It took some doing to persuade the staunchly Catholic Bing Crosby to play a happy-go-lucky priest in Going My Way; luckily he acquiesced, winning an Academy Award in the process. Crosby is cast as Father Chuck OMalley, newly arrived at rundown, heavily in debt St. Dominics Church. Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), the cranky, set-in-his-ways curate of St. Dominics, is none too pleased with OMalleys breezy, modernistic methods. Fitzgibbon is content to adhere to the policies he has followed for nearly 45 years. Without overtly challenging Fitzgibbons authority (he likes the old buzzard, and the feeling is mutual), OMalley sets about to win the confidence of the local street toughs, organizing the boys into an angelic church choir. He also forestalls the plans of St. Dominics mortgage holder Ted Haines (Gene Lockhart) to evict Fitzgibbons by arranging a fundraising choir tour, to be headlined by OMalleys childhood friend, opera star Genevieve Linden (Rise Stevens). When hes not coming to the rescue of St. Dominics, OMalley is smoothing the path of romance for Haines son (James Brown) and orphaned Carol James (Jean Heather), and arranging for a reunion between Fitzgibbons and his nonagenarian Irish mother. There is sentiment by the bucketful in Going My Way, but director Leo McCarey sagaciously tempers the treacle with moments of genuine hilarity and several delightful (and seemingly spontaneous) musical interludes. In addition to Crosby, Oscars went to Barry Fitzgerald, Leo McCarey, screenwriters Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, and Burke and Van Heusens song hit Swingin On a Star. Bing Crosby repeated his father OMalley characterization in McCareys 1945 sequel The Bells of St. Marys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide