The keys of the kingdom is a 1944 american film based on the 1941 novel the keys of the kingdom by a j cronin the film was adapted by nunnally johnson directed by john m stahl and produced by joseph l mankiewicz it stars gregory peck thomas mitchell and vincent price and tells the story of the trials and tribulations of a catholic priest who goes to china to evangelize. The bibles answer the keys of the kingdom sometimes called the keys to the kingdom represent the authority to open the way for people to enter into the kingdom of god matthew 1619 the new american bible acts 1422 jesus gave peter the keys of the kingdom of the heavens this means that peter received the authority to unlock . Directed by john m stahl with gregory peck thomas mitchell vincent price rose stradner a young . The keys of the kingdom the keys of the kingdom is a 1941 novel by a j cronin spanning six decades it tells the story of father francis chisholm an unconventional scottish catholic priest who struggles to establish a mission in china beset by tragedy in his youth as a missionary chisholm endures many years of hardship punctuated by famine