Monday, May 15, 2006
Catholics in Hollywood
This post by Jason at Sirach 40:20 reminded me that I wanted to start blogging on classic movies that have Catholicism running through them, as it were. Not all the movies have an explicily Catholic theme, but they all treat Catholicism with respect.
I always recommend the 1951 version of Angels in the Outfield as an introduction to classic movies, especially for families. It's delightful story, that doesn't feel the need to over sell its point like so many movies today.
The inept Pittsburgh Pirates are managed by 'Guffy' McGovern, a loud mouthed, offensive man, played wonderfully by Paul Douglas. Guffy is offered help for his ailing team by an angel, in exchange for cleaning up his act. The angel tells Guffy, "There are 579 thousand words in the English language. We only ask you to avoid about a dozen. Read Guffy, read." (paraphased quote) Guffy's resultant attempt to use Shakespeare on an umpire is hilarious!
As Guffy changes, he makes friends with an orphan girl, played by Donna Corcoran, who can see the angels (Guffy can only hear one angel), because she's been praying to St. Gabriel for the Pirates, "every morning and every evening and sometimes during arithmetic."
A woman reporter, played by Janet Leigh, makes the angel story a national headline, thereby also catching the attention of Guffy.
The characters are all wonderfully portrayed, with real development in the relationships between the 3 main actors.
The story builds to a climax when Guffy is put on trial before the baseball commissioner for being crazy, talking to angels. The trial features a bit of early ecumenism - a Jewish rabbi, a Protestant minister, and a Catholic priest, united by their belief in angels and their love of baseball.
And it's a treat to see a bit of 1950's baseball in Forbes Field.
I always recommend the 1951 version of Angels in the Outfield as an introduction to classic movies, especially for families. It's delightful story, that doesn't feel the need to over sell its point like so many movies today.
The inept Pittsburgh Pirates are managed by 'Guffy' McGovern, a loud mouthed, offensive man, played wonderfully by Paul Douglas. Guffy is offered help for his ailing team by an angel, in exchange for cleaning up his act. The angel tells Guffy, "There are 579 thousand words in the English language. We only ask you to avoid about a dozen. Read Guffy, read." (paraphased quote) Guffy's resultant attempt to use Shakespeare on an umpire is hilarious!
As Guffy changes, he makes friends with an orphan girl, played by Donna Corcoran, who can see the angels (Guffy can only hear one angel), because she's been praying to St. Gabriel for the Pirates, "every morning and every evening and sometimes during arithmetic."
A woman reporter, played by Janet Leigh, makes the angel story a national headline, thereby also catching the attention of Guffy.
The characters are all wonderfully portrayed, with real development in the relationships between the 3 main actors.
The story builds to a climax when Guffy is put on trial before the baseball commissioner for being crazy, talking to angels. The trial features a bit of early ecumenism - a Jewish rabbi, a Protestant minister, and a Catholic priest, united by their belief in angels and their love of baseball.
And it's a treat to see a bit of 1950's baseball in Forbes Field.
