RanchoTuVu 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.

ma-cortes 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 .

NewEnglandPat Otto Preminger's solemn, stately retelling of the rise of Stephen Fermoyle to Cardinal is an interesting albeit lengthy film that has not received its due over the decades since its release in 1963. The many trials and tribulations of Fermoyle's ascension in the Catholic church hierarchy to the College of Cardinals is dramatized by Tom Tryon in the title role. Tryon brings a brooding quality to his interpretation as a priest who has a literary gift that is frowned upon his superior, Cardinal Glennon, and a later, difficult personal decision regarding his youngest sister who is in labor and ready to give birth to her baby. A subsequent leave of absence from the church brings additional inner conflict to Fermoyle as he must choose between a woman's love for him and his devotion to the church and his calling as a priest. Further problems for Fermoyle include intervening in an explosive racial situation in Georgia and as an emissary sent to Vienna during the Nazi occupation in World War II. Tryon's humorless, if not quite wooden, acting brings a certain realism to the film's central character. John Huston and Raf Vallone are excellent in their roles of Cardinals and Romy Schneider is good as the woman who loves Fermoyle and wants to sway him forever from the pull of the priesthood. The film is wonderfully filmed by Leon Shamroy and scored by Jerome Moross, and has a solid cast of top character actors in bit parts. This film should rank as one of the best pictures of the last fifty years.

vincentlynch-moonoi Otto Preminger crafted an impressive film here, taking his time to tell the story (all 3 hours of it), but alas making a film that will be of most interest to Catholics.There are many interesting characters portrayed in this film, and some in rather interesting ways. One wouldn't expect Chill Wills to be a monsignor...but he was quite good. Burgess Meredith, as a failing and dying priest -- a little more predictable, but nevertheless played with relish, as Meredith always did. John Huston, interesting (as always) as a cardinal. A relatively young Ossie Davis as a parish priest in the South.Of course, the focus is on Tom Tryon, as the priest who must sort through all the good and bad features of Catholicism. Was he just a bit stiff in the role? Perhaps, but good enough to make me wonder what happened to him (a rather interesting life).The settings here appear to be authentic and impressive -- Rome, Austria, for example. Perhaps the most powerful scenes are related to racism and the KKK and anti-Catholicism in Georgia. The "chapter" on Nazism seemed a bit contrived, yet effective. The script is a bit episodic...almost as if when one chapter ends another begins...but perhaps this is necessary considering the time spanned, as well as the scope of locations. In fact, Preminger took a huge risk here -- any single "chapter" could have been a film in and of itself, so to weave together such a huge tapestry was quite an undertaking. Interestingly, the Vatican's liaison officer for the film was Joseph Ratzinger -- today's actual Pope! I don't feel this film is a "watchable" as a film such as "The Shoes Of The Fisherman", but this is a really good, absorbing (if long) movie.