In the book "Growing Up Catholic," there's a section on "Father What- A-Waste," the good-looking priest in the parish who set hearts aflutter. I'd say Tom Tryon fit into that category.
Directed by Otto Preminger, "The Cardinal," starring Tom Tryon in the eponymous role, is a long, somewhat dated film, given what we know about the behavior of some priests today. Here's a guy not sure he can continue being a priest because of celibacy, and little did he know that about 50% aren't and are priests anyway.
Other actors in the film include John Huston, Burgess Meredith, Bill Hayes, John Saxon, Dorothy Gish, and Maggie McNamara.
Tryon plays Stephen Fermoyle, a man from Boston at the turn of the century whose family has always assumed he would go into the priesthood. After finishing his studies in Rome, he returns to America. He's a good man, and an ambitious one, but it's a quiet ambition. He isn't capable of crushing others.
In Boston, he helps others, but he runs into problems in his own family when his sister (Carol Lynley) leaves home and becomes pregnant. Stephen has to then make a tough decision, and an agonizing one. In Austria, he questions his vocation and takes a leave of absence. He meets a beautiful, vivacious woman (Romy Schneider) with whom he falls in love. But the priesthood wins.
Along the way to Cardinal, he is surprised by the Church's refusal to become involved with a racially-charged issue in a diocese in Georgia. He becomes involved anyway.
Finally, in Austria, he becomes involved in the Church's attitude toward the Third Reich.
Unfortunately the film is neither intense or compelling, moves too slowly, and goes on too long. There are some strong scenes at the end, though. The acting is fine. Tryon would eventually leave acting and become a successful writer before dying of cancer at the age of 65.
Lots of familiar faces and a beautiful production.
Directed by Otto Preminger, "The Cardinal," starring Tom Tryon in the eponymous role, is a long, somewhat dated film, given what we know about the behavior of some priests today. Here's a guy not sure he can continue being a priest because of celibacy, and little did he know that about 50% aren't and are priests anyway.
Other actors in the film include John Huston, Burgess Meredith, Bill Hayes, John Saxon, Dorothy Gish, and Maggie McNamara.
Tryon plays Stephen Fermoyle, a man from Boston at the turn of the century whose family has always assumed he would go into the priesthood. After finishing his studies in Rome, he returns to America. He's a good man, and an ambitious one, but it's a quiet ambition. He isn't capable of crushing others.
In Boston, he helps others, but he runs into problems in his own family when his sister (Carol Lynley) leaves home and becomes pregnant. Stephen has to then make a tough decision, and an agonizing one. In Austria, he questions his vocation and takes a leave of absence. He meets a beautiful, vivacious woman (Romy Schneider) with whom he falls in love. But the priesthood wins.
Along the way to Cardinal, he is surprised by the Church's refusal to become involved with a racially-charged issue in a diocese in Georgia. He becomes involved anyway.
Finally, in Austria, he becomes involved in the Church's attitude toward the Third Reich.
Unfortunately the film is neither intense or compelling, moves too slowly, and goes on too long. There are some strong scenes at the end, though. The acting is fine. Tryon would eventually leave acting and become a successful writer before dying of cancer at the age of 65.
Lots of familiar faces and a beautiful production.