Lucybespro It is a performances centric movie

ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

mark.waltz While I would hardly call this the best film of 1944 (my choices are conflicted between "Double Indemnity", "Wilson", "Since You Went Away" and "Laura", with honorable mention to "Meet Me in St. Louis"), I can see why Academy voters chose this. Without even mentioning that pesky war plaguing the world, the film dealt with everything that was presumably great about America in the mid 1940's. There was a strong faith, a determination to make the best out of bad situations, and the capability of admitting wrong doing when one made mistakes. It's the gathering together of different generations to make things better, and the strength of family connections, even when separated by thousands of miles.As the founding father of St. Dominic's Parrish, aging priest Barry Fitzgerald has lost control of what has changed in his neighborhood. The aging neighbors are out of touch with real spirituality, and one neighbor in particularly is a nasty gossip, even if she attends mass twice a day. Rowdy kids roam the streets, stealing holiday turkeys, while an atheist neighbor wants the Parrish to close. Young women with a sullied reputation needs a place to stay. Unbeknownst to Fitzgerald, the diocese Bishop has brought in a younger priest (Bing Crosby) to bring the community together, planning to slowly phase Fitzgerald out. It's religious politics without being ruthless as well as the same story that would obviously influence the "Sister Act" films 50 years later. Crosby makes subtle changes from the start and upsets Fitzgerald's status quo but it is inevitable that somehow Fitzgerald will realize that he's considered obsolete. So rather than fight, the two priests come to work together to make things better, and blessings flow for both of them.A sweet performance by aging veteran character actress Eily Malyon is one of the highlights, quite a difference between this character and her nasty aunt in "On Borrowed Time". Veteran comic actor Frank McHugh is amusing as Crosby's old pal, a priest from another local Parrish who obviously rubs Fitzgerald the wrong way. Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer is one of the local roughnecks who is amusingly referred to as having a deep singing voice. This is so well presented that director Leo McCarey could have cast the Bowery Boys and not have impacted the story. Popular opera diva Rise Stevens has a great moment as an old friend of Crosby's, singing a delicious version of"Habanera" from "Carmen". There's several Christmas songs here including the tear inducing "Ave Maria" which Stevens joins Crosby and his newly created choir in singing. When they break into "Swinging on a Star", you might even join in. Grab some Kleenex for the finale. You will definitely need it.

wild_willy_m_d Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald both won well-deserved Oscars for this gem, as did the film for best picture and Leo McCarey for best director. Unfortunately, this great film has been forgotten by most of today's movie fans. It also won best song for "Would You Like to Swing on A Star?" The cast includes Rise Stevens, the GREATEST Carmen ever. One scene features Maestra Stevens singing "Habanera" staged at the Metropolitan Opera. Bing also sings "Ave Maria" and "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra".The supporting cast also features Frank McHugh and Gene Lockhart, and Bowery Boy Stanley Clements and Little Rascal Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer Watch for this one on stations that feature old films. You'll love it.

charlywiles Every time I revisit this delightful and heartwarming masterpiece, it seems to move me even more. Perhaps because it triggers so many memories of growing up in the church and of family members and priests and nuns who have passed on. It was also one of my mother's favorite films and I think of her whenever I see it again.The cast is just wonderful and the interplay between Crosby and Fitzgerald is a joy. McHugh is also great and the golf and checkers scenes are terrific bits of comedy and highlight this marvelous supporting actor's qualities. There's no doubt though, that this is a Crosby vehicle all the way and whether he's singing "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" or spreading Fr. O'Malley's Christian good cheer, he is simply fantastic. It also has some great songs and music as well as one of the most emotional and moving final scenes in the history of film. This terrific picture will always have a special place in my heart and it is no wonder that it is a favorite of so many others as well.

Lee Eisenberg If you've read my reviews of musicals then you'll know that I usually watch them so that I can heckle them like on "Mystery Science Theater 3000". "Going My Way" was no exception. Most of my jeers are unrepeatable here. Among the repeatable jeers were: (while the opening credits were rolling and I saw that one of the cast members was named James Brown): "Wow! I feel good..." (when the golf ball lands in the hole): "Hey, there's a gopher down there! Someone send Carl Spackler after the varmints!"Part of the thing is that I have a low opinion of Bing Crosby. I understand that Crosby was very strict with his family to the point of cruelty. I don't think that you're going to find many people born after World War II who consider him one of the greatest entertainers ever. I like to think that Crosby did double-flips in his grave when his son starred in "Friday the 13th".Long story short, I have nothing positive to say about "Going My Way". It looks especially inane now that we know about the numerous instances in which priests molested children. The cool focuses on the Catholic clergy in popular culture are "The Flying Nun" and "Sister Act". Hell, Sally Field and Whoopi Goldberg could've bitch-slapped Bing Crosby without even trying.Just avoid the movie and stick with something fun. I recommend "Army of Darkness" and "Machete".