The Way of Peace

Frank Tashlin went from directing Tom and Jerry at the Van Beuren studio to directing Jerry Lewis and Jayne Mansfield, but he made some stops in between—including a couple involving stop-motion films.

Tashlin was hired in 1944 by the Morey-Sutherland studio, which was making stop-motion shorts called “Daffy Ditties.” His stay was short, as he was trying to get his live-action writing career off the ground. During that time, he wrote and directed a religious film called “The Way of Peace.” It was produced for the Lutheran Church and starred puppets along with what looks like live-action stock footage.

Gumby it isn’t. The film is a cautionary tale about humanity destroying the Earth. It’s a far cry from Mansfield/milk-bottle gags.

“American Cinematography” felt the creation of the 20-minute film was worth an explanation and a review was published in its July 1947 edition. This is by Glenn R. Kershner of the American Society of Cinematographers.

“The Way to Peace” is a religious picture produced by Wah Ming Chang and Blanding Sloan of the East West Studio, Los Angeles, for the Wartburg Press of Columbus, Ohio.
The story was written and directed by Frank Tashlin from the original conception and technical supervision of Rev. H. K. Rasbach of Christian Films in connection with the American Lutheran Church. The musical score was composed and conducted by Eddison von Ottenfeld in accompanyment to the narration by Lew Ayres. Blanding Sloan rendered the art direction while Wah Ming Chang conceived the puppet design and accomplished the photography — with a staff to assist both—being Carl Ryan and William King (puppet makers), Wilbur George (set maker), Richard Lord (prop maker), and Gene Warren and Herbert Johnson (animators). The composit of audio-visual mediums were expertly edited to this completed film by Stuart O’Brien. Glen Chang, wife of Mr. Chang, is credited with doing the stills.
The picture, made with miniatures and puppets and taking some eight months to produce, is very interesting and well done. The montages, lighting and lap dissolves are quite perfect. The story is timely and holding. Beginning with the creation of the earth and of human beings, then came a sequence depicting the walls of hate that grew in men’s hearts. This was very well told in a montage of animated blocks and creeping shadows.
Several beautiful scenes portraying the Star in the East and the locale around the birth of Christ, his teachings to the multitudes, crucifixion, etc. . . . but by this time we had almost forgotten that the actors were little puppets and the scenes but little miniatures that would hardly cover the top of a table.
The last sequence of “The Way of Peace” is quite terrifying for it dwells on the modern atomic bomb and the gradual destruction of all mankind, ending up with the earth but a burning mass whirling off into space.
The picture, while religious, is universal, for it does not speak of or show any beliefs, creeds or denominations whatsoever. It is a picture in its entirety for the grown-ups; it has a message against hate for them and the teenagers; but for the smaller children, I feel any father or mother would want to show them the picture minus the atomic sequence, and this much of the picture I think will become a classic to exhibit around Easter and Christmas time.



A short unbylined article on the film in the June 1947 edition of “Educational Screen” magazine had this to say:

The Way of Peace is an 18-minute sound film in color. It was produced by the East-West Studios for the Wartburg Press and is available from their Columbus, Ohio office (57 E. Main St.) Lew Ayres does the narration. A California pastor, Rev. H. K. Rasbach, gets credit for the original idea and gave technical supervision. Frank Tashlin did the writing; Eddison von Ottenfeld composed and directed the music: and Wah Ming Chang and Blanding Sloan were the co-producers.
The story Starts with the Creation, Then sin comes, and man, with his greed and hatreds, shuts God out. As man turns from God, he walks further and further into the shadows. Then Christ comes, and only a part of mankind heeds His call to the Light. Man stumbles on through wars and cruelties, unheeding Christ’s message. The atomic age is ahead. It may be beneficial; it may spell doom. Man can tear down the wall, let in the Light, and be in brotherhood, but will he?

There are no humans in the film, and all the backgrounds are miniatures. Puppets are used. The background music is by an orchestra.

While some of the releases on this film will lead many people to expect more than they should, the film will be generally accepted as useful and as a call to repentance. The dominant note is negative, even to the end when the world is destroyed. It is a film version of hell-fire and damnation.

The utilization of puppets against miniature backgrounds gives a film with little elemental movement in three-fourths of the footage. This is a definite weakness. The animation of some of the puppets tends to lessen, rather than heighten, the illusion of reality. The only way for puppets to get accepted as reality by the mind is for them to keep still!

Basically, the commentary is a sermon. It is well-paced and well-spoken. At times, the music occupies the soundtrack alone and with excellent effect. The Nativity music has great beauty.

While there are certain to be exceptions, most church leaders will consider The Way of Peace a film for young people and adults only.

This short was designed for the educational/religious market but not only did it appear in at least one theatre, it actually debuted on television. It aired on April 6, 1947 on WCBS-TV in New York.

You’ve read about Wartburg Press in Ohio. The Lutherans operate a college in Waverly, Iowa, and its campus paper was The Wartburg Trumpet. It reported on the film in its April 26, 1947 issue:

‘The Way Of Peace’ Has World Premiere In Washington, D. C.
“The Way Of Peace," described as 1947's most unusual religious film, has been produced for the Wartburg Press of the American Lutheran church by notable Hollywood figures and had its world premiere at Constitution hall in Washington, D. C., on April 23.
Presentation there was made in cooperation with the Washington Federation of Churches.
Made in third dimensional animation, “The Way of Peace” employs a unique method of puppetry, enhanced by color photography, to present the story of God and mankind. No humans appear in the picture, which uses only miniature figures and sets.The miniatures were photographed by the stop-motion method, in which only a frame at a time was exposed. This involved the making of more than 30,000 individual pictures, requiring nearly one year of painstaking labor. The story idea was originated by the Rev. H. K. Rasbach, American Lutheran pastor of Fullerton, Calif., who produced the film on the Ames International Luther League convention, "Now Is the Time.” The Wartburg Press agreed to provide financial backing, and work was begun on the film last summer.
On Easter Sunday, the Columbia Broadcasting system televised “The Way of Peace” over its television outlet in New York City.

You can view the film below.