MovieChat Forums > One Foot in Heaven (1941) Discussion > Question about the ending **possible sp...

Question about the ending **possible spoiler**


Loved this movie; I grew up Methodist end just on the cusp of time when these type of churches and morals were still the norm. :-)

Question, though - does anyone know if the Spences really left Elmwood, as Will and Hope discussed near the end? Or are we to believe they didn't, based on the (beautiful!) final scene?

I understand that if God calls, you'd better listen and obey - but after so many years of hard work and sacrifice, it still would seem a shame to have to give up such a well-earned nice church and home, especially with them no longer being the young couple.

Just curious! Thanks!

"Think slow, act fast." --Buster Keaton

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I got the impression they did move on to the little church in Iowa. A nice, new church with expensive bells and organ and a nice parsonage with a youth center may be nice; it's what they looked forward to and, after all those years, one might even say, they 'deserved'. However, living the high life is not why William Spence was called to be a preacher. He pretty much knew and accepted that when he gave up his original plans to be a doctor.

Hope knew it going in as well. No, she didn't expect things would be exactly as they turned out to be but before she married her husband she knew he was giving up creature comforts in order to serve a greater purpose. Things in their lives may not be easy and the years have worn on all of them, the children included, but until Will 'retires'; if that ever happens, they have to focus on the work he was called to do and not on whatever 'perks' may come with the position.

In the end, we know Hope will do whatever her husband decides. She's learned he will have his way regardless of what she or the children think or want; just as with the naming of their third child and the youth center.

Playing the organ, calling everyone to prayer might indicate he's decided to stay. It looks that way and there is a real possibility especially since the last time he got to go to a fancy church he said he didn't feel right stepping into what someone else had built. This is what he had built so he may stay.

For those same reasons, I feel Will opted to leave and go help out the small church that needs them. Calling the community out with the organs was perhaps a final impromptu mass and farewell to the community that's had such a big impact on them and vice versa. That community needed the Spence family and they were able to help them; all the more reason to go off and do the same elsewhere.

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The father mentioned moving to a church in Iowa. Since the son Hartzell did in real life attend the University Of Iowa, I am guessing that they did move there.

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