The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968/I)

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

John Patrick (screenplay) and
James Kennaway (screenplay) ...
(more)

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 | Archbishop | Famine | Priest | Vatican

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 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 (as Rosemarie Dexter)
Frank Finlay	...	Igor Bounin
Burt Kwouk	...	Peng
Arnoldo Foà	...	Gelasio (as Arnoldo Foa')
Paul Rogers	...	Augustinian
George Pravda	...	Gorshenin (credit only)
Clive Revill	...	Vucovich
Niall MacGinnis	...	Capuchin Monk
Marne Maitland	...	Cardinal Rahamani
Isa Miranda	...	The Marchesa
Gerald Harper	...	Brian
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Dying Man's Friend
Peter Copley	...	English Cardinal
Arthur Howard	...	English Cardinal
Jean Rougeul	...	Dominican
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Frederick	...	American Cardinal (uncredited)
Åke Lindman	...	Soldier Releasing Lakota (uncredited)
Dom Moor	...	Polish Cardinal (uncredited)
Alfred Thomas	...	African Cardinal (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Anderson

Writing credits
John Patrick		(screenplay) and
James Kennaway		(screenplay)
Morris L. West		(novel)

Produced by
George Englund	....	producer

Original Music by
Alex North

Cinematography by
Erwin Hillier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ernest Walter

Art Direction by
Edward C. Carfagno		(as Edward Carfagno)
George W. Davis

Costume Design by
Orietta Nasalli-Rocca

Makeup Department
Amato Garbini	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Stanley Goldsmith	....	production manager
Frederick Muller	....	unit production manager (as Fritz Mueller)
Danilo Sabatini	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	assistant director

Art Department
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)
Italo Tomassi	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kurt Doubrowsky	....	sound mixer (as Kurt Doubravsky)
Franklin Milton	....	recording supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Ernest Day	....	camera operator: second unit (as Ernie Day)

Music Department
David Tamkin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Margaret Roy Anderson	....	dialogue coach
Antonio Petrucci	....	technical advisor (as Dott. Antonio Petrucci)
Adone Terzariol	....	technical advisor (as Monsignor Adone Terzariol)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan on double tape)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cantini & C.  costumes
• Casa d'Arte di Firenze  costumes (as Casa D'Arte 'Firenze' - Roma)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

162 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

One of two theatrical films that Laurence Olivier and Frank Finlay, both members of the National Theatre of Great Britain, appeared in together. The other one was "Othello" in 1965, for which both actors were nominated for Oscars.

Quotes:

Dr. Ruth Faber:I am unreasonably jealous because jealousy makes me unreasonable.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "MGM: When the Lion Roars: The Lion in Winter (#1.3)" (1992)

Old--but excellent

The Shoes of the Fisherman is true to its 1968 time--if the clothes look dated, the music annoying and the characters a little stilted, it is because of the era in which it was created. I suspect that the cutaways of St. Peter's Square, complete with mourners and crowds, were taken from events of the day--perhaps's the death of Paul IV. However, the issues are still with us: what do we do about poverty, ignorance and famine. In light of the death of John Paul II, I am revisiting the election sequence. The pomp, the ceremony, and yes, the overwhelming nature of the job are all reflected in Kiril's eyes. Worthy of another--or a first look.