Taking place in the northwest United States, the story concerns a family in crisis awaiting a Billy Graham crusade.
John Hammond is Greg, a pot smoking fisherman who decides to take a job as a tennis pro at a country club. He doesn't get along with his parents, Anne (Hope Lange) and Elton (John Cullum), who have problems of their own. Elton is an insurance company executive who is working himself into an early grave, and ignoring his frustrated wife. Anne, looking for some kind of affection, begins flirting with Riley (Ian Bannen), a local author. Scott (Arliss Howard) is Hammond's brother- a seminarian who lives in a bad part of town, and the rest of his family makes light of Scott's apparently showy poor living. He and his girlfriend begin empowering their fellow tenants, which gives the violent property owner reason for concern. Greg takes up with Sheila (Morgan Brittany), a spoiled rich girl who plans to market Greg as a major tennis pro. Unfortunately, not all of these plot points are resolved at an altar call.
Despite the subject matter and Graham's involvement, this is by no means a wishy washy film. Graham's few scenes are wonderful, and he speaks more truth in his statements than others do in their lifetime. His analogy about the ant hill serves to answer those who wonder why God is not a part of some lives. I do wish the writer/director had closed out the various stories he had going. What about the tenants? Did Elton leave his job? Did Anne begin writing? These are especially noteworthy in that the viewer comes to be very involved in these people's lives. The early 1980's filming looks a little dated, although there are some shots of the ocean that are breathtaking.
The most jarring aspect of "The Prodigal" is its unapologetic talk of Jesus Christ. Considering the subject matter of motion pictures today, it is shocking to hear the lost give their lives to Jesus Christ and not be embarrassed about it, or get shouted down by idolaters and tree worshippers.
While not a perfect film, "The Prodigal" is very good, and does its job very well. I definitely recommend it.
