wes Studi]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Foundas |first=Scott |date=2001-03-04 |title=Road to Redemption |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/road-to-redemption-1200467497/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |volume=382 |issue=3 |access-date=2024-05-30}}</ref> It was followed by ''[[The Climb (2002 film)|The Climb]]'', which starred [[Jason Winston George]], [[Ned Vaughn]], and [[Dabney Coleman]], and featured [[Todd Bridges]]. In 2003, the company released ''Last Flight Out''.

== See also ==
* ''[[Man in the 5th Dimension]]''


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book | author = Jonathan Yates Hill | title = World Wide Pictures: Putting the Gospel on the Big Screen | publisher = University of North Carolina | location = Greensboro | year = 1991 }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.wwp.org/ World Wide Pictures], from Billy Graham's website, including a [http://www.billygraham.org/WWP_Movies.asp list of films]
*[http://www.wwp.org/ World Wide Pictures]

*[[IMDb]] entries:
{{Billy Graham}}
**[http://imdb.com/company/co0005954/ List of films as distributor]
**[http://imdb.com/company/co0016145/ List of films as production company]
*[http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/214.htm Records of World Wide Pictures] from the Billy Graham Center at [[Wheaton College, Illinois|Wheaton College]]
*[http://www.christianheadlines.com/filmhistory.html A History of Christian Films], from a "Christian Headlines" [[blog]] written in [[Asheville, North Carolina]]
*[http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/press01/redemption.html ''Road to Redemption'' released in 2001], one of 2001's most censored press releases according to [[McSweeney's]]


[[Category:Film distributors]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United States]]
[[Category:Film production companies]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical parachurch organisations]]
[[Category:Evangelical parachurch organizations]]
[[Category:Companies based in Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Companies based in Minneapolis]]
[[Category:Evangelical Christian film production companies]]
[[Category:Billy Graham]]

Latest revision as of 11:32, 30 May 2024

For the US film distributor (1927–1933), see Sono Art-World Wide Pictures. For the British film production company of the same name founded in 1942, see World Wide Pictures (UK).
World Wide Pictures
Company typeFilm production and distribution
Founded1951
FounderBilly Graham and Dick Ross
Defunct2003
Headquarters
Minneapolis
,
United States
WebsiteWorld Wide Pictures

World Wide Pictures (WWP) is a film distributor and production company established as a subsidiary of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in 1951. It is involved in the production and distribution of evangelistic films, the production of Graham crusade films, and publicity for Graham crusades.

History[edit]

WWP was established in 1951 after Graham met Dick Ross, who had produced a documentary film of Graham's 1950 crusade in Portland, Oregon.[1] That film's success led the BGEA to buy Ross's production company and hire him as the president of a new BGEA subsidiary incorporated as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Film Ministry (which was to be WWP's official name until 1980).

WWP's first feature film was Mr. Texas, produced during Graham's 1951 Fort Worth, Texas Crusade. It was also during the 1950s that WWP established production facilities in Burbank, California.

Perhaps WWP's best-known production was the 1965 film The Restless Ones, featuring Kim Darby. It was the first theatrical movie.[2] According to an October 14, 1966, issue of Christianity Today more than 120,000 professions of faith were recorded after more than two million people viewed the film. Other feature films included Two a Penny (also 1965), which starred Cliff Richard. Both The Hiding Place (1975, with Julie Harris) and Time to Run (1973) received Golden Globe nominations for Most Promising Newcomer.

WWP stopped national releases of its films in the late 1980s. The company sold its Burbank studio, moved its headquarters to Minneapolis, and switched to working with independent producers and distributing films to churches, on home video, and as made-for-TV movies.

They cautiously returned to feature films in 2001 with the limited national release of Road to Redemption, WWP's first comedy after over 125 films.[3] The film starred Pat Hingle, Julie Condra, Leo Rossi, Jay Underwood, Tony Longo, and Wes Studi.[4] It was followed by The Climb, which starred Jason Winston George, Ned Vaughn, and Dabney Coleman, and featured Todd Bridges. In 2003, the company released Last Flight Out.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ John Lyden, The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film, Taylor & Francis, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2009, p. 82
  2. ^ Peter T. Chattaway (August 23, 2005). "Billy Graham Goes to the Movies". patheos.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  3. ^ Ruble, Renee (2001-02-01). "New release for faithful youngsters not preachy". Lebanon Daily News. Associated Press. p. 2B. Retrieved 2024-05-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Foundas, Scott (2001-03-04). "Road to Redemption". Variety. Vol. 382, no. 3. Retrieved 2024-05-30.

Further reading[edit]

  • Jonathan Yates Hill (1991). World Wide Pictures: Putting the Gospel on the Big Screen. Greensboro: University of North Carolina.

External links[edit]

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