There is little daylight between the genres of supernatural fantasy and science fiction. Angels and aliens, as a quick Google search will reveal, overlap in our collective imagination. Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard proved middling science fiction could make for profitable religion.
Therefore, it isn’t surprising that best- selling author Mitch Albom’s overtly religious novel, “The First Phone Call From Heaven,” bears a striking thematic similarity to an early 1950s sci-fi movie.* The depth of the similarity, however, is uncanny.
Both stories feature otherworldly communication, renewals of faith, elaborate hoaxes, and nearly identical endings where the truth is suppressed for the greater good.
A spokeswoman for Albom's publisher says the movie was not his inspiration.
“The First Phone Call From Heaven” takes place in the fictional town of Coldwater, Mich. Unlike the real town near the Indiana border, Albom’s Coldwater is a northern Michigan hamlet where people receive what they believe to be phone calls from dead relatives in heaven who, not unlike talk-show psychics, say we should have faith because everyone is happy and at peace in heaven.
In the 1952 science fiction film "Red Planet Mars," released at the height of Cold War anti-Communist hysteria, Peter Graves plays a scientist who believes he’s established radio contact with a Martian civilization that claims peace on earth and goodwill towards men can be achieved if we all put our faith in God.
Both stories feature skeptical authority figures. In Albom’s novel, local clergy aren’t sure about the impact of the phone calls on their flocks. In “Red Planet Mars,” government and business leaders are concerned Mars’ scientific innovations applied to earthly problems will lead to the collapse of western society.
Both stories show negative unintended consequences from these uplifting messages. In Albom’s novel, sick people, eager to see heaven, will themselves to die. In “Red Planet Mars,” the economy shuts down as news from Mars foretells a world that doesn’t need fossil fuels or steel.
Eventually, key authority figures in both stories are convinced of the messages' authenticity. In Albom’s novel, Coldwater’s Catholic priest becomes the religious figure convinced the calls are real. In “Red Planet Mars,” the President champions the Martian message, declaring: “We’ve hitched our wagon to the star of Bethlehem.”
Both stories show similar reactions from the faithful and non-believers. In Albom’s novel, humble Coldwaterians return to their churches and atheists are intolerant, heartless malcontents who hold violent protests. In “Red Planet Mars,” humble Russian peasants dig up Orthodox artifacts and revive their religion, long suppressed by the Communist government. Soviet leaders respond by shooting observant Christians.
The communications in both stories lead to a more morally-upright society. In Albom’s novel, the news of heavenly calls leads to a great revival of faith. Shoplifting becomes a thing of the past in Coldwater! In “Red Planet Mars,” the Martian radio messages leads to a great revival of faith. Communism falls!
Both stories eventually reveal the messages are fraudulent. In “The First Phone Call From Heaven,” former intelligence officer-turned-creepy funeral director named Horace Belfin is haunted by a terrible secret. He wants to create a message of (false) hope that he believes will help people and absolve him of his secret misdeeds. In “Red Planet Mars,” a creepy ex-Nazi scientist is haunted by his Nazi past. He wants to exploit the message of false hope to take revenge on humanity.
Both stories involve a final message that readers/viewers are to believe cannot be explained by the hoax. In Albom’s novel, a town skeptic, a widower, and disgraced naval aviator named Sully receives a call from his dead wife after uncovering the fraud. In “Red Planet Mars,” a final message comes from space after the Nazi tells Peter Graves of his ruse.
Both stories conclude with the truth of the otherworldly messages deliberately hidden from the public. In Albom’s novel, Sully eventually doesn’t share what he learned about the hoax and the renewed faith sustains itself. In “Red Planet Mars,” Peter Graves, left, and the Nazi are blown up with the radio equipment before the Nazi can expose the truth. The renewed faith sustains itself. In both stories, the lie — unworldly voices bring messages of hope and faith — is allowed to remain unchallenged in the interest of a greater good.
Deadline Detroit contacted Albom’s publisher, HarperCollins, to ask if there was any connection between the two works. A spokeswoman said: “I checked with [Albom] and he’s never heard of or seen that movie.”
Albom is the well-known sports columnist for the Free Press and the host of a weekday show on WJR-AM. A Nexis search finds no evidence that he has mentioned “Red Planet Mars,” or even its star, Graves, in his published work. It just may be that Albom's latest literary effort only rises to the level of 1950s B-movies.
Although “First Phone Call,” has received mixed reviews — Lansing reviewer Scott Southard called it as predictable and unchallenging as "chocolate cake" — the novel, released in November, is the 22nd best-selling book on Amazon.
Whether the similarity between the two stories is a coincidence or deliberate borrowing on Albom’s part is ultimately a judgment call for readers.
* Credit for discovering the connection between the two works goes to Amazon user "Jonny Jones," who mentioned it in his customer review. Jones gave "The First Phone Call From Heaven" three stars.
