Going My Way (1944) Paramount Pictures Director: Leo McCarey Producer: Leo McCarey Cast: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, James Brown, Jean Heather, Gene Lockhart, Porter Hall, Fortunio Bonanova, Risë Stevens. Awards ceremony: -17th Academy Awards: March 15, 1945. Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California. Other films nominated for Best Motion Picture this year: -Double Indemnity. -Gaslight. -Since You Went Away. -Wilson. Plot summary: Father O'Malley (BING CROSBY) arrives at the church of Saint Dominic in New York when he hears it is in financial hardship. The residing vicar, Father Fitzgibbon (BARRY FITZGERALD) doesn't approve of O'Malley's ideals and methods and asks the bishop for him to be transferred, but when the bishop refuses, Fitzgibbon is resigned to working alongside the new man. O'Malley proves himself to be well liked and forms a church choir whom he enlists to back his self-written song, 'Going My Way' which he tries to get published. After being persuaded by the quality of the number, a musical executive purchases the song from Father O'Malley which he then uses to pay off the mortgage being held on the church before he walks out on it. Standout scene: I'm actually hard-pressed to remember one. I liked the Ave Maria segment with Risë Stevens singing her lungs out for it. But my favourite scene was when Fathers O'Malley and Fitzgibbon drink a toast to their mothers in the bedroom. It's brief but heartwarming. Sort of. Facts: -The 17th Academy Awards. -The highest grossing film of 1944. -Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, it won 7: Picture, Director, Actor (Bing Crosby), Supporting Actor (Barry Fitzgerald), Screenplay, Original Motion Picture Story, Best Song (Swinging On A Star). -A sequel, 'The Bells Of St. Mary's' followed a year later. -Regular Hal Roach stars appear in the film, including (click link for screenshot): Carl Switzer. Personal opinion: The film starts okay, then sort of goes sideways and then slips downhill rapidly. I got bored quite quickly watching this and irritated every time my ears got hijacked with Bing Crosby's singing. At no time do we see Crosby actually playing the piano, proving that once again (as in 'Casablanca') the principal actor at the piano can't actually play the damned thing! A big cheat. To his credit though Crosby could sing. But the film just doesn't go anywhere; it didn't stimulate me at all and fell away rapidly. I couldn't wait for it to be over and done with. There was one likeable character in the entire film: Father Fitzgibbon (played by Oscar-winning BARRY FITZGERALD). Nice to see Carl Switzer in it too, but I was relieved to not hear him sing and to add to the already boring storyline. Dull and uninteresting. Easily forgettable. Somehow it managed to scrape 7 Academy Awards? Just shows you there is no accounting for taste for films made during WWII. People really would watch anything! Did it deserve the Oscar? NO. 2/10

Review date: 18 February 2025