Going My Way (1944)

Absolutely Brilliant!

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

"Going My Way" was released in May 1944 - a month before the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches in war-torn Europe. This down to earth and homey comedy and drama, with music, struck a chord with audiences in the U.S. I couldn't find anything about its release in England. It was released in Sweden in December of that year, but not in France, Austria and Denmark until after the war - in 1946. It was released in Australia on Feb. 2, 1945. The film received great reviews and was the highest grossing movie in 1944. It won seven of 10 Oscar nominations, including best picture, best director and best actor and supporting actor. Its U.S. box office of $16.3 million would be more than $225 million in 2017. There are just two scenes with anything about the war that was going on at the time. The first of those is lighthearted and the second has comedy. The film is regarded as one of Bing Crosby's best, if not the best. He and Barry Fitzgerald strike a warmth of collaboration as two men that no other film or performance matches. For modern audiences, the film may seem a little slow, especially in the early scenes. But the interest should pick up as the plot builds about a third of the way into the movie. Most people know the story, so I'll close these comments with some favorite lines of a clever, crisp and chipper script. Ted Haines Sr., "Where have you been the last two weeks?" Ted Haines Jr., "Well, dad, I've been in a blue heaven dancing on a pink cloud. She came in on a moonbeam." Ted Haines Sr., "That's a lie. I had you followed." Ted Haines Jr., "That wasn't cricket, dad. When you were my age, I didn't follow you around." As Father Fitzgibbons goes to chip a golf shot out of a sand trap, Father Chuck O'Malley says, "Keep your head down now, father. And watch your language." Father Fitzgibbons, "Hope? You know, Chuck, when you're young, it's easy to keep the fires of hope burning bright. But at my age, you're lucky if the pilot light doesn't go out."Father Fitzgibbons, "Well, did you make your parish calls?" Father Chuck O'Malley, "Oh, yes. Mrs. McGonigle's rheumatism is kicking up again. I told her to bury a potato in the back yard." Father Fitzgibbons, "That's for warts." Father Chuck O'Malley, "That's what she said."

Youthful Father Chuck O'Malley led a colorful life of sports, song, and romance before joining the Roman Catholic clergy, but his level gaze and twinkling eyes make it clear that he knows he made the right choice. After joining a parish, O'Malley's worldly knowledge helps him connect with a gang of kids looking for direction and handle the business details of the church-building fund, winning over his aging, conventional superior, Father Fitzgibbon.So, this is a role Bing Crosby had a few times... and it seems odd, a man who liked to golf with gangsters playing a Catholic priest. But maybe that makes sense, especially for the kind of priest he plays. He sees the value in helping the downtrodden and "lesser" members of society. That is a true hero.This also happens to be a very musical film, again not surprising given Bing's history. But in it we also mix street kids singing, an opera and even a classic Irish song.

Didn't read very much about Rise Stevens' role in the above reviews. It's because she's in it that my husband (who loves opera) is willing to watch _Going My Way_ with me tonight. She sings "Habanera", from the opera _Carmen_ while Bing's character stands in the wings, wanting to say hello to his old girlfriend (they had gotten out of touch, then he became a priest) .-- What got us thinking about _Carmen_--and Rise Stevnes-- was listening to the Met broadcast of it today (Sat. Feb. 23). Rise Stevens did the role at the Met in 1952, and her "Habanera" was played during the intermission for radio listeners (PBS). I really loved her in _Going My Way_ (she sings a lot of other things, too). Rise Stevens will celebrate her 100th birthday this year, we were told on PBS! --My mother didn't take us to see Bing Crosby movies back in the day--too sentimental for her (she was a New Yorker mag. reader). She took us to a lot of other movies, though, which were very good. Anyway, it's a treat to see some of the ones I missed as a child.

One reviewer has said "Going My Way" was filmed after the "better" Bells of St. Mary..which had the wonderful Ingrid Bergman playing opposite Father O'Malley..In fact although this was written after "Bells" it was actually Going My Way that was filmed first by Paramount while Bells was filmed a year later by RKO..That being said,who can ever forget this film once you've seen it? The inner city was never more realistically portrayed by any studio. The charm of Bing Crosby as the young priest did deserve the Oscar and Barry Fitzgerald's performance as the along-in-years priest is mesmerizing.This movie is heart-warming and brilliantly staged. There are so many supporting cast members that are spot on, they are everywhere from the streets to the the Metropolitan Opera. A true classic. Watch and enjoy this gem.