The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968/I)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

James Kennaway (writer)
John Patrick (writer)

Release Date:

14 November 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Set in a futuristic vision of the late 1980's, Ukrainian Archbishop Kiril Lakota is set free after two decades as a political prisoner in Siberia...

Plot Keywords:

Pope | Cardinal | Reporter | Vatican | Cold War

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Anthony Quinn	...	Kiril Lakota
Laurence Olivier	...	Piotr Ilyich Kamenev (as Sir Laurence Olivier)
Oskar Werner	...	Fr. David Telemond
David Janssen	...	George Faber
Vittorio De Sica	...	Cardinal Rinaldi
Leo McKern	...	Cardinal Leone
John Gielgud	...	The Elder Pope (as Sir John Gielgud)
Barbara Jefford	...	Dr. Ruth Faber
Rosemary Dexter	...	Chiara
Frank Finlay	...	Igor Bounin
Burt Kwouk	...	Peng
Arnoldo Foà	...	Gelasio
Paul Rogers	...	Augustinian
George Pravda	...	Gorshenin (credit only)
Clive Revill	...	Vucovich

Runtime:

162 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | New Zealand:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Despite being listed in the main credits of the film George Pravda is nowhere to be seen.

Quotes:

Dying Man's Friend: The dying is easy. It is the living that defeats us.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lionpower from MGM (1967)

I love the film!

Rome and Papal Rome, the ceremonies associated with both, chant including the Gregorian type are lavishly displayed in this beautiful film. However, all of that would just be decorative were it not for the interesting personages: Father David Telemond's poetically flawed theology pitted against Lakota's "simple" faith that saved him from despair in Siberia. The extraordinary character (played with great beauty and humanity by Leo McKern) of Cardinal Leone whose encyclopedic catechism finally gives way to utter humanity and forgiveness in his final encounter with Quinn now Pope. The scattered negative comments form mostly laudatory reviews, I think, stem from people who can't "get into" the less than obvious moments of dialog which require some patience but also a modicum of background into Rome and its history. Sometimes I fear that Americans (and I'm one) can't sit still for anything that isn't an action picture. For me, and I've seen the film countless times, its beauty both in the evocation of Rome and the extraordinary exchanges between the characters makes it a unique cinematic experience.