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.
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Promotional poster by Saul Bass
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When the story begins, the priest fights the Ku Klux in the South and then Nazis in Austria.
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 cast a more skillful actor than Tryon, who is not commanding or compelling.
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 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, sad 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 movie 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 US, and $5.46 million in domestic rentals.
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
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 PicturesRelease dates: Dec 12, 1963 (Boston); Dec 23, 1963 (U.S.)
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 PicturesRelease dates: Dec 12, 1963 (Boston); Dec 23, 1963 (U.S.)
Running time: 175 minutes
Box office $11,170,588
