Cardinal, The (1963): Preminger’s Oscar-Nominated Religious Drama, Starring Tom Tryon and John Huston in Oscar Role

Based on Henry Morton Robinson’s intriguing novel, The Cardinal centers on an Irish American priest (Tom Tryon) whose strong commitment to social issues runs against the more mainstream church politics, putting him in conflict with the top level of Catholic hierarchy.

Grade: B

Though nominated for several Oscars, and extremely popular at the box-office, The Cardinal remains one of Preminger’s most critically underestimated picture.

The Cardinal
poster by Saul Bass

Robinson’s novel was based on the life of Francis Cardinal Spellman, who was then Archbishop of New York.

The story touches on various social issues, such as interfaith marriage, sex outside marriage, abortion, racial bigotry, the rise of fascism and war.

The film unfolds in a series of flashbacks during a formal ceremony where the protagonist is instituted as a cardinal.

A newly ordained Irish Catholic priest, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon), returns home to Boston in 1917. His parents are upset thar daughter Mona (Carol Lynley) is engaged to marry a Jewish man, Benny Rampell (John Saxon).

Stephen and his Irish Catholic family will only permit Mona to marry Benny if he becomes a Catholic or agrees to raise any children as Catholic, as demanded by the papal bull Ne Temere (superseded in 1970).

Benny does not agree and leaves to serve in World War I. Mona seeks Stephen’s counsel as a priest. After he tells her to give Benny up, she runs away and becomes promiscuous.

Crossing several countries, this ambitious epic traces his journey, which tests his very faith and belief system.

The film would have been much better if Preminger had cast a more skillful actor than Tryon, who is not commanding enough.

However, the supporting cast is good, especially John Huston (who was Oscar nominated) as the Boston cardinal and Burgess Meredith as the old priest, who serve as his mentors.

Huston’s role as Cardinal Glennon was his official debut as an actor, although he had previously played bit roles, including his own The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).

The ensemble also includes Carol Lynley as Tyron’s sister, who is in conflict herself when she falls in love with a Jewish guy (played by John Saxon), and Ossie Davis is the black priest attacked by the Klan

The script was credited to Robert Dozier, but it featured uncredited contributions by Ring Lardner Jr. who worked with Preminger in developing characterizations and story structure.

Saul Bass Titles

Saul Bass was responsible for designing the film’s poster, ad campaign, and also the film titles, during which Bass transforms a walk through the Vatican into an abstract play of horizontal and vertical lines.

The film was the first to be shown in 70 mm, despite being shot on 35 mm film for some roadshow releases, using a “print-up” (blow up) process.

The Cardinal was the year’s 18th most popular film at the box-office, grossing $11,170,588 in the U.S., and $5.46 million in domestic rentals.

About Tryon

In the 1970s, Tryon was in a relationship with porn actor Casey Donovan, and Clive Clerk, a cast member of A Chorus Line and an interior designer. Tryon died on September 4, 1991, at the age of 65 in Los Angeles; the cause of death given was stomach cancer. However, Tryon’s literary executor C. Thomas Holloway stated Tryon’s illness was related to his HIV+ status, which he kept secret.

Oscar Nominations: 6

Director: Otto Preminger

Supporting Actor: John Huston

Cinematography (color): Leon Shamroy

Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color): Lyle Wheeler; Gene Callahan

Film Editing: Louis R. Loeffler

Costume (Color): Donald Brooks

Oscar Awards: None

Oscar Context

The winner of the Best Director was Brit Tony Richardson for “Tom Jones,” which also won Best Picture.

Melvyn Douglas won the first of his two Supporting Actor Oscars for “Hud”; the second was in 1979 for “Being There.”

The much-maligned “Cleopatra” won the Art Direction and Costume Design, and Harold F. Kress received the Editing Oscar for the anthology, “How the West Was Won.”

Cast
Tom Tryon as Stephen Fermoyle
Carol Lynley as Mona Fermoyle / Regina Fermoyle
Dorothy Gish as Celia Fermoyle
Maggie McNamara as Florrie Fermoyle
Bill Hayes as Frank Fermoyle
Cameron Prud’Homme [Wikidata] as Din Fermoyle
Romy Schneider as Annemarie von Hartmann
Peter Weck as Kurt von Hartmann
Cecil Kellaway as Monsignor Monaghan
Ossie Davis as Father Gillis
Loring Smith as Cornelius J. Deegan
John Saxon as Benny Rampell
James Hickman as Father Lyons
Berenice Gahm as Mrs Ramble
John Huston as Cardinal Glennon
Jose Duvall (as Jose Duval) as Ramon Gongaro
Peter MacLean as Father Callahan
Robert Morse as Bobby and His Adora-Belles
Burgess Meredith as Father Ned Halley
Josef Meinrad as Cardinal Innitzer
Erik Frey as Seyss-Inquart
Wolfgang Preiss as SS major
Jill Haworth as Lalage Menton
Raf Vallone as Cardinal Quarenghi
Tullio Carminati as Cardinal Giacobbi
Arthur Hunnicut as Sheriff Dubrow
Chill Wills as Monsignor Whittle
Wolf Albach-Retty as Baron Hartmann

Credits:

Directed, produced by Otto Preminger
Screenplay by Robert Dozier, based on “The Cardinal” by Henry Morton Robinson
Cinematography Leon Shamroy
Edited by Louis R. Loeffler
Music by Jerome Moross
Distributed by Columbia Pictures

Release dates: Dec 12, 1963 (Boston); Dec 23, 1963 (U.S.)

Running time: 175 minutes
Box office $11,170,588

Cardinal, The (1963): Preminger’s Oscar-Nominated Religious Drama, Starring Tom Tryon and John Huston in Oscar Role

PROFESSOR / CRITIC / AUTHOR