It was produced by Ely Landau, directed by British director Guy Green, and filmed at Shepperton Studios, England.

The young knight narrator (Julian Glover) is an "everyman" character who confronts Luther for advocating the suppression of the Peasants' Revolt of 1524–1526.

A wounded knight wheels in a fallen comrade, celebrates Luther's accomplishments but accuses him of abandoning his supporters.

The knight explains Luther sought to protect himself from demons and excelled in the "counsels of perfection" to suppress internal doubt.

Luther serves food, cleans latrines, washes dishes, shivers in bed, and paces in prayer, saying, "I am afraid of the darkness and the hole in it ... and there's no bottom to it!"

Johann Tetzel preaches indulgences with pomp, claiming they would provide forgiveness even if one offered violence to the Virgin Mary.

Luther meets his mentor Vicar General Johann von Staupitz who accuses him of resenting authority and making it ridiculous by meticulous observance of monastic rule.

Confronted by Staupitz, visiting Martin and his wife Katie, Luther admits the peasants had cause but that mobs are irreligious.

Luther takes Katie's baby into his pulpit and assures him that "the dark isn't quite as thick as all that," that they should hope that Christ will be true to his word, "A little while and you'll not see me, and then again a little and you shall see me" (John 16:16).

Nora Sayre, writing in The New York Times, had kind words for Keach's, Magee's, Badel's, and Griffith's performances, but was troubled by changes made in the transition from stage to screen:The Brechtian aspects of the play have been muted, and we're left with a conventional religious drama — hardly what the playwright wrought.