Going My Way (1944)

My Review

The Best Picture of 1944 is…..”Going My Way.” This is the story of a progressive young Catholic priest who shakes up a traditional parish and helps an aging priest save his church. Director Leo McCarey (“The Awful Truth” 1937) did an excellent job at putting together this vehicle for Bing Crosby to portray Father Chuck O’Malley, who even performs five songs. The screenplay was penned by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett.

The cast includes Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, Gene Lockhart, Fortunio Bonanova, William Frawley, Carl Switzer, Porter Hall, and Rise Stevens. “Going My Way” was the highest grossing film of 1944 for Paramount Pictures. A sequel named “The Bells of St. Mary’s” was released in 1945.

It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning seven – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Crosby), Best Supporting Actor (Fitzgerald), Best Screenplay, Best Original Story (McCarey), and Best Song (“Swinging on a Star,” music by Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics by Johnny Burke). Non-winners include Best Actor (Fitzgerald), Best Cinematography/Black-and-White (Lionel Lindon), and Best Film Editing.