TMBTMB
TMBTMB

Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Browse
  • Topics

Account

  • Watchlist
  • Watched
  • Ratings

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Content Policy

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

Home
Browse
Watchlist
backdrop
backdrop
logo
Before he became 'the Good Pope,' he was smuggling Jews past Hitler's death machine.
IMDb
79

Portrait: A Man Whose Name Was John (1973)

clerical thrillerquiet heroismperiod tension

Overview

DramaTV Movie

During World War II, Archbishop Angelo Roncalli attempts to save Jews in Italy from Nazi exterminators.

Flag of USUS
Content warning

Standout Aspects

Acting

Raymond Burr's unexpected warmth—Perry Mason as gentle savior.

Writing

Sharp 60-minute economy, no Vatican melodrama padding.

Best for:Solo: Sunday afternoon when you need faith in humanity restored.·Family: Teach teens that heroism wears cassocks, not capes.
Heads up:Emotional: Holocaust context, families separated, train deportations implied.
Buzz Kulik

Director

Buzz Kulik

ReleasedApr 21, 1973
Runtime1h
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feelheavy

Top Cast

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr

Angelo Roncalli, Pope John XXIII

Don Galloway

Don Galloway

Monsignor Thomas Ryan

David Opatoshu

David Opatoshu

Rabbi Isaac Herzog

John Colicos

John Colicos

Numan Menemengioglu

Henry Darrow

Henry Darrow

Calheiros de Menezes

Eric Braeden

Eric Braeden

Col. Gunter Kroll

Scott Hylands

Scott Hylands

Captain Melech Ben Zvi

Aliza Gur

Aliza Gur

Rachel Friedman

Peter von Zerneck

Peter von Zerneck

Ambassador Franz Von Pappen

Ask about Portrait: A Man Whose Name Was John

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Insight

Shot in 1973, this aired months before Pope John XXIII's canonization cause opened—essentially a prime-time hagiography with Burr's star power.

Trivia

Eric Braeden (Colonel Kroll) would later win an Emmy as Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless—Nazi villain to soap opera patriarch in one career.

Reviews

No ratings yet

Start the discussionBe the first to post — spoiler-safe
Rate & reviewBe the first to weigh in

Recommended

Girl in the Box movie poster (2016)
6.7

Girl in the Box

TalhotBlond movie poster (2012)
6.3

TalhotBlond

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault movie poster (1996)
7.1

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

American Son movie poster (2019)
6.1

American Son

Inherit the Wind movie poster (1999)
6.3

Inherit the Wind

Iron Jawed Angels movie poster (2004)
6.8

Iron Jawed Angels

Heaven movie poster (2019)
6.1

Heaven

Starving in Suburbia movie poster (2014)
6.5

Starving in Suburbia

Return to Zero movie poster (2014)
6.6

Return to Zero

Normal movie poster (2003)
6.7

Normal

Cheaters movie poster (2000)
6.3

Cheaters

Girl Fight movie poster (2011)
6.5

Girl Fight

Hello Sister, Goodbye Life movie poster (2006)
6.1

Hello Sister, Goodbye Life

I Am Elizabeth Smart movie poster (2017)
6.9

I Am Elizabeth Smart

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge movie poster (1999)
6.5

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.

Discussion starters

View all comments →