Review written by Trisha Fuentes January 9, 2018
“The Cross and the Switchblade” is based on a true story and stars Pat Boone as David Wilkerson and Eric Estrada as Nicki Cruz. The movie was released in 1970, and it is set in 1950s New York City.
Link to the full movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ia3KZtEZPg
About: David Wilkerson is a young minister in a Philipsburg, Pennsylvania church. David drives to NYC because his entire church, faithfully in prayer, sends him to evangelize and snatch people from the fire; these people are gang members. Instead of giving up on young adults who were breaking laws, this little church decides to petition God for their lives.
According to Eric Estrada in 2004, The Cross and the Switchblade is viewed by troubled youth 500 times per week.
Many movie reviewers, since its 1970 release, stated that the movie was unrealistic. However, it was not only based on a true story, but told the exact events that took place when David Wilkerson started the church that would change NYC forever (The Times Square Church). Sure, adjustments were made to tell the story well in a film, and there are anachronisms such as buildings that had not existed in the 1950s, but all the events portrayed actually happened at the time. The acting and filming are dated, but this is a review about content, heart, and accuracy about the character of the Holy Spirit, which is lacking in many of our high-tech, Christian films today. Many of the modern day Christian films lack a realistic understanding of how the Holy Spirit moves and confuse people who may believe on Yeshua in the future, in addition to not edifying young and mature Christians with their dead storytelling. I personally LOVE this movie, because it blessed me as I watched and it is plain to see that the actions in some of the scenes with Pat Boone and Eric Estrada were harmonious with the Bible and anointed. Further, there is a definite style and continuity of theme, without showing literally what was happening in the spiritual realm (see Judas’ cave scene in The Passion of the Christ for the style I speak of for comparison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZNxIAiIXuo .) In the Cross and the Switchblade director Don Murray, implicitly instead of explicitly, displays spiritual understanding. For example, the movie begins with gang members fighting; cut to the next scene, a courtroom with quiet gang members dressed in suits, suddenly an argument breaks out between the lawyers, and the spirit of divisiveness is still active, demonstrating that justice has not been reconciled in the spirit, even with the arrests of the gang members. Another point observed in the direction of the scene is that conflict is not limited to criminals; we all fall short of the glory of Christ. The director’s subtlety for demonstrating conflict in every scene, including when the Gospel is preached, realistically tells the story of the human experience and the experience of a true evangelist, even if the acting is outdated and overdone. The Cross and the switchblade is all heart, and tells some important aspects of how the Holy Spirit works with us to love others.
Here is a list of some of the interesting points of the movie with scriptures the scenes bring to mind:
- The newspapers announce David Wilkerson’s arrival in NYC and show his evangelistic and compassionate heart (fruits of the vine): As soon as David arrives in NYC, he goes to the courtroom to find the gang members on trial. When David tries to approach the judge to suggest a solution other than jail time, he is almost arrested. David explains that he is there to give the gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these gang members, and the cops say that the gang members were a lost cause and to give up. Reporters take pictures of him and his actions are printed. This effort to save others is good fruit, and it is immediately documented (a powerful will of Elohim) in major newspapers. A day later, after walking in a church, David is invited to live with a Christian family because they know him and his fruit. He doesn’t have to sleep in his car anymore. God allows David’s heart to be revealed to others and to be known because this would be the only way David could be effective for Him.
Matthew 7:15-2015 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
2. In the scenes where David Wilkerson or another Christian preach the Gospel, they are threatened by gang members or hassled by cops, but are not harmed. In fact, many violent gang members repented after hearing the Gospel and gave their lives to Christ Jesus. This all falls in line with what happened to Yeshua and in the book of Acts to the disciples of Yeshua. Threats were made and carried out for preaching the Gospel of Yeshua; e.g. when Paul the Apostle (Saul) was a Pharisee he oversaw the stoning and death of the disciple Stephen:
Acts 7:54-60 King James Version (KJV)54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, LORD Yeshua, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
3. Rosa, a woman who Wilkerson helped overcome addiction to heroin, backslides into taking another heroin dose toward the end of the movie, and it does nothing to her. There, miraculously, is no high. Back at this time no one overcame heroin, yet once Rosa has found faith she freed from its clutches.
Matthew 8:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, who said, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”
Watching the Cross and the Switchblade personally increased my faith in continuing in Yeshua’s word. I believe that this movie says all things are possible within the will of God.
Writer/director/producer Don Murray should be appreciated for staying true to the events that took place. He was respectful to each person’s experience, and even hired Nicki Cruz to work as an advisor on the film. There is a delicate and sincere style and shape to the film, one that we filmmakers hope for. It may look dated, but there is something of great value in re-telling this story in film.
On Fire for God Rating: 4 out of 5 
Giving Light: 5 out of 5 
Anointed: 3 out of 5 
Written by Trisha Fuentes
Writer, producer, and servant of Yeshua—magnifying His Kingdom through the arts.
About the Author
Trisha Fuentes is a writer, producer, wife, mother, and arts activist with Noble Fountain Productions. Thirty years ago, she was baptized in New York City, setting her on a lifelong journey of teaching, acting, and singing with the purpose of glorifying the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and holding a B.A. in Arts Management from SUNY Purchase College, she unites classical discipline with a heart of faith. Trisha’s passion rests in arts activism, in studying Scripture, and in following Yeshua the Messiah—bearing witness to His joy shining forth through the beauty of the arts.