A 2023 documentary about the late Rev. H. K. Rasbach, who served as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Hollywood, California from 1947 to 1980. Rev. Rasbach saw Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 silent THE TEN COMMANDMENTS on its original release when he was 10 years old and it inspired him to enter the ministry. This experience culminated in a friendship with Mr. DeMille during the last decade of Mr. DeMille’s life.
The Rev. Rasbach worked with director George Stevens on his biblical epic THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965) and was responsible for annual showings in Hollywood of DeMille’s KING OF KINGS (1927), which were free to the public and often standing room only.
The Rev. Rasbach produced and directed many films for the Lutheran church including the anti-nuclear war film THE WAY OF PEACE (1947) which is in the Library of Congress. Rev. Rasbach was also instrumental in reaching out to the local Jewish community in Hollywood at a time when anti-semitism was far too common in churches.
The film includes interviews with film historian Katherine Orrison, former member of Hope Lutheran and author of ” WRITTEN IN STONE The Making of Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic The Ten Commandments”; the Rev. Mark Rasbach, former pastor of Hope Lutheran Church and son of H.K. Rasbach and rare audio interviews with H.K. himself.
Trailer:
Hollywood’s Pastor
The H. K. Rasbach Story
