Monsignor (1982)

Director:

Frank Perry

Writers:

Jack-Alain Léger (novel)
Abraham Polonsky (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | War

Tagline:

Forgive me, Father for I have sinned. I have killed for my Country, I have stolen for my Church, I have loved a Woman, and I am a Priest.

Plot:

An ambitious priest seduces a nun and leads the Vatican into shady business during and after World War II.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Catholic | Nun | Catholic Church | Pope

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Reeve	...	Father John Flaherty
Geneviève Bujold	...	Clara
Fernando Rey	...	Cardinal Santoni
Jason Miller	...	Don Vito Appolini
Joe Cortese	...	Ludovico 'Lodo' Varese (as Joseph Cortese)
Adolfo Celi	...	Cardinal Vinci
Leonardo Cimino	...	The Pope
Tomas Milian	...	Father Francisco
Robert Prosky	...	Bishop Walkman (as Robert J. Prosky)
Joe Pantoliano	...	Pvt. Joe Musso
Milena Vukotic	...	Sister Verna
Ian Danby	...	Lieutenant
Gregory Snegoff	...	1st Soldier
Harrison Muller Jr.	...	2nd Soldier
David Mills	...	Major
Joe Spinell	...	Bride's Father
Ritza Brown	...	Maid of Honor
Loredana Grappasonni	...	Bride
Ettore Mattia	...	Pietro
Carolyn De Fonseca	...	1st Flaherty Secretary (as Carolyn Russoff)
Yanti Somer	...	2nd Flaherty Secretary
Mimmo Poli	...	Sicilian Priest (as Domenico Poli)
Elio Bonadonna	...	1st Killer
Giovanni Bonadonna	...	2nd Killer
Remo De Angelis	...	3rd Killer
Pamela Prati	...	1st Roman Girl
Anny Papa	...	2nd Roman Girl (as Annie Papa)
Stefania D'Amario	...	3rd Roman Girl
Michele Messina	...	1st Sicilian Guard
Agnès Nobecourt	...	1st Postulant
Tracy Bonbrest	...	2nd Postulant
Paolo Maria Scalondro	...	Clerical Secretary (as Paolo Scalondro)
Franco Angrisano	...	Priest in Confessional (as Francesco Angrisano)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Felleghy	...	Priest (uncredited)
Paul Muller	...	Priest (uncredited)
Franca Scagnetti	...	Don Appolini's Maid (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Perry

Writing credits
Jack-Alain Léger		(novel) (as Jack Alain Leger)
Abraham Polonsky		(screenplay) and
Wendell Mayes		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kurt Neumann	....	associate producer
David Niven Jr.	....	producer
Frank Yablans	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Billy Williams

Film Editing by
Peter E. Berger

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
John DeCuir Jr.		(as John De Cuir)

Art Direction by
Stefano Maria Ortolani

Set Decoration by
Joe Chevalier
Carlo Gervasi

Costume Design by
Theoni V. Aldredge

Makeup Department
Franco Corridoni	....	makeup artist
Maria Teresa Corridoni	....	hair stylist
Lee Harman	....	makeup supervisor
Luigi Rocchetti	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Kurt Neumann	....	production manager
Federico Tocci	....	assistant unit production manager
Lucio Trentini	....	unit production manager: Italy

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gianni Cozzo	....	assistant director

Art Department
Bruno Tempera	....	property master
Italo Tomassi	....	painter
Fernando Valento	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Aldo De Martino	....	sound boom man
William Hartman	....	sound effects editor
David M. Ice	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Anstiss	....	camera operator
Eamonn O'Keeffe	....	clapper loader
Mario Schiavone	....	gaffer
Franco Tocci	....	key grip

Casting Department
Francesco Cinieri	....	casting: Rome
Louis DiGiaimo	....	casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Millina Deodato	....	costumer
Otello Polci	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Cesare D'Amico	....	assistant editor
Greig McRitchie	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Paolo Bernardini	....	driver
Antonio Savini	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Paolo Fabbri	....	location manager
Luigi Riitano	....	account assistant
Francesca Roberti	....	script supervisor
Franca Tasso	....	production secretary
Gabriella Toro	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Frank Yablans Presentations

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS / Fox Video (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• Shout! Factory (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:R | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Frank Yablans Presentations

Trivia:

This film was made and released about six years after its source novel 'Monsignore' by Jack-Alain Léger was first published in 1976.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the end of his Requiem Mass in the field, Father Flaherty says "Requiescat in pace." The Mass, however, was clearly celebrated (as would be expected in a war zone) for more than one person (as indicated by plural pronouns in a previous prayer). In that case, the correct verb form would be "Requiescant" and not "Requiescat."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Hellcats (#3.9)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo

one of the worst movies I've ever seen

A really bad movie essentially has to be a broken promise. You go to see a Troma flick or something by Ed Wood, and you pretty much know the expectations are low, and they'll be realized. On the other hand, when you've got a decent budget, a fairly ambitious plot, studio backing, and a cast of well-known actors -- that's what it takes to set up a really bad movie. Monsignor is harder to appreciate for all its awfulness in light of the real life tragedy suffered by Christopher Reeve. But it must be said that Reeve's acting is at the heart of this Really Bad Movie. Reeve plays a priest who essentially breaks every rule and vow -- and is rewarded with rapid and consistent promotion, all the way to the heights of the Vatican. Corrupt, sleeps with nuns -- and he becomes the Vatican's trusted financial manager. There doesn't seem to be much logic behind his brilliant career -- or behind much else that happens in this film. Some bad films are hard to watch, but this one is more in the head-scratcher category... what the hell were they thinking?