"The First Legion" (1951) w/ Charles Boyer, William Demarest, Leo G. Carroll

I am not just recommending this film. I am pontificating upon it's message, as I see it. 

Father John Fulton is a Jesuit instructor in a seminary school, who feels he has lost his faith and desire to continue in his role. A talk with his friend Father Marc Arnoux, played by Charles Boyer, is of no help.

The Head of the Order wants to throw him out. But an issue of theology arises which can make or break the whole outcome. Father  Arnoux is supportive of his decision, but also sensitive to the needs of the Rectory. He is marvelous in this  role.

The issue is finally decided by H. B. Warner as Fr. Jose Sierr, who has been in a coma for three years. He is expected to die soon and his body is completely atrophied from being bed bound for so long. It would take years of physical therapy to get him to even sit up in bed, let alone walk again. In short, it would take a Miracle. 

On the eve of the young Priest's departure the other Priests and the Monsignor, played by William Demarest, are all gathered for dinner in the ground floor dining hall. Father Sierr is upstairs in bed. He cannot possibly know of the situation concerning Father Fulton leaving the Order.

Suddenly, alone, he awakens from his coma and miraculously rises from his bed as if he has just taken a nap. He is crying. From his bed chamber he goes to the stairway and comes down the stairs to the dining hall. 

All of the Priests, the reigning Monsignor and even the secular Doctor are astonished to see him. They rush to his side, but he doesn't need their help. They ask why him why he is crying. He, in turn, completely and rationally explains what he cannot possibly know. 

If the Brother is leaving he is breaking God's will, but it is God who has also implanted Self will within each of us. The dilemma, as he sees it is this;

If God saw fit to lead the young Priest to the Jesuits, he must stay. But if God also gave him Self will, then he must be allowed to leave. The others argue that God surrounded the Brother with a mission in life to serve a higher cause than his own. 

The older, formerly comatose Father Sierr reasons back that God has also now called upon Father Fulton to honor his Self will, and he must be permitted to leave in order to follow that call.

When asked why he weeps he replies that he is weeping because they are losing a brother who can help them all in fulfilling God's will. But at the same time, Father Fulton may have now been called upon to answer another, even higher calling. Who is to say what is right or wrong? Who is qualified to speak for God?

And that is the message of this film, as I see it. There are other subplots going on as the town becomes a magnet for hucksters and lost souls. There is even the question of arguing for recognition of Father Sierr's recovery as a genuine Miracle, to be recognized by the Vatican. But to me that is all just stuff and nonesense.

This film is not for everyone, but the message is. I hope that others will find it as meaningful as I have. 

Two Tough Guys - Bogart and Gabin

One of my favorite Humphrey Bogart stories is of the time in 1942, when Bogart matched the antics of an unnamed French Resistance fighter, who may or may not have been the French actor Jean Gabin, often referred to as "the French Bogart." His most famous film was 1937's "Pepe le Moko", in which he plays a French jewel thief hiding in the labyrinth of the Casbah in Algiers. The film was remade in the United States as "Algiers" in 1938 starring Charles Boyer. It was also Hedy Lamarr's first film.

Gabin joined General de Gaulle's Free French Forces and earned the Medaille Militaire and a Croix de Guerre for fighting with the Allies in North Africa. He was also part of the French force which fought to liberate Paris. In between he was in Hollywood making "Moontide" with Ida Lupino, Claude Raines and Thomas Mitchell in 1942, the time during which this story takes place.

The event took place at a Hollywood dinner party with Bogart, when the Frenchman approached Bogart and challenged him to "Do smething tough."

Bogart responded with, "You've got the wrong guy." The Frenchman retorted with, "I can eat glass." He then proceeded to eat his wine glass. Bogart applauded. The Frenchman then added, "I can also eat razor blades." Reaching into his pocket he produced two of them and put them in his mouth. After that he told Bogart, "If you cannot do that, let us match drinks."

Bogart, now on more familiar ground, proceeded to mix a concoction of brandy, Creme de Menthe, Scotch, Gin, Bourbon, Vermouth and Champagne. The two matched one another drink for drink.

At the conclusion of this contest the Frenchman said, "Well, I still do not think you are so tough. You cannot eat the glass." Bogart's response was a slurred, "Oh, I can so." He then proceeded to eat his own wine glass, beginning at the top and working his way down to the stem. Blood gushed from his mouth.

"Well", said the Frenchman, "I guess you are all right at that! We are both very tough men. Come, let us go and insult the women together. That takes real courage!"

I have run across this story several times, most notably in Joe Hyam's "Bogie: The Biography of Humphrey Bogart." That book was authorized by Lauren Bacall. Another book which relates the tale is "Tough Without a Gun" by Stefan Kanfer. Both are well written and contain good Source Notes.

"Love Affair" with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne

This was a nice surprise, in a couple of ways, as I had never seen it before; and having just come from a visit to New York City, where the bulk of the story takes place, it just seemed appropriate.

The story is old style corny; a French playboy, Charles Boyer of course, is traveling by boat to meet his wealthy heiress fiancee, and falls in love with another woman, Irene Dunne. They have an affair and agree to meet again in 6 months atop the Empire State Building. She is struck by a car on the way to meeting him, and paralyzed, leaving him wondering, and waiting. A real tear jerker.

Aside from the corny plot, the film did garner 2 Academy Award Nominations; both Irene Dunne and Maria Ouspenkaya were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, repectively. In addition it was nominated for Best Story and Best Song- the poignant ballad "Wishing".

It also had me "Wishing" that I had spent just a bit more time wandering the streets of New York while I was there. Best line in the movie is spoken by Irene Dunne's character, Terry McKay, who avers, "The things we like best are either illegal, immoral or fattening." Low key, and later remade as "An Affair to Remember" with Cary Grant, this is an often overlooked film that is well worth the time it takes to watch.