Customer Reviews

The Cardinal [VHS]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Otto Preminger was never a director to shy away from controversy. To decide to film Henry Morton Robinson's novel was a stroke of genius. Here is an intelligent movie whose subjects are controversial even today: abortion, racism in America, the Catholic Church's complicity in the rise of Nazism and the challenge of celibacy in today's church. In addition, the story covers the true nature of faith, service and self-sacrifice. The questions posed and answers presented are not easy just like real life. The acting is fine, the photography is beautiful, the music is inspiring and, of course, the direction is impeccable. While Mr. Preminger was never an easy director to work with, especially on this film, the results of his work are always an excellent credit to the actors and the crew. This is definitely one of his best films and one of my favorite films of all time. As one of the other reviewers mentioned, you will not forget this movie. I cannot understand why this film has almost disappeared from sight.

"The Cardinal" is an excellent film for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Tom Tryon is perfectly cast as Father Stephen Fermoyle, an Irish-American priest who rises from meager beginnings to the College of Cardinals. Tryon's performance is one of conviction of a man repeatedly put to the test of his own religious convictions. Preminger uses the images on the screen and composer Jerome Moross' effective score to convey the inner turmoil of the stoic Tryon. The film is long and very episodic but is all held together again thanks to Tryon's performance. Raf Vallone is excellent as Cardinal Quarenghi, Fermoyle's mentor. Murray Hamilton also gives a fine performance as Lafe, a bigot with a conscience.

I first saw The Cardinal at the movies in New York in 1964, and I thought about it for a long time afterwards. This film dealt with historical, religious, and psychological issues which are still controversial in the present day. One of the most powerful, psychological parts of the story was the priest who had really not accommplished, to all outward appearances, very much in his priestly life. However, this priest with his prayerfulness, and humility in some French Canadian fishing village in Massachusetts had a powerful impact on Father Fermoyle, and Fermmoyle's pastor who worked directly with the archbishop of Boston.

The Fermoyle family were so well presented that I came away feeling as though I knew each one of them personally and as friends of mine. There was the realistic approach because the Fermoyles, a staunch Boston Irish Catholic family were not presented as holier than thous, but as human beings with their faults and problems. The way that Mona Fermoyle's birth of the baby was dealt with is still a large concern in our society today.

It is 35 years since I first saw this film, but I remember each and every part of it as if I had only seen it yesterday. Oh, yes my plans are to buy this video, and watch it frequeently, and each time that I watch it, I can see it from a different perspective such as abortion, religious prejudice initiated by the KuKluxKlan, politics within the Catholic Church, and the onset of Nazi invasion in Europe just prior to WWII. I also hope that I will be to share this movie with my family and close friends.

This film does a good job in protraying the history of Europe during the time between the First and Second World Wars. The film also accurately represents the Catholic Church teaching on abortion, and on other issues. This is a classic. I recommend this film to all.

The dramatic defects of this film are well known; my rating is based on its completely accurate treatment of Catholic liturgical forms before the Second Vatican Council -- uniquely correct in my experience with Catholic-based movies. It was filmed just in time, in 1963, the last year before major changes in liturgy made it increasingly difficult to recreate accurately the older traditions. And Preminger took the trouble to be precise even with things that had disappeared earlier, like the train of the prelatial choir cassock, which was abolished in 1952, but is historically correct for the period of the film. All the vesture is right, and the two scenes of Stephen's ordination to the priesthood and consecration as a bishop are flawless reproductions of the rubrics then in force.

Despite the weakness of its dramatic effects to a contemporary audience, this film should certainly be in the library of anyone who has an interest in the ceremonial traditions of the Catholic Church.

The Cardinal is an excellent story of the early times in the church. It is nicely done and portrays the very difficult life of a priest who becomes a Cardinal and all the struggles he had to overcome. It is an excellent movie.

"The Cardinal" is an excellent film. It covers the life of a young, intelligent American Priest who goes through various personal and societal challenges and eventually ascends to the Cardinalate. This film is very modern with the issues it addresses (abortion, racism, etc.) and the characters are not one-sided. Tom Tyron plays a very human Priest who struggles at times to be obedient as a Priest yet his fidelity and orthodoxy carry him through, a testament to his character.

SINCERE, INSPIRATIONAL, a movie in the Grand Old Tradition - a must for the family, especially during the infancy of the new millenium. Granted, it does sound sappy, but this movie does have it all - from the agonizing choice between abortion and death, to persecution [WWII and here post-war], magnificent mood transformations and experiences as our homeboy [the missed, multi-talented Tom Tryon] slowly ascends the ranks to Cardinal.

Beautiful supporting performances, Carol Lynley [dual role], Romy Schneider [the tragic love-interest], Burgess Meredith, stoic John Houston; Jill Haworth [Exodus] - many more. [Great soundtrack - should be reissued for the collector].

Truly a grand spectacle, rarely seen to TV, and in need of resurrection [with other Preminger] vehicles on DVD.

They don't make 'em like this folks! [and NO CGI!].

I remember seeing the movie "The Cardinal" in the late 1960s. It became one of my favorites! I hadn't seen it listed on TV, anywhere. By chance, I thought I would see if I could get it on the Internet. Amazon had it!!! I ordered two - one for me and another for a friend. It was a very pleasant experience to be able to watch it again, after ALL these years.

This movie is very well done, not long enough and it can show today's film industry what a good movie is about. It teaches about different virtues and difficulties that come with the decision of following Christ. Today's society is carachterized by the absence of God even though most people say they belive in God, we don't act like we do.
The main actor is pretty good and so are the rest. Is well directed and the photograpy is excellet.