Going My Way was one of the most popular films of 1944, and in the 1945 Oscar ceremony, it swept up Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Story, and acting awards for Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. The silly ditty "Swinging on a Star" also won Best Song, which seems like someone made a mistake. Speaking of mistakes, Barry Fitzgerald was nominated in both acting categories-after this, not while the nominations were being tabulated when it would have been a good time, the Academy changed the rules so that error couldn't happen again-for the same role in the same movie. Someone else could have taken one of those precious, coveted spots, but hopefully Barry didn't feel bad that he lost the "big one" and took home Best Supporting Actor.
This movie, presented personally by Bing Crosby to the Pope, has a winning combination that makes it indelible in American hearts. A young priest takes over from an older, experienced priest, and his newfangled ideas shake up the town; this type of story is always a favorite among American audiences. It has the perfect combination of "respect your elders" and "forge your own path" to please every age, and while there's no love story, Rise Stevens plays Bing's ex-girlfriend so we can see he once put his charm to good use. Everything's "safe" and heartwarming in this flick, so while it may have won more awards than it deserved, it's easy to see why it's a favorite for many. Wouldn't you trust Bing Crosby to reform an entire town?
This movie, presented personally by Bing Crosby to the Pope, has a winning combination that makes it indelible in American hearts. A young priest takes over from an older, experienced priest, and his newfangled ideas shake up the town; this type of story is always a favorite among American audiences. It has the perfect combination of "respect your elders" and "forge your own path" to please every age, and while there's no love story, Rise Stevens plays Bing's ex-girlfriend so we can see he once put his charm to good use. Everything's "safe" and heartwarming in this flick, so while it may have won more awards than it deserved, it's easy to see why it's a favorite for many. Wouldn't you trust Bing Crosby to reform an entire town?