The Cardinal (1963)

60% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(867 ratings)

Tom Tryon plays the title role in this Otto Preminger version of the Henry Morton Robinson novel. In his matriculation from Monsignor to the College of Cardinals, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon) must undergo several grueling life experiences: standing up to bigots in Georgia, defying Nazis in Austria,… More Tom Tryon plays the title role in this Otto Preminger version of the Henry Morton Robinson novel. In his matriculation from Monsignor to the College of Cardinals, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon) must undergo several grueling life experiences: standing up to bigots in Georgia, defying Nazis in Austria, and so on. The film boasts cameo appearances by Dorothy Gish, Cecil Kellaway, John Saxon, John Huston, Robert Morse, Burgess Meredith, Raf Vallone, Ossie Davis. Incidentally, Tryon eventually quit acting and became a popular novelist. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Otto Preminger
Written By: Henry Morton Robinson, Robert Dozier
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 12, 1963 Wide
On DVD: Feb 25, 2003

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
This is an extremely well constructed film, made with a balance that keeps its overflowing plot line in perfect control.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
he end is a great letdown from what Mr. Preminger might have accomplished with the 1950 novel of Henry Morton Robinson. There is no strong flow of spirit through it. Even the melodrama is perfunctory and weak.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's nothing more than a kitsch take on the good and bad of the Catholic Church, but it has the chutzpah to pose as a work of art.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
With an hour cut out of it, this might have been a landmark picture.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Risible script based on a doorstop novel by Henry Morton Robinson, but handled by Preminger with tremendous panache; worth seeing just for the incredible skill and flair with which he stages the action and moves the camera.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Thematically, Preminger's drama about internal church politics is most intriguing; too bad that the lead, Tom Tryon, is miscast.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Implausible epic telling of Tom Tryon as courageous priest has great Moross score.
John A. Nesbit, ToxicUniverse.com
I lasted a little over halfway through before figuring that it wasn't going to get any better...
, Film4
A compulsively watchable if distorted history lesson

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Cast

            Tom Tryon as Stephen Fermoyle

            Carol Lynley as Mona/Regina Fermoyle

            Dorothy Gish as Celia

            Maggie McNamara as Florrie

            Bill Hayes
            
            Romy Schneider as Annemarie

            John Huston as Cardinal Glennon

            Raf Vallone as Cardinal Quarenghi

            John Saxon as Benny Rampell

            Cameron Prud'Homme as Din

            Cecil Kellaway as Monsignor Monaghan

            Loring Smith as Cornelius J. Deegan

            Jose Duvall as Ramon Gongaro

            Peter MacLean as Father Callahan

            Robert Morse as Bobby and His Adora-Belles

            Pat Henning as Hercule Menton

            Burgess Meredith as Father Ned Halley

            Jill Haworth as Lalage Menton

            Russ Brown as Dr. Heller

            Ossie Davis as Father Gillis

            Donald Hayne as Father Eberling

            Chill Wills as Monsignor Whittle

            Arthur Hunnicutt as Sheriff Dubrow

            Doro Merande as Woman Picket

            Patrick O'Neal as Cecil Turner

            Murray Hamilton as Lafe

            Peter Weck as Kurt von Hartman

            Tullio Carminatti as Cardinal Giacobbi

            Vilma Degischer as Sister Wilhelmina

            Rudolph Foster as Drunk Man at the Ball

            Matthias Fuchs as Father Neidermoser

            Billie Hayes as Frank

            Joseph Meinrad as Cardinal Innitzer

            Wolfgang Preiss as S.S. Major

            Dino DiLuca as Italian Monsignor

            Eric Frey as Seyss-Inquart

            Berenice Gahm
            
            James Hickman
            
See full cast

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