The Cardinal *** (1963, Tom Tryon, John Huston, Romy Schneider) – Classic Movie Review 8601

Director Otto Preminger’s colourfully glossy saga of the young Boston priest called Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon), who battles racists at home and Nazis abroad, and then becomes a cardinal, is a big and bumpy experience, taken at epic length, spanning two decades and running nearly three hours.

The Cardinal (1963) was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Director, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John Huston), Best Cinematography Color, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Color, Best Costume Design Color and Best Film Editing, but won none. However, it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama and Huston won for Best Supporting Actor.

Tryon is a bit stiff in the star role, and Carol Lynley is hesitant as his sister and (later) her character’s own illegitimate daughter. But a remarkable bunch of actors bail them out and there are some reliable star cameos from the likes of John Huston and Raf Vallone (as cardinals), Romy Schneider (as the Austrian who fancies Tryon), Dorothy Gish, Maggie McNamara, Cecil Kellaway, John Saxon, Robert Morse, Burgess Meredith, Jill Haworth, Tullio Carminati, Ossie Davis, Chill Wills, Arthur Hunnicutt, Murray Hamilton and Patrick O’Neal.

The script may be rather muddled and rambling but it is always intriguing, even fascinating, and both Jerome Moross’s score and and cinematographer Leon Shamroy’s lensing are ideal.

The screenplay by Robert Dozier is based on Henry Morton Robinson’s novel.

The Vatican financially backed film. The Vatican liaison was Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

Preminger is said to have behaved badly towards Tryon, firing him in front of his parents visiting the set. However Shamroy commended Preminger’s professionalism after completing this large-scale film in just 53 days.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8601

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