The Cardinal (1963)

A young Catholic priest from Boston confronts bigotry, Naziism, and his own personal conflicts as he rises to the office of cardinal.

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Robert Dozier (screenplay), Henry Morton Robinson (novel)

Stars:

Tom Tryon, John Huston, Romy Schneider

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Tryon	...	Stephen Fermoyle
Carol Lynley	...	Mona / Regina Fermoyle
Dorothy Gish	...	Celia
Maggie McNamara	...	Florrie
Bill Hayes	...	Frank
Cameron Prud'Homme	...	Din
Cecil Kellaway	...	Monsignor Monaghan
Loring Smith	...	Cornelius J. Deegan
John Saxon	...	Benny Rampell
James Hickman	...	Father Lyons
Berenice Gahm	...	Mrs. Rampell
John Huston	...	Glennon
Jose Duvall	...	Ramon Gongaro (as Jose Duval)
Peter MacLean	...	Father Callahan
Robert Morse	...	Bobby (as Robert {Morse} and His Adora-Belles)

Storyline

Stephen Fermoyle has grown up in Boston at the turn of the twentieth century knowing that his destiny lies with the Catholic priesthood. Finally finishing his studies in Rome, he returns to America full of certitude and ambition to one day join the College of Cardinals. But his road to that office is a long one, paved with crises. In Boston, he must decide whether to save the life of his sister or her unborn child, conceived out of wedlock. In Austria, he confronts the question of whether to remain with the priesthood or abandon his oath so that he can be with the woman he loves. In Georgia, he contends with Rome's indifference in the face of racial bigotry. And in Austria, he finds himself personally involved in the church's dealings with the Third Reich.

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Plot Keywords:

priesthood | catholic priest | priest | epic | woman in labor | 

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Taglines:

A motion picture that spans two decades of conflict and drama as it tells the story of a young American and his rise to prince of the church.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Latin

Release Date:

12 December 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

El cardenal

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Otto Preminger Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

175 min

Sound Mix:

6-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Josef Meinrad was only cast after the big name first cast dropped out.

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Goofs

When the blood is flowing from the statue's heart and Father Fermoyle addresses the worshiping crowd, the length of the flow on the statue is inconsistent between cuts going from nearly all the way down the statue to being shown at midway down the statue and returning to be all the way down the statue.

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Quotes

Cardinal Glennon: We've never had a priest working with the Mafia before. But I suppose you made some interesting contacts in Rome.
Stephen Fermoyle: I had no choice, Your Eminence. I had to work my way through the seminary by selling opium in St. Peter's Square.
Cardinal Glennon: You're not afraid of me.
Stephen Fermoyle: No.
Cardinal Glennon: Why not? Most people are.
Stephen Fermoyle: I think it's because you remind me of my father. He was known as "Den the Down Shouter," but I soon learned his roar was the only fierce thing about him.
Cardinal Glennon: He's a lucky man to have a son who's not afraid of him.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood and the Stars: Anatomy of a Movie: The Cardinal (1964)

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Soundtracks

They Haven't Got the Girls in the U.S.A.
Lyrics by Al Stillman (as Al Stillman)
Music by Jerome Moross (uncredited)
Performed by Robert Morse (uncredited)

User Reviews

Tom Tryon's rise to Cardinal is just not compelling enough...

TOM TRYON has the central role in Otto Preminger's majestic looking film version of THE CARDINAL, but he's one of those handsome actors with an impassive face whose emotions never come to the surface. Instead, we get a hint of what he might be thinking without any real clue. And since the film is all about the moral and personal issues facing him as he enters the College of Cardinals, an actor with more emotional capabilities would have been more impressive.

The other flaw is the three hour length for a film in which the story is simply not that compelling. Furthermore, director Preminger has chosen to direct whole scenes at medium length lensing (no close-ups inserted) which gives a flat affect to the dynamics involved.

Aside from these weaknesses, the film has a lot about it to commend. All the interiors of church activities are impressively staged and photographed in beautiful WideScreen photography. The performances around Tryon range from good to excellent, including John Huston, Carol Lynley, Bill Hayes, John Saxon and Burgess Meredith. Huston is particularly commanding as the brusque Cardinal Glennon, who confronts Tryon with: "You're not afraid of me, are you?" when the young man speaks his mind.

All of the technical aspects of the film are professional, giving the story more credibility than it deserves from a rather lumbering script. The icing on the cake is the rich musical score by Jerome Moross.

Holds the interest despite the length as it deals with a young man confronting bigotry, Naziism, and his own personal beliefs as he ascends the ladder of success in the Catholic Church.