The Hallelujah Handshake (1970)

• 74%
• 1970
• Drama
• TV Movie
• Alan Clarke
• Tony Calvin
• Jeremy Wilkin
• Lynn Farleigh

The story - based on a real life anecdote Welland heard from a friend who happened to be a Minister - concerns a lonely and compulsive misfit called Henry who one day arrives at a church social and subsequently throws himself passionately into helping that parish, ingratiating himself deeply with the Minister and others. He is shown to work with youth groups, Sunday School and Scouts and delivers lectures allegedly based on personal experiences of travel but in reality are just parroted recitals from holiday brochures. Slowly but surely this habit of exaggeration and lying, along with some unusual personality traits and actions begin to strike each of them as odd and potentially dangerous and the play explores the church's well meaning but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to integrate and rehabilitate such a clearly disturbed man.