1944 – Bing Crosby
Going My Way
Bing Crosby gave a good performance, though I have to say, it was very one-note. What I mean by that is that the part was written in such a way, that there was no other way he could have played it, and that way had no flaws that would have made the character realistic. He played a Catholic priest, Father O’Malley, who was so good, so pure, so kind, so generous, so optamistic, so empathetic, so… everything, that I can honestly say I’ve never met that kind of a saint in my life. But you know what? I enjoyed the character anyway. And if you’re going to write a character like that, who else could have played him but Bing Crosby.
First of all, he totally looked the part. He had a face that was kind and gentle, just like the character of O’Malley needed. Mostly, I think it was his eyes. Second, his mannerisms were as gentle as his face. He was confident without being arrogent, loving without being lecherous, ernest without being pushy. And finally, there was his voice. There was a reason he was a professional recording artist that dominated both the pop charts and the big screens of the entire decade.
And yes, lets pause for a moment to talk about Bing’s voice. I’m a singer, myself, and so I know a little bit about the craft of singing. Crosby’s voice was beyond amazing. It was like plush velvet. It was as warm and smooth and comforting. His tone, all the way from his low register to his high, was completely even and seamless. Because, yes, this movie could possibly be considered a musical, though calling it a light-hearted drama with a few musical numbers might be more accurate. I particularly loved his rendition of Would You Like to Swing on a Star, a tune I’ve always liked. And who knew this is where it came from?
Now, did Bing deserve the Best Actor Oscar? Well, the film was incredibly popular and His Acting nomination was only one of the film’s ten nomination that year. But for me? The wholesomeness written into the script was too forced. But, I guess, why not? I mean, Crosby had a few slightly dramatic moments here and there, though the drama was never very intense. See, I’ve seen Crosby in deeper roles than this, so I know he was capable of more, but the script just didn’t call for it.