Freemasonry in Cinema

Humphrey Bogart is an American Army officer expelled on false charges of treason.
In a shipboard scene, ju-jitsu exercises performed by Chinese sailors are compared
to the initiatory nature of Freemasonry. Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet. Directed
by John Huston. USA, English.

Christopher Walken plays Cagliostro, self-styled “the Grand Master of the
Illuminati”, while Jonathan Pryce, as Bishop Rohen, hides his personal correspondence
behind a panel in a desk decorated with masonic symbols. Hilary Swank, Jonathan
Pryce, Adrien Brody, Brian Cox, Joely Richardson, Christopher Walken. Directed
by Charles Shyer, written by John Sweet. Drama R 117 min., USA, English. Technicolor.

A student member of the Anti-Hippocratic Society\’d1″a cross between the
Freemasons and a college fraternity with old rituals, a lodge, the whole thing”\’d1starts
a killing spree that ends with the death of the Grand Master and the exposure
of the society. Franka Potente, Benno F\’9frmann, Anna Loos, Sebastian Blomberg,
Holger Speckhahn, Traugott Buhre. Directed and written by Stefan Ruzowitzky.
AKA: Anatomy. 103 min. Germany, German / Latin. Colour, Dolby. (Horror)

Based on a play by C. Logenbr\’9fder in which two non-masons
attempt to convince others that they are masons. John
Barrymore, Helen Freeman, Charles Dixon, Harold Lockwood.
Directed by Thomas N. Heffron, written by Leo Ditrichstein
(play) Eve Unsell. USA, English. Black and White, Silent.
(Comedy) .

Sonnie Hale, Robertson Hare, Davy Burnaby, Gwyneth Lloyd,
Bertha Belmore, Joyce Kirby. Directed by Henry Edwards,
written by Leo Ditrichstein (play) Emanuel Lederer (play).
70 min. UK, English. Black and White, Mono. (Comedy).

Narcotics officers Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Bennett (Martin Lawrence)
use a tile installer’s truck, with a square and compasses sticker over the back
bumper [00:18:00]. Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Jordi Moll\’88, Gabrielle Union,
Peter Stormare. Directed by Michael Bay, written by George Gallo, Marianne Wibberley.
150 min. USA, English, Colour (Comedy).

Ed Bloom, played by Ewan McGregor, is given the key to the city and a parade
when he leaves his small hometown. The parade consists entirely of Ed, his travelling
companion, Karl, and six Shriners in mini-cars [00:30:00]. Directed by Tim Burton,
written by Daniel Wallace (novel) John August (screenplay) Ewan McGregor, Albert
Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange. (Drama / Fantasy / Comedy). 124 min., USA,
English. Colour, Dolby.

A biography of jazz musician Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. In a cemetery
scene the camera pans across a row of monuments, one of which displays a square
and compasses. Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora. Produced and directed by Clint
Eastwood, written by Joel Oliansky. 160 min., USA, English. Colour.

Young Bobby Bumps plays a trick on his friend who wants to be initiated into
his lodge. When his friend outsmarts him and saves his life, they both agree
to be initiated into the lodge together. Reference is made to a lodge apron,
goat and third degree. Bray Productions, Inc. Paramount Pictures. Directed by
Earl Hurd (d. 1940). Produced by J. R. Bray. piano score composed and performed
by Philip Carli. 5:15 min/24 fps. Released September 28, 1916. 1 reel of 1 (ca.
615 ft.) : silent animation, b&w ; 35 mm.

Amos ‘n Andy’s lodge, the Mystic Knights of the Sea, plays a role in the only
movie made by this popular 1930s radio comedy team. Members of the lodge wear
fezzes and vote in a manner burlesquing that used in Freemasonry. Freeman F.
Gosden, Charles J. Correll. Produced by William LaBaron. Story, dialogue and
music by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby. Directed by Melville Brown. RKO Radio Pictures.
85 min., USA, English, Black and White (Comedy)..

Mel Gibson, as programmed assassin turned cabbie, Jerry Fletcher, says “I
mean George Bush knew what he was saying when he said New World Order, you remember
those fatal words, New World Order? Well he was a 33rd degree mason you know
and an ex director of the CIA.” [00:01:40]. Sandra Bullock, as justice department
lawyer, Alice Sutton, says: “I suppose they have a secret handshake.” [00:38:29].
Other references, if intended as such, are less obvious. Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts,
Patrick Stewart. Directed by Richard Donner, written by Brian Helgeland. Warner
Bros. 129 min., USA, English, Colour (Drama).

Delores’ bank manager\’d1who is wearing a square and compasses lapel pin\’d1
tells her that her husband has emptied their joint savings account. Kathy Bates
as Dolores Claiborne, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judy Parfitt, Christopher Plummer.
Directed by Taylor Hackford, written by Stephen King (book), screenplay by Tony
Gilroy. 132 min., USA, English. Dolby Digital, Technocolour.

Edward Andrews as real estate agent, George F. Babbitt, says, “Do you realize
that practically every American president was a mason and a Protestant?” He
later exclaims, “I’m in business! I’m a thirty-second degree mason!” Burt
Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones. Directed and written by Richard Brooks.
Novel by Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951). Fox, MGM, 146 min. USA, English, Color.

Arnold Schwartzenegger plays a former police officer who carries an amulet. At
one point he says “Now this amulet is from a masonic order in the former
sub-heredom of the Vatican Knights, the Knights of the Holy See. They await the
return of the dark angel to earth.” Also, during the opening titles Elephis
Levi’s baphomet can be briefly seen. Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Pollak, Rod Steiger.
Directed by Peter Hyams, written by Andrew W. Marlowe.

Although there are no masonic references in this movie, anti-masons and those
unclear on the distinction between real-world Freemasonry and the iconography
of the conspiracy mythos see a private club as representing a masonic secret
society. In one scene a character is seen sitting in a throne-like chair [01:16:38],
the back of which is surmounted by a globe over two eagles. Tom Cruise, Nicole
Kidman. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Arthur Schnitzler. USA, English,
Color

Ming’s chief henchman and torturer, Klytus, is shown wearing a square and compasses
on the front of his uniform. Sam J. Jones and Melody Anderson, with Max von Sydow
as Ming the Merciless. Directed by Mike Hodges. 111 min., USA, English. Color.

Implicates the Craft as being responsible for the Whitechapel murders in London.
The many masonic images and references places this movie in the catagory of intentional
anti-masonry. Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm. Directed by Albert Hughes,
based on a graphic novel written by Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell. USA, English,
121 min., Colour.

In a depiction of a true story, convicted murderer, Byron “Delay” De
La Beckwith played by James Wood is shown driving a car with a Shriners symbol
attached to his rear view mirror and, in several scenes, wearing a Shriners lapel
pin. His victim, black activist Medger W. Evers, is shown in his coffin with
his Order of Elks fez placed on his chest. Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James
Woods. Directed by Rob Reiner, written by Leo Colick, Columbia Pictures & Castle
Rock Entertainment. USA, Color

Ringo Starr asks an Indian restaurant doorman, “You know what this ring
means?” He replies, “Freemason?” Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney,
John Lennon, George Harrison, Leo McKern. Directed by Richard Lester, written
by Charles Wood, Marc Behm.

Keith David as Leon, Detective Joe Gavilan’s supervising officer, wears a masonic
ring [00:55:50], clearly seen on the hand he’s holding the phone with. Harrison
Ford, Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Isaiah Washington, Lolita Davidovich,
Keith David, Master P, Dwight Yoakam, Martin Landau, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gladys
Knight. Directed by Ron Shelton, written by Robert Souza, Ron Shelton. 116 min.
USA, English. Colour, Dolby Digital (Action)

When Betty Grable returns from what she had expected to be an Elks Lodge convention
[00:50:04], she tells Lauren Bacall that she had got married. Lauren exclaims “Not
to that Shriner!” [01:40:05] Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall,
David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Cameron Mitchell, Alexander D’Arcy, Fred Clark, William
Powell. Directed by Jean Negulesco,
written by Zoe Akins, Dale Eunson. 95 min. USA, English. Technicolor, (Comedy)

During a police interrogation, accused murderer Dick Hickock says: “Everybody’s
got a tattoo. Only you people call them clubs. Elks, Masons, Boy Scouts. Salute.
High sign. Low sign. Secret this and secret that.” [01:29:00] A different
line appears in the original book. Robert Blake, Scott Wilson. Directed and written
by Richard Brooks, Truman Capote (book). 134 minutes. USA, English, B&W.

A drunken derelict in London finds himself being pursued by a corrupt cop after
witnessing a murder and stumbling onto a high-level international conspiracy.
Oliver Cotton, Tony Bluto Thorn, Paul Brightwell.

Kevin Costner as District Attorney Jim Garrison investigates Kennedy’s assassination.
Although there are no obvious masonic references, conspiracy theorists who have
done a frame-by-frame analysis of the video release claim to observe many masonic
symbols and references. These seem to be limited to images of skulls and ufos
and depictions of “secret hand signs”, none of which are masonic. Costner
is also, without citation, alleged to be a freemason. It is an interesting bit
of film trivia that the Oval Office scenes were filmed in the Dallas, Texas,
Scottish Rite Temple. Directed by Oliver Stone. Warner Bros.

Although no link is made with Freemasonry, in this movie the Illuminati are perceived
as a group of “devious dangerous men who seek to fulfil an ancient prophesy.” The
Illuminati has no contemporary masonic link, and the eye in a triangle has no
unique masonic significance. But their popular association with Freemasonry in
fiction requires that their use in this movie be noted on this page. Directed
by Simon West, written by Sara B. Cooper and Mike Werb. Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight,
Iain Glen, Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig. 100 min. USA, English. Colour (DeLuxe),
Dolby Digital. (Action).

A masonic funeral is briefly seen through a window. Later, the young doctor shows
the main character a drawing incorporating the square and compasses and an all-seeing
eye [00:37:35] . Marco Leonardi, Tita Regina Tornn Martnez. Directed by Alfonso
Arau, written by Laura Esquivel. Novel by Laura Esquivel. 123 min. Mexico : Spanish

The head lion’s partner carries a cane with two balls attached to it. While not
explicitely masonic, freemasons will recognize a common masonic pun. Animation:
voices- Rowan Atkinson, Matthew Broderick, Niketa Calame, Whoopi Goldberg. Directed
by Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff, written by Jim Capobianco, Irene Mecchi. English,
89 min. Disney animation.

Corrupt sheriff Charley Wade, played by Kris Kristofferson, is identified as
a mason by his ring as the movie begins. Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang, Chris
Cooper. Directed and written by John Sayles. USA, English, 135 min. (Drama/Mystery).

British diplomat Robert Conway and three others crash land in the Himalayas,
and are rescued by the people of the mysterious, Eden-like valley of Shangri-la.
Edward Everett Horton is interrupted, as he exclaims, “I’ve just finished
translating one of the most interesting old tablets you can imagine. It told
me all about the origin of the masonic symbols and science and….” Ronald
Colman as Conway, Edward Everett Horton as Alexander P. Lovett. Directed by Frank
Capra, written by James Hilton & Robert Riskin. 132 min., USA, English, b&w.

Edwin Hodgeman as Dr. Dealgood, the announcer introducing the fight between Max
and Blaster wears a square and compasses image on his shirt front. Frank Thring,
as the Collector, wears a lapel jewel that may be from a concordant masonic body.
Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence. Directed by George Millar. Australia/USA,
English, 107 min. Colour, Dolby (Action/SF).

Unrelated to the story, the square and compasses symbol can be seen once on a
mausoleum in the cemetery scene and once on a building on Main Street in the
later half of the movie. Jim Carrey, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey DeMunn, Hal Holbrook,
Laurie Holden, Martin Landau. Directed by Frank Darabont, written by Michael
Sloane. 152 min. USA, English. Technicolor, Dolby Digital. (Drama / Romance).

Based on a Rudyard Kipling story. Mercenary soldiers convince Kafiristan tribespeople
that they are gods after discovering masonic symbols on religious artifacts.
Sean Connery, Michael Caine. Directed by John Huston. 129 min. UK/USA, English,
Colour. (Drama/Action).

A former
FBI profiler moves his family from Washington DC to Seattle,
where he joins the Millenium Group, a mysterious organization
of former law enforcement officers, committed to battling
a crime wave which grows as the turn of the millenium
approaches.

Seen on “Drop” Johnson’s apartment wall is a poster for a fight Saturday
Night at the Masonic Hall [01:32:08]. Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John
Turturro, J.E. Freeman, Albert Finney, Mike Starr, Al Mancini, Steve Buscemi.
Directed by Joel Coen, Written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen. 115 min. USA, English
/ Italian / Gaelic. Color, Dolby SR . (Crime / Drama / Thriller).

Michael Palin, Hosting the gameshow “Blackmail”, at 17333 on DVD
counter. Script Reads: Thank you Onan! And now: a letter, a hotel registration
book, and a series of photographs, which could add up to divorce, premature
retirement, and possible criminal proceedings for a company director in Bromsgrove.
He’s a freemason, and a conservative M.P., so that’s 3,000 pounds please Mr.
S… thank you… to stop us from revealing: Your name. The name of the three
other people involved, The youth organization to which they belonged, and The
shop where you bought the equipment!

Monty Python’s And Now for Something Completely Different
(UK) (complete title), Runtime: 85 min, Country: UK,
Language: English

Color: Color (Eastmancolor), Sound Mix: Mono (Comedy)

The question is asked by a protector of man and a servant of God, “If I
were to tell you that I was a stranger travelling from the East, what would you
say?” Brendan Fraser’s character replies, “I would tell you that I
was a traveller coming from the west to meet you.” Brendan Fraser, Rachel
Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo. Directed by Stephen Sommers, written by Stephen
Sommers. USA, English, Color.

Sherlock Holmes investigates London’s most infamous case, Jack the Ripper. As
he investigates, he finds that the Ripper has friends in high places, implicating
freemasons. Christopher Plummer, James Mason. Directed by Bob Clark.

Benjamin Franklin Gates, played by Nicholas Cage, descends from a family of treasure-seekers
who’ve all hunted for the same thing: a war chest hidden by the American founding
fathers. This movie is yet another fictional attempt to link the freemasons,
the Knights Templar and the founding of the USA through the use of various symbols.
Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger, Harvey Keitel, Christopher
Plummer, Jon Voight. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Ted Elliott, E. Max
Frye. USA, English. Colour, Stereo. (Adventure).

Sidney Drew, Mrs. Sidney Drew. Directed by Mrs. Sidney
Drew, Sidney Drew, written by Mrs. Sidney Drew, Sidney
Drew. USA, English. Black and White, Silent. (Comedy).
[Mrs. Sidney Drew (18/04/1890- 3/11/1925), n\'8ee: Lucille
McVey: AKA: Lucille M. Drew, Lucille McVey, Jane Morrow),
appeared in 54 films, wrote 29, directed 25 and produced
one. Sidney Drew (28/08/1863- 09/04/1919) appeared in
160 films, directed 143, and wrote 53.]

In the beginning of the movie, as Dean (Kurt) is driving into town, the camera
pans past the “Welcome to “Elk Cove” sign. Attached is a very
obvious large blue masonic emblem. Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann,
Katherine Helmond, Michael G. Hagerty, Roddy McDowall. Directed by Garry Marshall,
written by Leslie Dixon . 106 min / 112 min (TCM print). USA, English. Metrocolour,
Dolby

The Internet Movie Database lists this film under the
keyword “freemason” without giving details.
Trond Peter Stams\’bf Munch, Kristian Figenschow, Guri
Johnson. directed by Morten Kolstad, written by Bj\’bfrn-Erik
Hanssen. 93 min Norway / Denmark, Norwegian. Color.

Based on an actual incident in 1923, this movie has played fast and loose with
the historical facts but none-the-less presents a scathing and realistic indictment
of the times. While there is evidence of a masonic angle, the movie gives it
far too much prominence. Masonic symbols are prominently displayed in several
scenes. Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle. Directed by John Singleton, written
by Gregory Poirier. 140 min. USA, English. Technicolor, Dolby Digital. R. (Action/Drama).

In a scene where Wayne rides into a Camanche camp after a battle, one of the dead Camanches is lying sprawled face up, wearing a blue cloth apron, similar in size to a masonic apron, with white ribbons sewn in the shape of a square and compasses. John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood.

Directed by John Ford, Script by Frank Nugen. USA. English, 120 min., Colour (Western).

A group of girls at a boarding school re-enact a masonic ritual based on one girl’s deceased father’s ritual book. Helen Lindesey, Anne Campbell-Jones, Daisy Cockburn, Directed by Gavin Millar. British.

A montage of interconnected conversations and monologues, one is a rant on UFO
conspiracies, one is on Kennedy assassination conspiracies and one later conversation
is about the freemasons:
” The reason these guys are being forgotten though, is that they’re not
freemasons. The masons are the one’s that control history. Look at it, every…
every president but one: mason. Every man that’s walked on the moon… thirty-third
degree mason. I mean, look at the Warren commission, a Shriner convention without
go-carts.”

” Exactly. The slate of American history needs to be wiped clean. We need
to start all over again. Let’s put Larry Fieman in the history books. Let’s put
Squeaky Fromme on the one dollar bill.”

” Least we ought to get that masonic pyramid bullshit off the back.” [01:14:40]
Directed and written by Richard Linklater. Espresso Czar/Masonic Malcontent played
by Dan Kratochvil. 97 min. USA, English. Color

Take Me Out To The Ball Game (1948)

The lyrics in the closing number, a reprise of Strictly USA, end with: “Like the annual Elks convention / Like masonic halls or firemen’s balls / Like honeymooning at Niagara Falls / They’re really here to stay / Cause it’s strictly USA.”

Directed by Busby Berkeley, produced by Arthur Freed, written by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen.
Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew’s Incorporated. 93 min. USA.
English, Technicolor. (Musical / Comedy)

In the year 1936 a global war begins. This war drags out over many decades …
Raymond Massey as John Cabal/Oswald Cabal makes a reference to “The brotherhood
of efficiency. The freemasonry of science.” [00:36:00] A later reference
to “our children’s children” and the framing of many shots by pillars
or arches is not necessarily significant. Edward Chapman as Pippa Passworthy/Raymond
Passworthy, Ralph Richardson as The Boss, Margaretta Scott as Roxana/Rowena.
Directed by William Cameron Menzies, Writing credits: H.G. Wells (also novel
The Shape of Things to Come) AKA: The Shape of Things to Come. UK, English, 100
min., b&w, Mono.

A time traveling epic fantasy. One of the band of dwarfs is seen wearing a heavy medallion possibly incorporating a square and compasses. John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelly Duvall. Directed by Terry Gilliam, written by Michael Palin. UK, English, 110 min., Colour , Stereo. (Sci-Fi).

Based on H. G. Wells’ 1895 novel. David Filby, played by Alan Young, says to George Wells, played by Rod Taylor: “George, I speak to you as a friend, and even more, as a brother….” although the characters are not related. This line does not appear in the novel. Filby and his four friends all wear watch fobs but none are seen in enough detail to determine if they are masonic. Referring to a hypothetical time traveller, George alludes to another H. G. Wells novel when he says, “Can he change the shape of things to come?” [See Things to Come, above.] Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot. Directed by George Pal, written by H. G. Wells (novel), David Duncan. 103 min. USA, English. Metrocolour, Stereo (Drama).

A retelling of the gunfight at the OK Corral and its aftermath. Jon Tenney, as John Behan, Cochise County Sheriff wears a square and compasses watchfob. Buck Taylor, as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson, wearing a square and compasses pendant responds to Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday saying he has no friends by saying, “Hell,
I’ve got lots of friends.” Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer.

Directed by George P. Cosmatos, written by Kevin Jarre. USA, English. 130 min. Dolby, Technicolor
(Western).

Kim Darby’s character, Matty, on viewing her recently deceased father in a coffin in a funeral parlor, tells the farm hand, “When you get home, you put him in a better coffin and you bury him in a mason’s apron.” [00:13:12] This line is based on the 1968 novel by Charles Portis. John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall. Directed by Henry Hathaway. USA, English. Color (Western)

A married real estate salesman, Jake McKenna played by Nick Nolte, in Superior Arizona later married his daughter by his Apache mistress then hires a gambler on the run to kill her. He wears a masonic ring, seen in a close-up [00:41:05].

Directed by Oliver Stone, written by John Ridley. Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer
Lopez, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Joaquin Phoenix, Jon Voight, Billy Bob Thornton.
125 min, France / USA, English. Technicolor, Dolby Digital. (Drama).

Garry Shandling plays Harold Anderson who is an extraterrestrial working as a loans officer in a bank. His manager, Don Fisk played by Richard Jenkins, wears a masonic lapel pin. He is also wearing a wedding band and claims to be having an affair with one of his employees. Directed by Mike Nichols, Written by Garry Shandling, Michael Leeson. Garry Shandling, Annette Bening, John Goodman, Greg Kinnear, Ben Kingsley. 104 min. USA, English. Colour (DeLuxe), Dolby Digital / SDDS. R (Comedy).