EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

Micitype Pretty Good

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

classicalsteve Although this film does present a rather idealized story about the rise of a humble priest from a lowly parish cleric to the rank of Cardinal, the issues through which the main character navigates and maneuvers are still as relevant today as in 1963. The Office of Cardinal is the second-highest ranking among Roman Catholic Church clergy, second only to the Pope. Cardinals who are able to make the journey to Rome during Conclave are called "The College of Cardinals", and at Conclave, they choose a new Pope. Not every Cardinal can make the journey and some, by certain decrees, are not allowed to participate and/or vote. The story is not about someone who is already a Cardinal, but rather the steps taken by a no-name cleric and his rise to the highest echelons of the Roman Church.The story begins when Bishop Stephen Fermoyle (Thomas Tyron in his most remembered performance) receives a formal letter from the Vatican in Rome. Such formal letters are read allowed in great ceremony where we learn he has been appointed a Cardinal by the Holy See. As the letter is being read, Fermoyle begins to remember in his own mind the religious and secular journey he has taken to arrive at this moment, a dream for many priests in the Roman Catholic. Many may aspire but few are called to become a Cardinal. Most of the film is essentially in flash-back. The story goes back in time to the ceremony in which he became an ordained priest in a ceremony officiated by the local Bishop back in Boston in the United States.The first issue with which the young priest faces concerns his sister and her current love relationship. The trouble is, her lover is not only not Roman Catholic, he's not a Christian; he's Jewish. Father Fermoyle than resolves he can solve the problem and entice the Jew to convert to Roman Catholicism. However, the plan doesn't work. At one point her sister comes to the church and enters the confessional, but she's looking for guidance from her older brother, not a cleric who simply wants to reinforce church doctrine. Eventually, the relationship between brother and sister is shattered, and tragic results eventually ensue. Father Fermoyle, now in service to Bishop-Cardinal Glennon (John Huston in an Academy-Award nominated performance) tells the bishop he may not be able to continue as a priest. He goes on leave from the church, and briefly entertains the joys of secular life in Paris.Father Fermoyle eventually begins working for the Vatican as a priest without a parish. Father Willis (Ossie Davis), an African-American priest from the United States pays Father Fermoyle an unexpected visit. He needs help with his church back home which was burned by white supremacists in his hometown in the rural American South. The American priest is asking for an audience with the Pope. Although he is unable to arrange an audience with the pontiff himself, Fermoyle is certain that one of the high-ranking Cardinal-bishops would give him an audience and aid in the cause against racism. To their astonishment, the Cardinal offers no help but feels it's something which the Americans need to resolve. They also feel it's too politically charged to enmesh themselves into the racist issues plaguing America. Father Willis leaves the Vatican disappointed.Then unexpectedly, at his home in the South, Willis receives a special guest: Father Fermoyle. Fermoyle has traveled from Rome to the American South to aid Father Willis, although his presence is "unofficial". Fermoyle is not in the local town as a representative from Rome but simply there under his own cognizance. He then learns the local authorities want to sweep the business of the church burning under the proverbial rug. Another local priest, probably Anglican, also tries to compel Willis not to testify in court. However, Father Fermoyle supports Willis in his resolve to confront the issue in the local court. The Vatican priest learns some of the white locals don't like outsiders meddling in their affairs, and they don white sheets at night to make their point.Why I think "the Cardinal" works as well as it does is because the story doesn't come off dated or sanguine. The issues confronted by the story are very real, and these episodes resonate today with the problems of racial and religious intolerance. I think the point of the story is that, to become a Cardinal from the rank of a lowly priest is a very arduous journey. The story rings slightly of the rise of Pope John-Paul II who, when he was a young parish priest in Poland, hid and helped Jewish refugees escape from the clutches of the Nazis. Even the current pontiff, Pope Francis I, became a vocal opponent of fascism in South America. While certainly, some priests rise to higher ranks because of their loyalty to doctrine, others gain the ranks because of engaging in blood, sweat and tears. While the Cardinal is a fictional account of such a rise, the film does demonstrate a few are given the privilege because of their contribution to humanity at large.

wes-connors At the Vatican in 1917 Rome, stately American Tom Tryon (as Stephen "Steve" Fermoyle) is ordained a Catholic priest. After discussing the possibility of achieving even loftier positions, Mr. Tryon returns home to practice in Boston, Massachusetts. The first problem at home involves Tyron's free-spitted sister Carol Lynley (as Mona), who is dating a Jewish man. Her boyfriend John Saxon (as Benny Rampell) considers converting to Catholicism. Suddenly, everything changes. Possibly deemed too big for his britches, Tyron is transferred to another parish, by a superior John Huston (as Glennon)...In her last appearance, veteran "silent" actress Dorothy Gish has a featured role as Tyron's mother...Tyron meets ailing Burgess Meredith (as Ned Halley) and new parishioners. He deals with Mr. Meredith's multiple sclerosis and Ms. Lynley's marital infidelity. In a musical interlude, Robert Morse dances with sexy women. Lynley dances the tango. Abortion enters the story. Years pass. Tyron questions his vocation. In Vienna, Tyron is tempted by pretty Romy Schneider (as Annemarie). Lynley reappears in another role. Years pass. Tyron fights the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis. A new World War looms. "The Cardinal" produced (very well) and directed by Otto Preminger. Unfortunately, the movie is a bore.***** The Cardinal (12/12/63) Otto Preminger ~ Tom Tryon, Romy Schneider, Carol Lynley, John Huston

vincentlynch-moonoi Otto Preminger crafted an impressive film here, taking his time to tell the story (all 3 hours of it), but alas making a film that will be of most interest to Catholics.There are many interesting characters portrayed in this film, and some in rather interesting ways. One wouldn't expect Chill Wills to be a monsignor...but he was quite good. Burgess Meredith, as a failing and dying priest -- a little more predictable, but nevertheless played with relish, as Meredith always did. John Huston, interesting (as always) as a cardinal. A relatively young Ossie Davis as a parish priest in the South.Of course, the focus is on Tom Tryon, as the priest who must sort through all the good and bad features of Catholicism. Was he just a bit stiff in the role? Perhaps, but good enough to make me wonder what happened to him (a rather interesting life).The settings here appear to be authentic and impressive -- Rome, Austria, for example. Perhaps the most powerful scenes are related to racism and the KKK and anti-Catholicism in Georgia. The "chapter" on Nazism seemed a bit contrived, yet effective. The script is a bit episodic...almost as if when one chapter ends another begins...but perhaps this is necessary considering the time spanned, as well as the scope of locations. In fact, Preminger took a huge risk here -- any single "chapter" could have been a film in and of itself, so to weave together such a huge tapestry was quite an undertaking. Interestingly, the Vatican's liaison officer for the film was Joseph Ratzinger -- today's actual Pope! I don't feel this film is a "watchable" as a film such as "The Shoes Of The Fisherman", but this is a really good, absorbing (if long) movie.

verna-a I was pleasantly surprised to catch "The Cardinal" on the late-late show and find it a very watchable film. Despite the Catholic trappings it's a film about ethics as much as religion - in fact that's the point, as a young priest with scholarly leanings has to put his faith into practice dealing with real-life issues. The opening scenes aren't engaging, but I persevered and got into the film sufficiently to watch it through until 3am! The problem with the opening scenes is the major weakness of the film as a whole : quite a few scenes are woodenly directed, surprising given such an eminent director. The bit players are particularly stiff and don't know where to put themselves, while the more experienced actors handle it better, but what was the director doing? Tom Tryon is not expressive as to face and voice, but has impressive presence and becomes a believable character. Carol Lynley and Romy Schneider work hard at their parts but the female characters are shallow in this film. What I appreciated most about this film (as a non-believer) is that it avoids sentiment and while it states Catholic dogma it leaves a question mark in the air. While the Cardinal joins the ranks of the senior priesthood, pink taffeta, funny hats and all he remains very much an individual man grappling with ethical issues, and sometimes arriving at different conclusions to his colleagues. Recommended as a worthwhile film.