Great Performances (TV Series) Monsignor Quixote (1986) User Reviews

Nice film version of a wonderful novel

[meitschi · 8/10 · 23 January 2005]

A very nicely done film version of one of my favourite books. The screenplay follows Graham Greene's novel very closely, aptly inserting the problem of faith and doubt into a classic road movie. The locations in Spain were well chosen.

Though I sometimes had the impression that the film is little more than an illustration of the book by means of moving pictures, the performances, especially by the very touching Alec Guinness, are well worth seeing it. I especially liked the scene of Quixote's discussion with his bishop - in this moment, the film gained some genuine punch of its own.

I also loved very much how the final climax of the book was rendered - played by Guinness who was himself a devout Catholic in his lifetime: 'corpus Christi... companero, you must kneel, companero!'.

Good, but less than it might have been

[runamokprods · 7/10 · 2 March 2013]

No film with Alec Guinness and Leo McKern in the leads, based on a Graham Greene novel can be bad. But this comes closer than I wish it did.

It's played far more 'cute' than it need be, from the dated, overly up-beat music, to the lack of edge given to either of the two main characters – a Roman Catholic Priest, and his friend, a communist. There's no reason not to allow these men more real, complex personalities.

In addition, the Don Quixote parallels are already quite obvious, but the film insists on pilling them on, and then explaining them.

But all that said, there are enough wonderful moments of acting to certainly make this watchable, and even worthwhile, even if it doesn't hit anywhere near the heights I was hoping for, after spending a long while tracking down a copy.

Watch this movie!!

[miniwidge · 10/10 · 25 August 2000]

If you like a movie with wit, great acting, a great plot, interesting sub-plots, great dialogue, charm, sarcasm, theology, friendship and gripping from start to finish, then this is the movie for you. It's not "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure", but hey, you can't have everything (I AM kidding). With a story based on one of my favorite author's best books, there is very little wrong with this movie, if anything. From Sancho's drunken rantings on communism to the Monsignor's choosing of socks, this is a memorable, touching movie in the best sense. Even the Monsignor's innocent "great sin" makes me smile. To top it all off, two of the best actors of all time star in it. The two also star in another PBS-type movie called "A Foreign Field". Not quite as good, but still incredible.

A truly enjoyable movie. Don't miss it!!!

[eduardo-20 · 10/10 · 23 January 2000]

I will start saying that few movies have touched me in my life as much as Monsignor Quixote did. Based on the novel by Graham Greene of the same title, the movie tells us about the adventures of a Roman Catholic priest (Father Quixote) just promoted to monsignor, and a communist mayor (Sancho) just defeated in a municipal election in the post-Franco years in Spain. Both men are great friends despite their opposite backgrounds, and while the movie progresses, we can see that their ideas are not as far apart as one would expect. The story is told in such a way that it resembles the adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in modern times (Don Quixote and Sancho Panza were the characters created by Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in the book "Don Quijote de la Mancha" early in the 17th Century). The movie has many hilarious scenes, but it has also its sad moments. I personally would not describe it as a comedy, but rather as a comedy-drama. The music by Anton Garcia Abril also suits the movie very well. I would describe the roles played by Sir Alec Guinness, Leo McKerr, Rosalie Crutchley, and some of the other actors and actresses as remarkable.

The movie proves Graham Greene's profound knowledge of Spain, its traditions, and its politics. But for some reason, this movie appears to have been tacitly banned in Spain, and same has happened to Graham Greene's novel (at least, I could not get a copy of either despite trying many times). Amongst other things, the movie satirizes both the Opus Dei and the Spanish Catholic Church involvement in politics. But in order to fully enjoy the movie, one has to pay special attention to the dialogues and try not to miss one word, for the dialogues contain many sharp and witty remarks. But no matter how much attention you pay, you will notice how much you missed the first time if you watch the movie two or three times. I would also recommend that, if you like the movie, you also read the novel.

Do not miss this one. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

A Must See

[sheena1959 · 10/10 · 14 July 2005]

I really enjoyed this film. Very true to the book. Alec Guiness and Leo McKern are magic together. I will never forget the Monsignor's explanation of the Holy Trinity and the "sin" he committed. Still have trouble believing two elderly men could drink so much and get around, but that's Spain for you. A little odd how it was set in Spain but everyone was so blatantly British. A gentle, warm-hearted movie. If you enjoy the works of Graham Greene you have to see this.

NOTE for North Americans: I had trouble getting a copy and had to order from England then get past the whole DVD region restrictions nonsense, but finally was able to watch it.

Alec Guinness as a modern Don Quixote but even more sympathetic as a priest.

[clanciai · 10/10 · 19 April 2018]

The genius of Graham Greene transfers Miguel de Cervantes' classical novel to modern times, introducing Alec Guinness as a village priest, who has the bad luck to encounter a monsignore (Ian Richardson) who is so delighted with him, that he persuades the bishop to create Alec a monsignore. He should never have done that. As a monsignore Alec feels completely out of place and goes for a holiday together with Leo McKern, who is an old communist and former mayor of the village, but who actually studied theology in his youth but turned marxist instead. The two are actually a little like Don Camillo and Peppone in Guareschi's stories filmed with Fernandel in the 50s, and doubtlessly Graham Greene has been inspired by that couple.

On the road in good company with Leo and all his wine bottles, the couple encounter some adventures, which prompt the bishop to bring Alec back home by force and put him to bed, with fatal consequences, just like in the Cervantes novel. Here also, like in the novel, the greatest asset is the conversations and discussions between the two vagabonds. Don Quixote's delusions are here transformed into Alec's catholic faith and belief in the holy trinity, which Leo mocks, persisting that Marx is more real. Perhaps the funniest scene is when Alec practically defines the holy trinity by three bottles of wine, all three containing the same wine, although three different bottles.

Like in the novel, the adventures of the errant priest ends up in a melancholy way, and as always, Graham Greene's catholicism gets the better of him.

But it's a wonderful film, the dialog is brilliant all the way, there are even more ingeniuities than usually in Graham Greene's stories, and the Don Quixote paraphrase is a success all the way, even unto the unavoidable sadness.

Rosalie Crutchley also makes a great performance as his house-keeper, but there is no Dulcinea here, only Rosinante.

A Catholic Themed Masterpiece

[scalnew-90804 · 13 April 2020]

Guiness is his usual superb self in this spiritually based drama based upon the book by Graham Greene. This is a slow paced theological study of Spanish Catholic life after Franco's dictatorship suited more specifically towards those of Catholic faith or interests and is in no way a thriller. The discussions between a benign and humble Catholic priest and his Communist friend with atheist views were stimulating and enlightening. A comic yet somber intellectual work without suspense yet rivoting in its own right...or should I say rite.

Boring!

[RodrigAndrisan · 29 December 2019]

Alec Guinness has under his belt many great roles in big, famous films. Not in this one, here he is grotesque. Same Leo McKern, very good actor, but not here. And the initiative that Alec Guinness and Leo McKern play two Spanish characters is not inspired at all, they are not at all credible and convincing. Two great actors in a boring, sleepy story. Instead of sleeping pill, watch this! Antón García Abril's music though is very very beautiful.