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The Cardinal (1963)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
5/14
5/14:
Disappointing, aimless, or hypocritical?
All of the aforementioned adjectives fit The Cardinal. I expected more from Otto Preminger who
was responsible for directing The Man with the Golden Arm and
Anatomy of a Murder, but then again, he did do
In Harm's Way, which is a big facepalm, a couple years after this one.
How pitiful is that John Huston, who's mesmerizing whenever he appears, has roughly five minutes of screen time. The scene
of him visiting Burgess Meredith is best part, hence the Academy Award nomination. Perhaps John Huston didn't
believe enough in the material to stay on any longer.
Tom Tryon gives a decent, but not outstanding, performance as Stephen Fermoyle. In many ways, it feels like I'm
witnessing the priestly rise of Michael Corleone to the Godfather position. However, The Cardinal portrays none of the
merits that makes his ascension worthy. In fact, it's been a promotion after another for who knows what
reasons apart from his skillful display of various languages and politics.
I guess, in order to effect changes, it has to be brought on by somebody from the higher up such as bishop, cardinal,
nuncio, etc. So, if that's how faith works, then I feel sorry for everybody involved. Hence, it's clear that
moneymaking ability is of the utmost importance in order to be in good graces of the Church and, above all, the Lord.
The Cardinal has good pace, but I've ultimately decided that it had gone too long by the time Annemarie did her "woe
is me" spiel. Worse, it's pointless, resolving nothing much. Many scenes don't tie up very well; there are
disjointed key events with Fermoyle being there as a witness which are nothing new. Today, the Roman Catholic Church
is a gigantic joke, having fallen into a long decline since Martin Luther's posting of The Ninety-Five Theses.
Other religions aren't immune to the same fate, either.
All in all, The Cardinal suffers greatly from Otto Preminger's weak direction.