The Cardinal
by Otto Preminger
List Price:
Our Price: $17.40
You Save: $9.59 (36%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.24 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Burgess Meredith, John Huston, John Saxon, Tom TryonDirector: Otto Preminger
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Widescreen, 2.35:1
Running Time: 179 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-02-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of The Cardinal
Movie Review: Otto Preminger was most underrated...
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I comment on the film itself, I must say that I believe film historians have given Preminger a bad rap. His films, even the sweeping epics, were quite personal, and would draw the audience into his own personal world. Preminger's reputation, largely, was due to his desire to confront social issues that often made the audience uncomfortable. Who can possibly forget "The Man with the Golden Arm" (drug-addiction), "Anatomy of a Murder" (rape), and his most cotroversial, "The Moon is Blue" (virginity), a 1954 film condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency. These were "in your face" depictions of the stuff that is now regarded as "run of the mill". His handlings of Black culture have been immortalized on film in his two musicals, "Carmen Jones" and "Porgy and Bess". Arriving in the states during World War II, a misplaced German facing prejudice, he was well acquainted with alienation and filmed these Black-centered films with great affection. "Exodus" (1960) concerned the plight of the Jews, and "The Cardinal" dealt with the plight of a good Catholic and the many problems facing him (racism, abortion, celibacy, etc.). Preminger was not afraid to tackle a problem facing society, and his films are generally excellent in conveying his desire to expose situations to the world that are ever-present. Preminger's first Oscar nomination was in 1944 ("Laura"), though he stepped in for Rouben Mamoulian after filming had begun. It's the films he made in the 50's, during the McCarthy blacklist period, that made him passionate to move an apathetic public to serious situations. "The Cardinal" is one of his best, in many ways. Not only does it cover a long period of time, but it is coherent and often compelling. It was nominated for 6 Oscars (Director, Supprting Actor, Editing, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costumes). I still think John Huston's performance was overdone, but he was a beloved director and this was his first acting role. If any acting awards shoud've been given, it should've been to Burgess Meredith. This was also Romy Schneider's first English-language role. She was a lovely woman and a confident actress. The editing, sets and photography were indeed fine (the 2.35:1 LBX on the DVD show all the glory), but I still believe that Jerome Moross' score is among the finest, though not nominated. Remember, this was up against "Cleopatra" for those technical awards so, though noble and fine, it could hardly compete against "That" budget. It was not nominated for "Best Picture", nor screenplay...I thought the train of events was handled in a literate fashion, from a very long book. I saw this when it came out in 1963, and was quite absorbed by it's message; Preminger's films did that to me (I was 11 when I saw "Exodus" and was speechless afterward. Go figure.) The DVD is very well done, and I'm happy to have it in my collection. Tom Tryon carried the lead role with one facial expression, and, though very good looking, his career didn't last long. He became a best-selling author and I'm sure he's happier. The rest of the acting was OK, but it was really great to see Dorothy Gish as his mother. A class act. Also, Maggie McNamara hadn't had a decent role since "The Moon is Blue", so it was swell of Otto to give her a shot here; very good, too, as the bitter sister. This is not a great film, but Preminger's sure and courageous hand keep this film moving and never boring (at 3 hours). There was also so much anti-Catholic behavior going on within the church that I'm surprised the church didn't try to squash this whole project.Preminger has never failed to impress me. The man and his vision and talent are not to be taken lightly. Not to mention his desire to "tell it like it is".
Summary of The Cardinal
CARDINAL:SPECIAL EDITION - DVD MovieAt once sprawling and intimate, Otto Preminger's coolly observed story of the education of a Catholic cardinal (Tom Tryon) spans 25 years of 20th-century social history, hops from Rome to Boston to Vienna, and confronts abortion, celibacy, and racism along the way. If those issues seem tame today, Preminger turns them into vivid drama in his hero's crisis and triumph of faith. Tryon is rather stolid and stiff, but the supporting cast helps liven scenes: Romy Schneider as a tempting Fräulein, Ossie Davis as an American priest who requests the Vatican take a stand against racism, John Huston's Oscar®-nominated performance as an irascible archbishop. It's a religious epic unlike any other of its time: thoughtful and serious, with a magnificent yet austere sense of composition and a graceful elegance. --Sean Axmaker
Similar DVD Movies
Days of Wine & RosesWHV; Release date: 2010-11-09; DVD
Best price: $6.25
Price in other shops:
Design for Living (Criterion Collection)IMG; Release date: 2011-12-06; DVD
Best price: $18.99
Price in other shops:
Four Feathers (Criterion Collection)IMG; Release date: 2011-10-11; DVD
Best price: $18.19
Price in other shops:
Anatomy of a MurderSTEWART,JAMES; Release date: 2000-07-11; DVD
Best price: $6.74
Price in other shops:
ExodusMGM; Release date: 2002-10-15; DVD
Best price: $7.08
Price in other shops:
The Agony and the EcstasyFox; Release date: 2005-02-22; DVD
Best price: $4.22
Price in other shops:
Advise and ConsentWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-05-10; DVD
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
The Scarlet and the BlackLions Gate; Release date: 2003-04-22; DVD
Best price: $7.31
Price in other shops:
The Shoes of the FishermanWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-04-04; DVD
Best price: $9.73
Price in other shops:
The CardinalCardinal; Release date: 2005-09-20; DVD
Best price: $3.22
Price in other shops: