| GOING MY WAY | ||||
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| Released 1944 | 130 minutes | |||
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Setting: New York City in the 1940s Main Characters: Father "Chuck" O'Malley, Father Fitzgibbon, Father Timothy O'Dowd, Genevieve Linden, Carol James, Ted Haines, Jr. Ted Haines Sr., Mr. Belknap Contains nothing offensive Produced by Leo McCarey; Paramount Pictures Screenplay by Frank Butler, Frank Cavett, Leo McCarey Music: Robert Emmett Dolan Songs include "Swinging On a Star" Followed by The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) DVD Information: Double Feature: Also Includes - Holiday Inn Special Categories: Relationships; Catholicism; Religion; Irish Americans; Catholic Priests; Young vs Old; Tradition vs Progress; Feel Good Movies; Must See Academy Awards®: Best Picture Best Director - Leo McCarey Best Actor - Bing Crosby Best Supporting Actor - Barry Fitzgerald Best Screenplay (Adapted) - Leo McCarey Motion Picture Story - Leo McCarey Original Song - "Swinging On a Star" by James Van Heusen (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) Academy Award® Nominations: Best Actor - Barry Fitzgerald B & W Cinematography - Lionel Lindon Film Editing - Leroy Stone Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald, The Quiet Man), is an elderly parish priest who has served in the inner city for 45 years. His church is poor, run-down, without heat, and five months behind on the mortgage. The neighborhood boys run wild in the streets and the elderly women gossip. Father Fitzgibbon feels mixed emotions when a young priest, Father "Chuck" O'Malley (Bing Crosby, White Christmas) arrives on the scene to help as his new assistant. He is cynical of Father O'Malley's casual dress and manner. He believes Father O'Malley is acting undignified when he plays baseball with the boys, takes them to a movie, and treats them to a Brooklyn Dodgers game. He doesn't even like how Father O'Malley teaches the boys to sing. Father O'Malley's street-wise, loving, non-judgmental, approach to people's problems is a delight to watch. He says, "religion should be full of light and life, not dull and drab." Barry Fitzgerald plays the part of an uninspired, tired, old-fashioned pedant perfectly, but his Irish wit is as sharp as a razor. The contrast between two characters is a delight to watch. Crosby's easy going manner finally wins the old codger over, and they form an everlasting bond of friendship. This heartwarming, idealistic film will transport you to a time gone by; or perhaps, to a time that never was, but should be. Bing Crosby sings five or six songs, including "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral," "Swinging On a Star," "Going My Way," "Three Blind Mice," and "Silent Night." Hearing Bing, Metropolitan Opera star Rise Stevens, and the boys perform "Ava Maria" near the end of the film is pure inspiration, and not to be missed! Highly recommended. 
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