Monsignor (1982)

One of the all-time great bad movies, a pricelessly funny piece of cheese about a priest who not only breaks his vows of celibacy but gets chummy with the Mafia. Christopher Reeve stars as this upwardly mobile clergyman who climbs to the top, thanks to his assignment handling the Vatican's business affairs. Of course, he's only human--which is why he succumbs to the temptation provided by nun Geneviève Bujold (only to deny her later). An outstandingly awful film, one marked by Reeve's callow performance and a supporting cast (Fernando Rey, Robert Prosky) that should know better. A guaranteed hoot for anyone who ever survived parochial school. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com

This actually could have been akin to the Passion of Christ

Contrary to popular belief ... there are more than one kind of Catholic. There is the Roman Catholics who demand celibacy of clergy while the seven Eastern Rite (Byzantine Catholics) allows their priests to marry in Europe. Marriage was not a sacrament until sometime around 1000 AD when the Church added it to its list. Why shouldn't a priest be allowed to take holy orders and marriage vows at the same time? When Jesus taught he is referred to as Rabbi in the scripture, which during his day, was a term reserved only for marrried Jewish men. I am not stating anything about my views on theories that Christ was married but that .... if he was ... and if Eastern Catholics can ... why not those in Rome?

The late Christopher Reeve plays an ambitious American Priest and WW2 vet who arrives in the Vatican. He is placed in charge of financial dealings and ends up in illegal schemes with the Mafia, and breaking his vows to enter into an illicit union with a noviate. This isn't so far out and in 1982 when this film was released was far more controversial. The film could have had the kind of cinematic opulence as the Passion but it got flat with stereotypes about Catholics. Monsignor is a story about ambition in "spiritual" places and how one man's lust for recognition got uglier despit his frocks. March 16, 2007

i can't tell you why but this is a very fun movie if you let it be

i don't know why i like it but i do! this is grade a cheese here but it is also a great soap opera, and i though that mr. reeve's acting was good. if you let it i think you may like it. June 12, 2006

Almost a successful film

Just caught "Monsignor" on cable. It seemed to be well-paced in that it didn't drag for me as it did for another reviewer. The plus side is that it shows the worldly side of the Roman Church and how this church might get into financially ambiguous dealings with the best of intentions. The black-market business does seem farfetched; yet there's historical precedent: in the Middle Ages the pope was dealing with Jewish moneylenders while the official Church was condemning usury as a sin. Also, Chris Reeve's character represents a type based in reality, the priest who's rambunctious in his younger years, and even does some messing with women, but eventually gets himself into line. Genevieve Bujold is fairly credible as the novice--or postulant--who gets involved with a man--but to be seduced on the second meeting?! She loves him that much that soon? I fear she was an excuse to insert a disrobing scene into a leaden script. And why did they jeopardize their immortal souls with such a mournful fornication?
The film may be worth renting, but not buying. May 18, 2006

Chris Reeve - Monsignor

I too, found the story to be very far-fetched, 'til I read an article in the Los Angeles Times concerning the American Cardinal that was in charge of the Vatican Bank concerning some 'slight' irregularities of one (financial) type or another. Interesting timing?

My ultimate view of the movie is that it was a love story. The love that a man had for his church and for his girl. Never mind that the girl was a nun-in-training.

For me, the confrontation scene in the church just messed with my head - that is - I could actually 'feel' Monsignor Flaherty's agony. Don't get me wrong, people in the theatre actually laughed, but there was nothing even remotely funny about 'being caught' like that, and the ramifications should have been nothing less than catastrophic for him.

For those who termed the movie Campy, Cheesy or whatever other adjectives you may choose to describe this movie, I say get yourself a copy and see for yourself. Oh, and the acting was actually decent! Three stars for the film! R.I.P. Mr. & Mrs. Chris Reeve!! March 28, 2006

Pure Camp

Except for the "shocking" premise, the movie doesn't have much to go on. Suprisingly slow moving considering the supposed drama of the corruption and the affair. Reeve, God bless his soul(pardon the pun)was handed a real doozy of a role. At times reverential to the Vatican,this character slides into a bizarre method-acted version of Gordon Gecko. How this person could ever exist is beyond me. Plus, I never really caught onto why the Monsignor is so ambitiously greedy anyway. Seems as if he would have gone to B-School instead of the clergy. Oh well, at least he's not chasing little boys...
Best scene: Nun discovers the awful truth during a "all-hands" Vatican visitation of the Pope. February 15, 2006

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