"Going My Way" to a Great Movie Quiz

Answer: the Church's furnace

Mr. Ted Haines Sr. was a wealthy landlord who held the mortgage on the Church. When Fitzgibbon asked about a new furnace Haines refused and reminded the priest that the mortgage payments were late.

Gene Lockhart, who played Ted Haines Sr. also starred as Judge Harper in "Miracle on 34th Street". James Brown, who played Ted Jr. went on to star as Lt. Ripley "Rip" Masters in the highly successful television series "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin".

Answer: washing the window

In this scene Father O'Malley met Mrs. Quimp, the neighbor gossip. She was less than impressed by the new priest and let him know in no uncertain terms! Mrs. Quimp liked to keep the Pastor informed on the parishioners' comings and goings.

Anita Sharp-Bolster played the role and appeared in other notable films such as, "The Lost Weekend", "Scarlet Street" and "Saboteur".

Answer: Aren't You Glad You're You

Bing sang "Aren't You Glad You're You" in his role as Father O'Malley in the sequel "The Bells of St. Mary". "Swinging on a Star" won the Oscar for Best Song in 1945 and became one of Crosby's biggest hits. "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" is a classic Irish lullaby. "The Day After Forever" was sung in a scene with Jean Heather in her role as Carol James, and Crosby also played the piano.

Bing Crosby was already a recording star when the film was made and his performance earned him an Oscar for Best Actor and made him Hollywood's No.1 box office attraction. His relaxed, easy manner was perfect for the part of Father O'Malley. On an interesting note, Crosby initially resisted the role. As a devout Catholic he felt uneasy portraying a priest.

Answer: St. Dominic's

On his first day at St. Dominic's Father O'Malley managed to make less than a favorable impression on the crusty Pastor, Father Fitzgibbon, played by Barry Fitzgerald. O'Malley's easy-going, unconventional manner, not to mention his casual dress and passion for golf were not appreciated by the traditional Fitzgibbon.

In real life the slight Fitzgerald was frequently cast alongside hulks like John Wayne, creating a comical effect, as he behaved fearlessly despite his diminutive stature. The on-screen interaction between Crosby and Fitzgerald was genuinely funny yet touching.

Answer: to take over as pastor

During a visit with his childhood friend, Father Timothy O'Dowd, we learned that Father O'Malley was sent to take over the pastorship. In addition to its financial woes, St. Dominic's was in a troubled New York City neighborhood where its parishioners also had their daily struggles. Father Fitzgibbon was initially unaware of the plan and thought Father O'Malley to be his assistant.

Frank McHugh played the role of Father O'Dowd. He was a top character actor with Paramount Studios. Crosby and McHugh teamed up again in the 1964-1965 ABC sitcom "The Bing Crosby Show". McHugh played Willie Walters, Crosby's live-in handyman.

Answer: He took them to a baseball game.

As they were running away with the stolen turkeys they saw Father Fitzgibbon and gave him one. Later, while eating their turkey dinner O'Malley expressed his concern over the wayward teenagers. Fitzgibbon blindly defended them until he was told about the theft. This is one of a series of events, in the first half of the movie, which showed the differences in the characters of O'Malley and Fitzgibbon. Father O'Malley hoped to gain the boys' trust and offer them much needed guidance. Fitzgibbon preferred to turn a blind eye because of the boys' regular attendance at Sunday Mass.

If you look closely you may recognize one of the turkey thieves as Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer from "Our Gang".

Answer: singer and composer

He had his own band also. Chuck O'Malley enjoyed a secular life before his calling to "go his way" and join the priesthood. His worldly, yet relaxed, easy manner was an important part of the progressive Father O'Malley's character.

Answer: opera singer

Jenny Tuffel who became Genevieve Linden, a Metropolitan Opera star, was surprised that her old boyfriend left her to become priest. They reminisced and she then realized she never received his last letter telling her of his plans to enter the priesthood. Father O'Malley listened as she performed a song from her starring role in "Carmen".

Risė Stevens, who portrayed Jenny, was the leading mezzo-soprano of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for twenty years.

Answer: Carol James

Carol was a runaway brought to Father O'Malley by Patrick McCarthy, a police officer. After she declined Fitzgibbon's offer to work as a housekeeper, O'Malley convinced the older priest to give her $10. Fitzgibbon told her being a good wife and mother is the "job" she needed. After O'Malley gave her pointers on her singing, she left saying "I'll get by".

The neighborhood gossip reported she was "entertaining" Mr. Haines Jr. in the vacant apartment. Father O'Malley was sent to deal with the situation and at this point in the movie we heard the beautiful title song "Going My Way". Later Carol and Ted Jr. secretly married and Ted Jr. enlisted in the Air Force, much to the relief of the senior Mr. Haines. He saw that the newlyweds were genuinely in love and welcomed Carol as his daughter.

James Brown, who played Ted Jr. went on to star as Lt. Ripley "Rip" Masters in the highly successful television series "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin". Jean Heather also starred in "Double Indemnity" in 1944.

Answer: False

Dolan and his partners rejected the song as boring and unappealing, however they were quite impressed by another song O'Malley had written and bought upbeat tune "Swinging on a Star". Father O'Malley convinced them to donate payment for the song anonymously in the Church's collection box. Father Fitzgibbons was elated to think the generosity of his parishioners paid the mortgage.

William Frawley was cast in the part of Max Dolan. Frawley began his career in vaudeville as a comic and a singer and was primarily a stage actor until middle age. He quickly became known as a character actor in A and B List movies. He is probably best known in a movie role as Charlie, the politically savvy advisor to Judge Harper in "Miracle on 34th Street". He also portrayed Gloomy Willie in "The Lemon Drop Kid", where he got a lesson on how to be successful sidewalk Santa from Bob Hope. And of course, who will ever forget the gruff, tight-fisted yet lovable Fred Mertz?

Answer: form a choir

Once again the distinct differences between the two priests was shown. Father Fitzgibbon lost patience with O'Malley's unconventional methods and asked the Bishop to transfer O'Malley again. At this point Fitzgibbon learned the real reason O'Malley was sent to St. Dominic's. Saddened, by the news, Fitzgibbon ran away but was found by Officer McCarthy and returned to St. Dominic's

Answer: Three Blind Mice

Father Fitzgibbon told his long suffering housekeeper, Mrs. Carmody, "I'm a tolerant man...but some things get under my skin and one of them is 'Three Blind Mice'"!

Mrs. Carmody was played Eily Maylon, a British character actress. With her stern looks and dark, deep set eyes she was often cast a maid, governess or nun.

Answer: Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)

Father Fitzgibbon confided to O'Malley that he longed to see his ninety-year-old mother, who was still in Ireland. They shared some whiskey and O'Malley sung him to sleep. We saw the genuine affection which had developed throughout the film between the two priests despite their different ways.

Answer: Genevieve "Jenny" Linden

Jenny took the choir on her concert tour and sent a check for $3500 from the proceeds.

The choir was not really a gang of turkey thieves! The Robert Mitchell Boy(s) Choir appeared in over 100 films such as "Angels With Dirty Faces" and "The Bishop's Wife" in addition too "Going My Way".

Answer: He brought Father Fitzgibbon's mother from Ireland.

Father Fitzgibbon had grown fond of O'Malley and was truly sorry to see him go. After watching a tearful reunion between Fitzgibbon and his mother, Father O'Malley quietly slipped away to his new assignment. Tissues, please!

It was said that that Fitzgerald's acting in this scene was so convincing, rumors flew that it was his real life mother surprising him. How's that for an Oscar winning performance?

Barry Fitzgerald became the first (and only) actor to be nominated in two categories (Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor) for the same role in the same movie. The Academy later changed the rules which prevented this in future nominations.

(Adeline De Walt Reynolds played the part of Mrs. Molly Fitzgibbon.)