The Cardinal (1963)

As Good As It Gets

A Masterpiece!

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The Cardinal l'd watched in 1984 on TV,a overlong movie...in that time l didn't have any idea how meaning of the pictures itself...today after a long time l've the opportunity to re-watch this Otto Preminger's unknown movie and After almost three hours long l finally recognized this picture is really amazing...telling a story about a young priest in Boston until a high position in Catholic Church,the movie is showing in flashback since the beginning,all the facts one's most remarkable to me is about the Father Ned Halley played by Burgess Meredith who died in poverty...another was when he has to help a nigro priest in Georgia and has to confront the segregationist system in this town....the story through the time have many faces until the final....once more Otto Preminger proves as one's best directors for all times!!Underrated movie!!Resume:First watch: 1984 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 8.5

This film seems to convincingly portray the inner workings of the Church in its central story of the rise of a newly ordained priest to the rank of cardinal. It has some excellent dialogue among the leaders of the Church that could strike some as stiff but actually reveals a deft combination of mutual respect under which lies Machiavelian diplomacy. The Vatican scenes are exquisitely detailed, with a keen eye to Church politics and ambition disguised behind very well delivered dialogues of diplomacy. The film is a historical dramatization that begins in Rome with Tom Tryon's ordainment as a priest just as World War 1 is about to begin and comes to an end as Tryon, now a bishop, is in immediate post-Anschluss Austria as the Nazis lead violent anti-Catholic riots. His part is very well played throughout, capturing the trials he faces with his family life in Boston as well as his strong convictions to uphold the teachings of the Church, especially when they conflict with political realities. This is a dense film.

A young Catholic priest named Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon) from Boston confronts bigotry , Nazism, and his own personal conflicts as he rises to the office of cardinal .In Austria, he takes on the question of whether to remain with the priesthood or leave his promise so that he can be with a gorgeous woman (Romy Schneider) he wishes . In Georgia, he contends with Ku Klux Klan and helps another priest (Ossie Davis) to face off racial bigotry . And in Austria, he finds himself personally involved in the dealings of the collaborationist Cardinal Innitzer (Josef Meinrad) with the Third Reich under command of governor Seyss-Inquart (Frey).Good film with thought-provoking issues and dealing with an Irish-American's rise from a simple priest to the college of Cardinals . The priest singlehandedly attempts to stop bigotry , Nazis , strife and many other difficulties . The film concerns shocking themes for that time as when he must decide whether to save the life of his sister or her unborn child, conceived out of wedlock . The Vatican bankrolled some of the film, and the Vatican liaison was a young Joseph Ratzinger, future Catholic Pope (2005) as Benedict XVI. A truly memorable cast full of good players with special mention to starring Tom Tryon and Romy Schneider . Tryon was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1963 for his acting , but suffered immensely under Otto Preminger's notorious abusive treatment of actor ; at one point during filming, Preminger fired Tryon in front of his parents when they visited the set, then rehired him after being satisfied that Tryon had been sufficiently humiliated , this type of treatment was a big turning point for Tryon, who eventually retired from acting and turned to a successful writing career . Furthermore , an outstanding support cast as Burgess Meredith , John Saxon , Carol Lynley , John Huston , Robert Morse , Cecil Kellaway and feature film of Russ Brown and equally for the late Maggie McNamara in her last character. Enjoyable and sensible musical score by Jerome Moross . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Leon Shamroy. The motion picture deals with historical events and specially about the ¨Anschluss¨ , it was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938 . Earlier, Nazi Germany had provided support for the Austrian National Socialist Party in its bid to seize power from Austria's Austrofascist leadership.Devoted to remaining independent but under considerable pressure from both Austrian and German Nazis, Austria's Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg tried to hold a referendum for a vote on the issue. Although Schuschnigg expected Austria to vote in favour of maintaining autonomy, a well-planned coup d'état by the Austrian Nazi Party of Austria's state institutions in Vienna took place on 11 March 1938, prior to the referendum, which they canceled. They transferred power to Germany, and the Wehrmacht troops entered Austria to enforce the Anschluss. The Nazis held a plebiscite within the following month, asking the people to ratify it . Although the Allies were committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and St. Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and the German Empire, their reaction was only verbal and moderate. This epic point of view of a rise of an obstinate young priest from a backwoods clergyman until Cardinal was well directed by Otto Preminger , but emerge some flaws , being alternately compelling and uneven .

In this stirring film based on a novel about the rise of a young priest to eminence in the church, author and sometime actor Tom Tryon essays the often torn spiritual soul of father Steven Fermoyle, who often has to weigh his personal demons and doubts as he deals with church absolutes. And like Cardinal De Briccasart in "The Thorn Birds" must actually break his vows before becoming secure, once and for all in his faith. With stirring turns by Burgess Meredith, Raf Valone,John Huston and Romy Schneider it is an epic journey told in flashbacks over four decades as father Fremoyle is preparing to be consecrated to this highest Vatican honor, short of becoming Pope. Possibly a little slow in places, but an excellent film over all.