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The Cardinal

Play trailer Poster for The Cardinal 1963 2h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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47% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
On his path to the College of Cardinals, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon), a newly ordained Catholic priest, is confronted with family, personal and social crises that cause him spiritual turmoil. First, his sister (Carol Lynley) conceives a child out of wedlock; then he is tempted away from the Church by a woman (Romy Schneider) ; later he contends with racial bigotry within the Church and encounters Nazism in Austria. Will Stephen overcome his trials and reach the rank of cardinal?

Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 10/23/2007
This is an extremely well constructed film, made with a balance that keeps its overflowing plot line in perfect control. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out 06/24/2006
Risible script based on a doorstop novel by Henry Morton Robinson, but handled by Preminger with tremendous panache; worth seeing just for the incredible skill and flair with which he stages the action and moves the camera. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times 05/09/2005
2/5
he end is a great letdown from what Mr. Preminger might have accomplished with the 1950 novel of Henry Morton Robinson. There is no strong flow of spirit through it. Even the melodrama is perfunctory and weak. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/09/2023
5/10
The film still feels largely uneventful and unmoving; Stephen’s tale just isn’t transformative or unforgettable. Go to Full Review James Daane Christianity Today 12/20/2019
The scenery is superb, the acting good: yet The Cardinal suggests neither the crises of the period, nor the anguished religious struggles it seeks to portray within the Catholic soul. Though the treatment is reverential, it lacks spiritual fiber. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/07/2019
Otto Preminger has successfully put on film a long, absorbing drama about a young Boston Irishman who becomes an ecclesiastical prince of the Roman Catholic Church. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Michael L Feb 26 I’m a sucker for these movies. John Huston always great as well as the Austrian cardinal. If made today I wonder who’d play Steve the priest See more Jerry E @engelbach 05/27/2024 Tom Tryon is at best a mediocre, wooden actor. The long story is wearying and unfulfilling. A shallow, meaningless waste of time and talent. See more 07/09/2022 This isnt a great movie but the stories and path it takes are still important today. It made a me a better and more informed 12 year old. At70 I remember it all too well. See more lanfranco c @Lanfrancobz 06/27/2022 Preminger, as usual, plays perfectly with the emotions See more steve d 07/19/2020 It works ok and the cast is fantastic. The script is average. See more 01/27/2019 The best movie score ever composed! See more Read all reviews
The Cardinal

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Otto Preminger

Director

Tom Tryon

Stephen Fermoyle

Romy Schneider

Annemarie

Carol Lynley

Mona Fermoyle

John Huston

Glennon

Dorothy Gish

Celia

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The Cardinal

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Movie Info

Synopsis On his path to the College of Cardinals, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon), a newly ordained Catholic priest, is confronted with family, personal and social crises that cause him spiritual turmoil. First, his sister (Carol Lynley) conceives a child out of wedlock; then he is tempted away from the Church by a woman (Romy Schneider) ; later he contends with racial bigotry within the Church and encounters Nazism in Austria. Will Stephen overcome his trials and reach the rank of cardinal?
Director
Otto Preminger
Producer
Otto Preminger
Screenwriter
Robert Dozier
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Otto Preminger Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
2h 55m