Going My Way (Leo McCarey, 1944)

In Leo McCarey's best films, his penchant for sentimentality or right-wing sermonizing is kept in check by the profound respect he holds for his characters. Going My Way upsets that balance, tipping over and flailing in a jar of schmaltz. Most of the scenes between Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby) and Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald) are tenderly observed. But McCarey's characteristic digressions get the best of him including an eleventh-hour church fire pushing the running time past two hours, a night at the opera (would it were A Night at the Opera), and too many songs, almost all of which are sung by Bing and the group of street urchins he's gathered into a wince-inducing boys' choir. Clearly, the musical brought out McCarey's worst tendencies which would be reversed the following year in the infinitely superior sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's.

Grade: C+