Production Company: Paramount
"All churches have mortgages, it isn't respectable for a church not to have one.' - Ted Haines Sr
Setting
New York, United States
The Plot
Father O'Malley [Crosby] arrives at a struggling parish led by an old-school priest, he earnestly works his way into the community and unites a previously-divided parish. Torn between the aged and stubborn Father Fitzgibbon [McHugh] and the rebellious turkey-stealing Tony Scaponi Street Gang, Father O'Malley [Crosby] uses his gentle character and soothing singing voice to unite the community in a very Sister Act 2 kind of way, with a little help from his friends.
The Review
It has to be said, there is something quite charming about Bing Crosby as he juggles the roles of making an older generation younger, and a younger generation grow up. He bounces well off his co-stars Barry Fitzgerald and their loving housekeeper Mrs Carmody [Eily Malyon]; it is enjoyable to watch their characters develop together as the film progresses with his cheeky friend Father O'Dowd [McHugh] whom he has known since he was "knee-high to a niblick".
The film brings with it a wonderful supporting cast including singers Risë Stevens as old flame Genevieve and Jean Heather as young but unconvincing runaway Carol; we also meet ruthless mortgagor Ted Haines Sr [Gene Lockhart] and his ridiculously sweet-natured son Ted Haines Jr [James Brown] as they try to foreclose the church. We were treated to the talents of the real-life Robert Mitchell Boy Choir who played the street gang-cum-choir; combined with the talents of Crosby and Stevens we see some memorable musical pieces including the title track Going My Way, Swing on a Star and a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria.
The film also brings the best on-screen slap I have ever seen, a novel way to convince a rebel to join a choir!
I loved every minute of it, it is a warm and delightful film about community and seeing the best in people. Predictable perhaps in some places, but mainly because the themes have been copied so many times since.
The film brings with it a wonderful supporting cast including singers Risë Stevens as old flame Genevieve and Jean Heather as young but unconvincing runaway Carol; we also meet ruthless mortgagor Ted Haines Sr [Gene Lockhart] and his ridiculously sweet-natured son Ted Haines Jr [James Brown] as they try to foreclose the church. We were treated to the talents of the real-life Robert Mitchell Boy Choir who played the street gang-cum-choir; combined with the talents of Crosby and Stevens we see some memorable musical pieces including the title track Going My Way, Swing on a Star and a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria.
The film also brings the best on-screen slap I have ever seen, a novel way to convince a rebel to join a choir!
I loved every minute of it, it is a warm and delightful film about community and seeing the best in people. Predictable perhaps in some places, but mainly because the themes have been copied so many times since.
The Slap
With so many charming characters, and a less-than-charming one who redeemed himself...this was tricky. The slap is going to have to go to Ted Haines Jr [James Brown], for his vomit-worthy line describing his new wife: "I've been in a blue heaven dancing on a pink cloud, she came in on a moonbeam." Seriously? Urgh.
No comments:
Post a Comment