Going My Way (1944)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  Alright, so yeah, this film is very old fashioned, schmaltzy, sentimental, and even a tad corny perhaps, but you know what? I don't care. It's entertaining, well meaning, pretty good, and really hard not to like. We need stuff like this once in a while. The story concerns… More
  Alright, so yeah, this film is very old fashioned, schmaltzy, sentimental, and even a tad corny perhaps, but you know what? I don't care. It's entertaining, well meaning, pretty good, and really hard not to like. We need stuff like this once in a while. The story concerns a young and easy going priest named Chuck O'Malley who is assigned to St. Dominic's: a church on the brink of going under. He doesn't get along with the head priest Father Fitzgibbon, but when the effects of O'Malley's attempts to bring the community together are felt, things do begin to change for the better. This is a nice little film, and it did spawn a sequel: The Bells of St. Mary's. That one's a lot like this one, with a similar plot and premise, but it is here where Crosby originated the character, and won an Oscar for his efforts. He really does put in some nice work, and he, like the character, is just really hard to dislike. He's just so damn charming and irresistable I can't stand it. Barry Fitzgerald is also quite good as Fitzgibbon. and Rise Stevens and Frank McHugh are decent as childhood friends of O'Malley's. All in all, this may be a pretty light and predictable film, but it's a harmless film with a lot of heart and a good message. It also looks good, and the singing is top notch too. Give this one a go. It may not be worthy of all of the Oscars it won, but it's hardly a forgettable piece of dreck.

• Jim H

  
  An unconventional priest works to reform a failing parish. I'm a big fan of Bing Crosby's voice; so easy and melodic, he makes it seem as though anyone can sing like him, which of course no one can. But this isn't a musical. It isn't a drama or comedy either. If… More
  An unconventional priest works to reform a failing parish. I'm a big fan of Bing Crosby's voice; so easy and melodic, he makes it seem as though anyone can sing like him, which of course no one can. But this isn't a musical. It isn't a drama or comedy either. If anything, it's two hours of the most saccharine nonsense I've seen. At the heart of this diabetic's nightmare is Crosby's character, Father O'Malley, who is flawless. His character is never put up for question, and his methods, ideals, mannerisms, or personality remain thoroughly unchallenged by other characters, the film's circumstances, or any subjectivity. He is just there in an untarnished and idolized unreality. The film's problems, such as they are, seem no match for O'Malley, and we see him easily navigate the church's financial troubles, a woman who's run away from home, and an old flame who serendipitously re-enters his life. And when the film ends on another sweet note, I felt like I had just seen a slice of life that was so watered down with religious idealism that it bore no resemblance to anything I've seen living. Overall, there's nothing memorable about <i>Going My Way</i> except for the few moments when we get to hear Crosby sing, but for that you can buy the soundtrack and save yourself two hours.

• AJ V

  
  Crosby plays a young cool priest who helps out the community and the parish. A really nice movie, I couldn't help but like it.

• jay n

  
  Charming film, a bit hokey but Bing carries it along on his charisma.

• Jeremy S

  
  "Swinging on a Star", and many other songs sung by Father Bing Crosby the King of American crooners, great songs, great acting and all round great film. Academy Award winning film for Best Picture.

• Lord N

  
  This movie can be described in one word: pleasant. it is a very nice and serene film. not much in it that shocks you or makes you think. it just is what it is. and to me, that doesn't make it remotely Best Picture worthy. I did like Bing Crosby's performance and the other… More
  This movie can be described in one word: pleasant. it is a very nice and serene film. not much in it that shocks you or makes you think. it just is what it is. and to me, that doesn't make it remotely Best Picture worthy. I did like Bing Crosby's performance and the other priest too (I can't remember his name for the life of me). did very well too. I did despise the fact that Bing Crosby's character had to break into song every minute and a half. That annoyed the heck out of me. one thing that I am perplexed by is how the other priest was nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the same performance. How do you swing that? Make up your mind people! it would have been weirder if he had won both of them. My favorite part of the movie is when Father Fitzgibbon looks over and sees his 90 year old mother that Father O Malley has brought over form Ireland and just the emotions of that scene. It was really well done. Final Verdict: its slow pace and lack of any real depth combined with the fact that Bing Crosby had to sing every 2 minutes made this a film hardly worthy of the academy's top prize. The strong performances and the emotional final scene do little to save it. It was a mistake. The replacement winner: Gaslight.

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