I guess you can say that this is the ultimate theme of the film, how hard it is to be a priest and give up the good things in life in order to serve god. The album features the films original music composed and conducted by john williams star wars, jaws, e. Monsignor cant be described that its in so many ways. Monsignor 1982 cast and crew ambitious priest john flaherty christopher reeve is thrilled to have received a post at the vatican, but arrives to find the church in financial disarray. Actor christopher reeve in the film, monsignor e12312 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. An ambitious american veteran turned priest christopher reeve, somewhere in time journeys to rome to take his assignment as the vaticans new treasurer. Unfortunately, reeve was typecast into this role, with the exception of his appearance with jane seymour in somewhere in time.
Constructed as a scenebyscene expose of all sorts of nefarious goingson. An ambitious priest discovers that honoring the ten commandments isnt as easy as he imagined in this drama. Oct 22, 1982 production notes for monsignor, which opens today at loews state and other theaters, maintain that the film cannot be accused of savaging the vatican. The first is the original casablanca lp program previously released on intrada, but with improved mastering as well as the complete score in film order, including additional music not heard on the lp program. Christopher reeve film stock photos and images alamy. While such an outrageous view of the vatican, shot almost entirely in rome, seemed like an idea ripe for box officespurring controversy, monsignor suffered. Along the way, he involves the vatican in the black marketeering operations of a mafia don, and has an affair with a woman in the postulant stage of becoming a nun. Father john flaherty christopher reeve is a catholic priest who was ordained during world war ii, and soon found himself forced to fight enemy forces while serving as a chaplain in the army. Expanded monsignor soundtrack album announced film. The vows of an ambitious young american priest are tested during world war ii. Monsignor dvd, 2012 a young priest from boston in the army has a personal crisis when he sees dozens of gis gunned down by nazi troops.
This is a complete filmography for actor christopher reeve. Jan 12, 2012 clip from the dvd release of monsignor, out january 31st, 2012 from shout. This smart and absorbing film was released in theatres in 1982 nationwide from 20th century fox. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film. The only saving grace is bujold, who holds the film in the palm of her hand. Christopher reeve presents robin williams with award for fav new tv performer. The story begins with a compelling scene as christopher reeve is being ordained as a young roman catholic priest. An ambitious priest seduces a nun and leads the vatican into shady business during and after world war ii.
Monsignor is a 1982 american drama film directed by frank perry about a roman catholic priests rise through the ranks of the vatican, during and after world war ii. Monsignor was filmed in 1982 at a time when reeve was thoroughly fed up with superman jokes and with prying into his private life. Though he has played a variety of leading roles, tall, dark, and wholesomely handsome christopher reeve will always be the definitive superman to an entire generation of man of steel fans. Bafta award for most promising newcomer to leading film roles. Film music site monsignor soundtrack john williams. Monsignor lots of potential for a rare, absorbing, behindthescenes look at the vatican is totally blown in monsignor. This film, set in the latter stages of world war ii, has a dual plot in which its main character, father john flaherty, played by christopher reeve, walks a fine line between good and what many would call evil. Hes a priest who tried to be both a priest and a man. Clip from the dvd release of monsignor, out january 31st, 2012 from shout.
The movie stars christopher reeve who hangs up the superman pajamas and dons a robe to become a priest. Added on tuesday, june 04, 2019 rich, emotional john williams classic gets expanded cd. And theres even enough time for him to seduce a nun bujold. Roger ebert says that monsignor is most cynical film ever made about organized religion. Intradas latest release from 20th century fox and umg is an expanded edition of john williams 1982 score to monsignor. Jun 04, 2019 intradas latest release from 20th century fox and umg is an expanded edition of john williams 1982 score to monsignor.
Production notes for monsignor, which opens today at loews state and other theaters, maintain that the film cannot be accused of savaging the vatican. The poorly received monsignor 1982 starred christopher reeve as a priest who struggles with his vows while rising to power at the vatican. Ambitious priest john flaherty christopher reeve is thrilled to have received a post at the vatican, but arrives to find the church in financial disarray. Perry then made two films that were based on bestselling novels by susan isaacs. Actor christopher reeve in the film, monsignor stock photo. Intrada records has announced a new soundtrack album for the 1982 drama monsignor directed by frank perry and starring christopher reeve, genevieve bujold, fernando rey, adolfo celi and tomas milian. Not only does father john flaherty get involved with the black market to raise money for the vatican, he also falls in love with a young french nun. As a priest stationed in the vatican, he uses his skills as a financial wizard to save the church from bankruptcy resulting from the war. Monsignor is a pretty bad picture, mainly because of a catatonic performance by reeve. Jun 05, 2017 the least typical of perrys films is an efficientlydirected indictment of catholic corruption cowritten by abraham polonsky. Monsignor steadfastly avoids the mythical scale of williams most. Plot summary ambitious priest john flaherty christopher reeve is thrilled to have received a post at the vatican, but arrives to find the church in financial disarray. At times its a shift between story arcs that range in so many different films you kind of wonder which one it goes for and how it changes throughout. American priest christopher reeve works ruthlessly to restore the postwar vaticans cash flow with shady financial wheeling and dealing, and while rising up the churchs ranks conducts an affair with nun genevieve bujold.
It doesnt help that part of his vestments in monsignor is something that looks like a black cape. The cast includes christopher reeve, genevieve bujold. Monsignor is a film directed by frank perry and starring christopher reeve, genevieve bujold, fernando rey. As the monsignor of the title, christopher reeve plays a man who moves his way up through the catholic church through dubious means murder, theft, the black market during wwii. Superman had taken american by storm in the late 70s and into the early 80s. Cast includes christopher reeve, genevieve bujold, fernando rey, jason miller, joe cortese, adolfo celi. Christopher reeve superman plays father john flaherty a catholic priest who moves his way up through the church during wwii through dubious means including theft, seduction and murder. Monsignor 1982 frank perry synopsis, characteristics. Christopher reeve pauses only to square that mighty jaw and brush off his soutane, before plunging into the world of high finance. Christopher reeve is one of the films bright points because he really does make his character believable. Find movie and film cast and crew information for monsignor 1982 frank perry on allmovie allmovie. He eventually repents and returns to his faith, attempting to make right the things he has done wrong.
A young american priest who travels to europe during wwii to serve the army like any young man would. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. With christopher reeve, genevieve bujold, fernando rey, jason miller. After a series of landmark action and scifi efforts spanning from star wars to superman to raiders of the lost ark, composer john williams looked inward to write 1982s monsignor, a cerebral and plainly heartfelt score brought to life via the chorus, orchestra, and pipe organ so central to the catholic faith the film explores. John williams a project destined for failure, monsignor was a 1982 adaptation of a 1975 french novel about a corrupt priest at the vatican whose dealings in love and organized crime force the religious hierarchy to intervene.
In his attempt to give last rights to a dying man, the germans attack and he grabs a machine gun and cuts them down, spurring an attack by u. I mostly think of it as a strange movie also a bit sad that the filmmakers did not put the considerable assets at their disposal to better use. Monsignor is a film directed by frank perry with christopher reeve, genevieve bujold, fernando rey, jason miller, year. Factory has gone back to the vaults and released monsignor, the 1982 clerical stiff about the vatican and the mob starring christopher reeve, genevieve bujold, fernando rey, jason miller, adolfo celi, and robert prosky. Christopher reeve is one of the film s bright points because he really does make his character believable. Actor christopher reeve in the film, monsignor stock.
303 1145 450 1380 1249 44 1520 248 208 1347 693 142 193 813 777 1299 51 276 338 1400 225 255 127 169 1196 681 556 206 219 1357 1252