The Runner Stumbles

Dick Van Dyke is best known as the comedy writer who trips over an ottoman, and Stanley Kramer is best known as the director of movies like "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", so a collaboration of the two men could seemingly only be the zaniest comedy. As it turns out, the result is nothing of the sort. "The Runner Stumbles" is a very serious movie. Van Dyke plays a priest charged with murdering a nun (Kathleen Quinlan) with whom he was having an affair.

The movie is apparently based on a true story. While the love affair and subsequent trial are the main focus, the movie also seems to be dealing with - if subtly - discrimination towards Catholics in the United States in the early 20th century. The children who attend school in the church feel as if they live happy lives with the nuns and priest, but the trial allows the townspeople to be as hostile as they want towards the priest (and by extension, Catholics in general). The movie is sort of like Kramer's "Inherit the Wind" in that regard.

So anyway, "The Runner Stumbles" isn't any kind of masterpiece, but still a good look at discrimination, and the collapse of innocence that the church undergoes. A fine end for Stanley Kramer's career, and certainly good roles for Van Dyke and Quinlan. Also starring Maureen Stapleton, Tammy Grimes, Beau Bridges and Ray Bolger (the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz").

I first saw this movie in 1983 when I went out west to see my boyfriend. He was a river runner & was living in a house full of the same. Because river runners are in & out of the house on multi-day trips, many people used the house as their crash pad between trips. The point is that the house was full of people. This came on HBO and a bunch of us watched it with rapt attention. Later that day, it came on again and we all sat there and watched it again! How good is a movie when a house full of people watch the same movie twice in one day! I have never understood why more people have not heard of or seen this movie. It is wonderful. It is not a slam bam action movie, it is more about character and how people evolve through interaction with others even though external events may not allow for it. I have never forgotten this movie and I am going to chase down my own copy.

Remember Cold Turkey, when Dick Van Dyke played a reverend who dealt with his cigarette withdrawal frustrations in the bedroom? A few years later, he played a priest in The Runner Stumbles, and he starts the film locked up in jail for murdering a nun! He claims he's innocent, but no one but his steadfast lawyer Beau Bridges believes him. Through flashbacks, we get to find out what happened.

Let's get the obvious out of the way: Kathleen Quinlan didn't act like a nun. When Julie Andrews had an outspoken tongue, love of children, and vivacious energy in The Sound of Music, the message was that she didn't belong in the convent. I can't imagine Kathleen making it through years of training with her full set of emotions and outgoing personality - and not getting kicked out of the order. However, since her personality was so contrary to most typical nuns, you can imagine what a breath of fresh air she was to her new community (and you can also understand why she was transferred). The children loved her and they learned more with her teaching styles, and the priest found new companionship and great conversations.

Even though you go through most of the movie thinking you know what happened, it's still very exciting. Because you don't know how it all unfolds, and you don't really know what happened. As Kathleen infects the town with optimism and inner cheer, Dick finds himself drawn to her in ways that priests shouldn't feel. They had wonderful chemistry together, and they both got to show acting talents normally hidden from audiences. Sneaking by on a technicality, the publicity poster stated that this was the first dramatic theatrical movie of Dick Van Dyke's; but television audiences could see the rare glorious treat in 1974 of The Morning After. I'm still trying to get my hands on a copy of The Country Girl (tv remake) to see more of Dick's dramatic talents; I can't wait!

I totally recommend this movie, whether you like mysteries or forbidden romances. It pre-dated the endlessly popular The Thornbirds miniseries, and while it might not make you go so far as to ask, "What was the big deal?" about Richard Chamberlain's struggle, it'll certainly make you see Dick Van Dyke differently. His screen persona didn't highlight sex appeal, but he was extremely convincing in this role. Can't imagine him being passionate? Rent this movie.

This is one of the best movies ever made. How it never managed to garner the respect it so richly deserves is yet more proof of the shallowness and stupidity of its viewing audience. And that goes for Robert Ebert as well even though he is no longer around.