The Cardinal

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The Cardinal is a 1963 film which was produced independently and directed by Otto Preminger, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel by Henry Morton Robinson. The film was shot on locations in Boston, Rome and Vienna. The film's music score was written by Jerome Moross.

1 Plot
2 Awards
3 Cast
4 External link

[edit] Plot

The film shows the life of a fictional Roman Catholic priest, Stephen Fermoyle, played by Tom Tryon, from his ordination in 1917 to his appointment as a cardinal on the eve of World War II. Fermoyle goes through one crisis after another, first in his own family and then as he climbs up the ladder of the church hierarchy back in his Boston parish and later in Rome within the Vatican. The film touches on various social issues such as interfaith marriage, sex outside of marriage, abortion, racial bigotry, the rise of Fascism, and war. Tom Tryon portrays Fermoyle as a priest grappling with the moral dimensions of the crises he must face. Actor Tryon worked with Preminger one more time in In Harm's Way (1965).

[edit] Awards

Preminger was nominated for a Best Director Academy Award, as was John Huston who was nominated for his acting (in a supporting role) (He did, however, win the Golden Globe). Huston's role as Cardinal Glennon was his official debut as an actor although he had previously played bit roles in several films including his own Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Other nominations were for Best Cinematography (Leon Shamroy), Best Art Direction (Lyle Wheeler and set decorator Gene Callahan), Best Costume Design (Donald Brooks), and Best Film Editing (Louis R. Loeffler).