Favorite catholic movie

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O.K… I’m really dating myself here…

Back when this ol’ pilgrim’s age could be recorded in single digits, I remember watching a movie entitled Miracle of Marcellino. It was about a young Spanish orphan who is"adopted" by the brothers of a Spanish monastery, and how he develops a very special friendship with the “man on the cross” that he stumbled upon in the monastery attic.

I “googled” the film just prior to this posting and found out the the original film (the one I saw) was made in 1955, with a remake of the film being produced in 1991.

I only saw the original one time, as a very young boy (I’ve never seen the remake), but the impact it had on me is so thoroughly burned into my consciousness that I still get teary-eyed when I recall it.

a pilgrim
 
Anyone like Molokai (the one about Father Damian)?

Is Zefarelli’s (sp?) Jesus of Nazareth considered Catholic?
 
What do we mean by “Catholic movie”?

We should describe what the ideal movie would be like. For instance, God would not want religion portrayed in a movie if that portrayal would not serve in bringing the most people closer to, or ultimately into, heaven. In other words, why do we necessarily equate “Catholic” with religion, at least, that is, before we equate it with saving souls?
 
I am going to be controversial and say that I enjoyed the movie “PRIEST.”

Aside from the pornographic scenes which must be avoided at all costs, the movie illustrates some very good points.

Extremely realistic and thought provoking. Just be sure to skip through the abominable porn.
 
Recently saw “Becket.” I found it interesting. Introduced me to Saint Thomas Becket.
 
I would have to say “The song of Bernadette” and “The Passion of Christ” are my two favorites. Every Lent I try and watch “The Greatest story ever told” (I think that’s the title…good grief my mind is going again…)

Tanya
 
I love! The Passion of the Christ 🙂 I saw it 2 times a awesome movie! Thank you! Mel 👋

Tina(little bo-bina)-the Baptist women who really likes Mel alot (the Catholic boy) :love:
 
The Passion of the Christ

Molakai was a good movie also

Purgatory

“The Creator might be tough but He ain’t blind”

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
 
The Passion is the most moving Catholic movie I’ve ever experienced.

Others include:
Song of Bernadette
Miracle of Marcellino
Miraclemaker (Animation)
 
Was I Confess, the Alfred Hitchcock movie mentioned? That was a great one – my teenaged nephew loved it.
 
“I Confess”

It is from the 1950’s, and is about a priest who hears the confession of a murderer, and then is himself accused of the crime, but of course he can’t break the seal of confession to clear his name.

Highly recommended!!! God bless our priests!
 
The Passion of the Christ is exceptional. Black Robe, The Messenger: Joan of Arc and The Third Miracle were good.

Someone (perhaps Mel Gibson, or Robert Rodriguez) should make a movie based on the life of Bl. Fr. Miguel Pro.
 
A Man For All Seasons. Great dialogue.
The Quiet Man. Love the scenery and the characters!
and one I have not seen mentioned…

The Ten Commandments. Oh if Cecil B. Demille had some of the special effects available today…!
 
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bquinnan:
I have to admit, I really enjoyed Bing Crosby in “Going My Way” and “The Bells of St. Mary’s.” He shows you can be orthodox and fun at the same time.

“Boys Town” with Spencer Tracey and Micky Rooney was good, too.

And, because it’s not listed so far, “Joan of Arc” with Leelee Sobieski was pretty good – worth watching, anyway.
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Complete agreement!! Well, except for “Joan of Arc,” which I never saw. And, although not really a Catholic movie, I think that “The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit” is something that all should see…

Fred
 
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned these Hollywood classics:

Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night,” starring Clark Gable & Irene Dunne
Leo McCarey’s “An Affair to Remember”, starring Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr

To me, “An Affair to Remember” has more spiritual content than “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (which McCarey also directed). But I guess all of the above movies are intended for light entertainment, rather than deep theological reflection. 🙂
 
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Emmaus:
I don’t know that this is a “Catholic movie”. That would depend on how you define “Catholic movie,” but Babette’s Feast is great in such an understated way. There are only two characters in it that appear to be Catholic and for one of them, the title character, that can only be inferred.
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Babette’s Feast is certainly the most sacramental movie I have ever seen. Babette is at least culturally Catholic, living among some pious Protestant sect.

I also vote for “The Spitfire Grill”, a mainstream film which was produced by a Catholic religious order.
 
For myself it is “A Man For All Seasons”. My family and I regularly watch some of our favorites though:

“The Scarlet and the Black”
“The Reluctant Saint”
“The Song of Bernadette”
“The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima”
“The Miracle of Marcelino”

These will continue to be played regularly in our home, along with “The Passion of The Christ” and “The Lord of the Rings”.
 
I saw Song of Bernadette as a kid. Soon after, we got a new kitten… whom I named “berney” because it turned out to be male, not female.

LOVE Boys Town and its sequal: The Men of Boys Town. I showed this to a group of troubled kids (okay: translate: hoodlums) at the alternative school where I was subbing last year. They ate it up, couldn’t believe me when I told them Father Flanagan and Boys (now Boys and Girls) Town was real – I told 'em to do a computer search for themselves. One of the kids asked to borrow my video - I’ve never gotten it back. One of the other teachers tells me he watches it EVERY DAY.

Also love Keys of the Kingdom, also with Gregory Peck, and The Nun’s Story with Audrey Hepburn (even though Sister Luke is laicized at the end, the convent life is treated with great reverence and tenderness).

The Quiet Man is wonderful – so is Come to the Stable – Bing Crosby did a great job in Going My Way and Bells of St. Mary’s, but he also played a wise and good priest in Say One for Me.

Actually, come to think of it, pre-1970, Catholics are portrayed in a very positive and respectful manner in Hollywood. What a darn shame they don’t make 'em like that any more!

(The Passion of the Christ is kind of in a category all its own, that’s why I haven’t lauded it here – but it is, as I’ve told many people, a very Catholic film)
 
My very favortie is “The Sound of Music”, Joan of Arc was good and a very funny one with Clint Eastwood& Shirley McClaine is Two Mules for Sister Sara:rotfl:
 
gomer tree:
Recently saw “Becket.” I found it interesting. Introduced me to Saint Thomas Becket.
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Hi, gomer tree!

Did you find yourself sort of feeling sorry for King Henry in this movie? They didn’t stress or explain the saint’s position enough. My sons, in fact, considered the movie character to be more of a bad friend than a saint! Yikes!

I’m another in line for the St. Therese movie.

God bless.
 
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