Wednesday 14 December 2016

Going My Way

"Hail, Alma Mater, thy time-honoured halls shall echo with our praise till we die, and round our hearts are the ivy coloured of East St. Louis High." (Father O'Malley)



                         https://lightscameraclassics.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/going-my-way/


Going My Way, starring Bing Crosby, is the prequel to the famous Christmas movie, Bells of St. Mary's.  A young priest from St. Louis named Father O'Malley, played by Bing Crosby, arrives at an old parish in downtown Manhattan.  The old priest whom he is replacing, Father Fitzgibbon, is doubtful that Father O'Malley can resurrect the fledgling parish.  The two men clash on several occasions. However, O'Malley comes through when he inspires the youth of the congregation by starting a thriving children's choir, even recruiting some local gang members.  Father Fitzgibbon gains a new respect for the young priest and the two eventually get along famously.

Just when things seem to be falling into place, the church suffers a massive fire.  O'Malley is reassigned to a new parish.  However, before leaving, he manages to arrange a secret reunion of Father Fitzgibbon and his mother from Ireland, whom he hasn't seen in 45 years.

The movie is filled with music sung by the crooner Crosby including Silent Night, Ave Maria and the title song, Going My Way.  The movie, which debuted in 1944, earned ten Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor.






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