1944--Going My Way, Leo McCarey

1944--Going My Way, Leo McCarey
Nominated: Double Indemnity, Gaslight, Since You Went Away, Wilson
Should Have Won: Double Indemnity
Be Sure to See: Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears, Laura, Lifeboat, Little Red Riding Rabbit
"You know, at one time I had quite a decision to make. Whether to write the nation's songs or go my way," --Father Chuck O'Malley

      I would never have guessed going into a best picture winner starring Bing Crosby that it wouldn't be a musical. Oh, there was some music in it. Bing tickles the ivory a few times and there is a subplot where he teaches local kids to sing chords to keep them out of trouble, but the heart of Going My Way is far from any music. 

 

    Crosby plays Father Chuck O'Malley, newly arrived priest to a financially downtrodden St. Dominics Catholic Church. The aged priest at the church is Father Fitzgibbon who is wary of Chuck's updated ways of singing and playing golf, etc. Right off the bat, he seems to ruffle feathers when he joins a pick up game of stick ball, misses a fly ball which breaks a window. Nothing is mentioned, however, that the ball was totally out of his reach. The movie is mainly about his antics in the church, getting along with Father Fitzgibbon, and eventually getting him to loosen up. But there is a subplot where some of the local kids (a few of whom are also troublemakers, stealing turkeys) organize a chorus. It was an interesting turn from the rest of the movie but it ended up going nowhere. Same thing with Carol, a girl who aspires to be a singer. There is a nice moment where she sings “The day after forever” with Father O'Malley. Maybe the filmmakers just used it to find a chance to let the great Bing Crosby sing because it wasn't overly important. I did like the moment though. And it sets up a scene where she returns to ask Father Fitzgibbon for a job singing in the church, but he sends her away.

 

     Because Father O'Malley and Father Fitzgibbon butt heads with their morals, Father Fitzgibbon sees the bishop about sending Father O'Malley away. This is the main plot I was interested in, more than the music part which isn't typical for me because I love musicals. But this movie is not a musical, it is about a church in financial crisis. The movie wants to be a musical because Crosby is in it so it slides songs in it here and there, but ultimately it doesn't belong in that genre. 

    Through the priests' differences, Chuck tries to get Father Fitzgibbon to play golf and lighten up a bit. There is a tragedy toward the end but the main point, I think, is whether these priests can accept each other. 

 

     An interesting thing about the movie (which had a sequel the following year called The Bells of St. Mary's where Crosby returns in the same role) is something occurred that changed a rule the Oscars previously had. While Bing Crosby won the Oscar for best actor, Barry Fitzgerald (who plays Father Fitzgibbon) was nominated for both best actor and best supporting actor, which he won. After the ceremony, it was decided, and rightfully so, that for one character to be both lead and supporting in the same movie is absurd and the rule was immediately changed. 

 

     I'd say skip Going my way unless you are a Bing Crosby fan. The story is okay but there are too many plots going on and not enough music. But when there is music, the movie does not disappoint.