The way to luck

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Movie
German title The way to luck
Original title Going my way
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1944
length 130 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Leo McCarey
script Leo McCarey,
Frank Butler ,
Frank Cavett
production Leo McCarey
music Robert Emmett Dolan ,
Joseph J. Lilley ,
Georges Bizet
camera Lionel Lindon
cut LeRoy Stone
occupation

The way to happiness (in the original: Going My Way ) is an American feature film from 1944. Leo McCarey produced and directed the film. He was also responsible for the script. When it was released, The Road to Happiness was a huge commercial hit and won seven Academy Awards. In 1945 the sequel The Bells of St. Mary was created .

action

Young, unconventional Pastor Chuck O'Malley is transferred to Pastor Fitzgibbon's parish in Manhattan . As soon as he arrives, the first misunderstandings between the two pastors arise because of O'Malley's easygoing behavior. The older, traditionally minded Fitzgibbon feels rather put off by O'Malley's hobbies like playing golf or his friendship with the even more informal Pastor O'Dowd. The viewer quickly realizes that O'Malley was sent by the bishop to the parish plagued by youth gangs to take over the affairs of the parish there (although Fitzgibbon is to continue to act as pastor). Fitzgibbon learns nothing of the bishop's orders, sparing his feelings, and believes that O'Malley is his simple assistant. In many cases, the views of the conservative Fitzgibbon and the modern O'Malleys differ, and everyday conflicts quickly arise between the two pastors. Many young people in the village have problems with the law, including a youth gang around Tony Scapini.

Because the boys regularly attend church, Fitzgibbon takes their side. O'Malley, on the other hand, tries to get an insight into their lives through friendship with the boys and to understand why they are criminals. At O'Malley's insistence and after much hesitation, the young people finally found their own youth choir in the church. Fitzgibbon is annoyed by the volume of the singing in the choir: The old pastor complains to the bishop and requests O'Malley to be transferred. However, Fitzgibbon learns about O'Malley's actual, more far-reaching role in the community. Sadly and in order to avoid a complicated situation, Fitzgibbon asks the bishop now - contrary to his actual proposal - to transfer him himself and to hand over all responsibility to O'Malley. O'Malley learns of his new responsibilities from Fitzgibbon, then Fitzgibbon runs away.

When Fitzgibbon finally returns, there is a clarifying conversation between him and O'Malley. He tells O'Malley of his desire to return to his native Ireland and see his mother again. This is now over 90 years old, and he had not seen her for 45 years when he moved from Ireland to America as a young priest. From then on there is a better understanding between the two pastors and finally a friendship develops.

Pastor O'Malley writes the song Going My Way for a young couple in his ward who are suspected of living in sin. With Going My Way he means for yourself to discover the happy and loving side of faith for yourself and others. When the boys' choir sings the song once during a rehearsal, O'Malley's old friend Jenny Tuffel, who works as a successful singer and actress, hears the song. Jenny, Reverend O'Malley, and Reverend O'Dowd plan to perform the song and sell the rights to what could cure the ward of their financial hardships. The producers do not believe in the success of the song Going My Way , but in the success of the second song Swinging on a Star . The producers buy the song and pour money into the church coffers. When the church building burns down, the fate of the congregation seems sealed. But O'Malley succeeds again with the youth choir to raise the money for the reconstruction.

O'Malley receives the assignment for a new ward from the bishop and leaves it for a service on Christmas Eve. O'Dowd is made Fitzgibbons' new assistant and Tony Scaponi is made director of the youth choir. In the last scene of the film, the mother of Fitzgibbon, who was brought from Ireland by O'Malley, appears and there is a touching reunion scene between mother and son, while O'Malley quietly leaves the church.

various

The Saint Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica was one of the locations for the film.

Based on the original of the film, a 30-part television series was created in 1962 with the title St. Dominic and his Sheep with Gene Kelly as Pastor O'Malley and Leo G. Carroll as Pastor Fitzgibbon. The series was discontinued after a year.

Reviews

The contemporary reviews have been extremely positive. Bosley Crowther in the New York Times called it Crosby's best film yet, which says "a lot about an artist who has become one of the most enduring joys on the big screen." The film is warm and rich, directed by Leo McCarey and the Performers are excellent. The film turned out a little too long, but the “joint show” by Barry Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby was one of the “few cinematic joys this year”. Variety spoke of "the best entertainment for a large audience", the role of the priest was tailored to Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald and Rise Stevens would give him great support. The lexicon of the international film describes The Path to Happiness as "in line with American taste, although sentimental and romantic, on the other hand, however, unobtrusively humorous, especially in Barry Fitzgerald's portrayal of the old parish priest". When the film was shown in the cinema again 25 years after its premiere, the Protestant film observer came to the following assessment: "Subtle in its staging, but lengthy and over-charged."

Awards

The film won seven Academy Awards , three Golden Globes and the New York Film Critics Circle Award . In 2004, The Road to Happiness was included in the National Film Registry .

Oscar

Victorious in the categories:

Nomination in the categories:

Barry Fitzgerald was nominated for both the Supporting Actor Oscar and the Leading Actor Oscar for the same role. This feat by Fitzgerald remained unique in Oscar history.

Golden Globes

Victorious in the categories:

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bosley Crowther's review in the New York Times
  2. ↑ "The Way to Happiness" at Variety
  3. ↑ "The way to happiness" at Two Thousand and One
  4. ↑ Evangelical Press Association, Munich, Review No. 87/1969.