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 . Archibald joseph cronin was a scottish novelist dramatist and non fiction writer who was one of the most renowned storytellers of the twentieth century his best known works are the citadel and the keys of the kingdom both of which were made into oscar nominated films. 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. He is sent to china where he establishes aflourishing catholic mission amid desperate poverty civil war plague andthe hostility of his superiors recognized as aj cronins best novelthe keys of the kingdom is a gripping and thoughtful tale of a mancalled to do good in an imperfect world