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Jaded or cynical viewers may want to skip this movie, but anyone looking for a feel-good comedy/drama from a simpler time may enjoy director Leo McCarey’s Going My Way. Crooner Bing Crosby stars as Father Chuck O’Malley, a young Catholic priest sent to replace the aged Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald) at a New York City parish deep in debt. Fitzgerald takes issue with O’Malley’s progressive tactics as the church works to keep the neighborhood’s young boys off the streets and out of trouble, and a young woman (Jean Heather) away from implied prostitution. When he finally confronts the Bishop about his new assistant, Fitzgibbon learns that O’Malley has only been pretending to be an assistant. He was sent to replace Fitzgibbon.
Going My Way centers primarily on the relationship between O’Malley and Fitzgibbon, one that perseveres over troubled waters and ultimately contributes to a sweet ending that resolves not only the two men’s differences, but the church’s financial woes. It requires a heavy belief in the good of humanity to let a film like this into your heart. I find it’s easier to do so with films from the early and mid-1900s. McCarey’s sensibilities are similar to Frank Capra’s. Both directors show mankind at its best, encouraging audiences as much as it may be reflecting them. If you’re willing to have a little faith, the film stands a good chance of warming your heart and even inspiring you.
Crosby, known for his singing more than his acting, is very natural in the lead role. He never hams it up or grandstands as one might expect with such ‘stunt’ casting. He proves sincere and effective. Fitzgerald is lovable as the elder priest. We understand his frustrations and sympathize with him when he realizes his time is up. We root for him to loosen up and embrace some of O’Malley’s philosophies. One of the best scenes in the movie is when the two men share a little alcohol together and drink to their mothers. Both actors would take home Oscars for these performances.
Going My Way runs a little long and may have a few too many supporting characters, but nearly every one is interesting and endearing. McCarey captures a compelling sense of ‘young love’ between Jean Heather and James Brown’s characters, and Rise Stevens is terrific as an old friend of O’Malley’s who sings at the Metropolitan Opera. While the film won more than its fair share of Oscars, including Best Picture, it’s surprising that Stevens wasn’t even nominated. Eily Malyon is memorable as the woman who cooks and cleans for the priests, and young Stanley Clements (in a curiously uncredited performance) is very good as the defacto leader of the neighborhood boys. Clements has good, easy chemistry with Crosby — especially when Crosby is negotiating have ‘the fellas’ join the church choir.
And yes, there’s singing in this movie. Three or four short songs, but none of them feel terribly out of place and all of them are charming ditties. Music ends up playing a big part in the story, making the numbers feel more organic than they might have otherwise. “Swinging on a Star” is the most enduring song — one that is still heard today. A few of the songs get accompaniment from the large cast of chorus boys and Miss Stevens (a real life Metropolitan Opera star).
One might presume a quasi-musical movie about two priests would be stuffy or out of touch, but Leo McCarey (Make Way for Tomorrow, The Awful Truth) can always be trusted to present characters so human and endearing, that we find it easy to care about them and their causes — however trivial or niche they may be. We almost never see movies made today that give humanity the benefit of a doubt. The older I get, and the more times change, the more I enjoy retreating into films from the ’30s and ’40s, when — at least in fiction — communities meant something. Characters cared about each other and took care of each other.
Yes, I made the decision to let Going My Way into my heart. And, you know what? It brightened the rest of my day.
With Frank McHugh, Gene Lockhart, Porter Hall, and Carl Switzer (Alfalfa from Our Gang).
Academy Awards: Best Picture, Actor (Bing Crosby), Supporting Actor (Barry Fitzgerald), Director, Story, Screenplay, Song (“Swinging on a Star”)
Oscar Nominations: Best Actor (Barry Fitzgerald; he was nominated for both leading and supporting actor), Film Editing, Black & White Cinematography