Mass Appeal (1984)

68% of users liked it
(840 ratings)

Jack Lemmon stars in Mass Appeal as a popular Los Angeles parish priest, who has retained the good will of his parishioners by cracking jokes and never taking a stand on crucial matters. Enter young seminarian Zeljko Ivanek, whose rebellious reputation threatens to earn him an expulsion. Lemmon is… More Jack Lemmon stars in Mass Appeal as a popular Los Angeles parish priest, who has retained the good will of his parishioners by cracking jokes and never taking a stand on crucial matters. Enter young seminarian Zeljko Ivanek, whose rebellious reputation threatens to earn him an expulsion. Lemmon is expected to bring Ivanek around to the Church's "party line," but the younger man resists the older man's advice--quite loudly at times. The audience is fully aware that, by film's end, Ivanek will have converted Lemmon instead of the other way around, but the sheer joy of watching two superb actors at work transcends the story's predictability. Mass Appeal was based on a play by Bill C. Davis, and produced by none other than the widow of McDonalds mogul Ray Kroc. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Glenn Jordan
Genres: Drama, Faith & Spirituality, Gay & Lesbian

In Theaters: Dec 6, 1984 Wide
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It tries to put a pleasant face on the Catholic Church.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A deeply religious movie about the tricky ways our lives are graced by God.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tom E

"Father" Jack Lemmon did his usual spectacular job -- the first I ever saw of Zeljkoand I loved what I saw

Cast

            Jack Lemmon as Father Tim Farley

            Zeljko Ivanek as Mark Dolson

            Charles Durning as Monsignor Burke

            Louise Latham as Margaret

            Talia Balsam as Liz Dolson

            John C. Becher as Mr. Jennings

            Lois De Banzie as Mrs. Dolson

            John Devlin as Choir Leader

            Richard Doyle as Faculty Member

            Sharee Gregory as Marion Hart

            Jerry Hardin as Mr. Dolson

            Helene Heigh as Mrs. Hart's mother

            Alice Hirson as Mrs. Hart

            Suzanne Kent as Mickey Kelly

            Ann Nelson as Miss Barber

            F. William Parker as Mr. Hartigan

            James Ray as Father De Nicola

            Gloria Stuart as Mrs. Curry

            John Vargas as Scott Alvarez

            R.J. Williams as Boy

            Terry Wills as Bill Kelly

            Maggie Gwinn as Mrs. Quinn

            Noni White as Mother

            Allison Caine
            
            Christopher Carroll as Salvatore Fitzgerald
See full cast

Mass Appeal (1984)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Tom E

Cast