Going My Way

Going My Way
1944 - Paramount Pictures
Directed By Leo McCarey



SYNOPSIS

Young Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby) joins the parish of Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald,) which is in dire financial straits, with the hope of turning it around. He begins by reigning in the wild boys of the neighborhood and forming a choir. O'Malley begins bringing in money and wins over the older Fitzgibbon... before a fire threatens everything!



MY THOUGHTS

A seemingly unlikely choice to win a Best Picture Oscar... Going My Way is a light-hearted comedy with a lot of heart. It lacks an overdose of sentimentality that could easily turn it into schmaltz.

Bing Crosby won an Oscar for Best Actor and is clearly the best part about the film. He plays a religious figure without being too churchy or bland. He's practically hip (at least for 1944.) O'Malley easily captures the hearts and minds of the street kids (led by Stanley Clements and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer) and ropes them into singing.

Fitzgerald is the more square 'churchy' figure. He's provides great and believable contrast to O'Malley and also captured the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the role.

The film, made at the height of World War II, offered a great escape from the war. Though the war could not be forgotten, even in this film... the son of the church's mortgage owner heads to war after marrying a friend of O'Malley.

A running gag early in the film has Fitzgibbon repeatedly asking O'Malley why he joined the church. This is never answered. With O'Malley's terrific singing voice, it's a wonder why he opted for the church and didn't become a great singer. But it is his songs that ultimately save the church... so maybe, divine intervention?

The film is perhaps a little long and moves at a slower pace, but this doesn't interfere with its breezy and light feel.

Going My Way remains a fun film to watch, despite its 'old fashioned-ness.'