The lately launched Conclave takes viewers contained in the room the place the Catholic Church’s cardinals should choose a brand new pope, all whereas conspiracy threatens the proceedings. However the movie is much from the primary to scrutinize the inside workings of the church. In 1964, the Golden Globe for finest drama went to The Cardinal, which features a conclave of its personal. It additionally options every thing from Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan to the ballrooms of Vienna in a history-sweeping narrative. The Columbia film, directed by Otto Preminger, relies on the best-selling 1950 novel of the identical identify by Henry Morton Robinson. It follows Father Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon) from his days as a newly ordained priest in Boston by way of a profession that culminates in one of many church’s highest places of work. Alongside the best way, he grapples along with his calling after going through a life-and-death ethical dilemma.
Though the plot consists of such hot-button points as interfaith marriage, abortion and racial segregation and spans each World Wars, reviewers had blended opinions. THR famous it was filled with “spectacle, coloration, humor, ambition and topical curiosity.” The New York Instances, in the meantime, raved about John Huston’s flip as an older priest however bashed lead actor Tryon as a “callow cliché” within the “Bing Crosby priest custom” with out the attraction.
As for the manufacturing, Preminger eschewed soundstages in favor of taking pictures at historic church buildings in New England and Europe and websites within the American South, Vienna and Rome. In truth, the movie’s Vatican liaison for European areas was a younger German priest named Joseph Ratzinger — later elected by conclave as Pope Benedict XVI.
This story first appeared in a November stand-alone concern of The Hollywood Reporter journal. To obtain the journal, click on right here to subscribe.