When in Rome

When In Rome finds Father Van Johnson on a pilgrimage to Rome during the declared Holy Year of 1950 when Catholic priests from all over the world will be heading to Rome as Moslems do to Mecca once in a lifetime. It's somebody's good or ill fortune depending on your point of view that pairs conman Paul Douglas with Johnson on the ocean liner going to Italy.

Before docking in Genoa, Douglas steals Johnson's priestly garments and identity because the Italian police are waiting for him. Now in this day and age a telex would have been sent with a picture and Douglas couldn't have done what he did. I'm not sure why even in the primitive international communications of 1950 that a photograph of convict Douglas wasn't sent to the Italian cops. Still they don't and before Douglas can shed the priestly attire, he's caught up in the identity.

Douglas is an escapee from San Quentin, no easy task and that escape will put years on his sentence. And Johnson is rather reluctant to help the Italian police.

Van's a priest in the tradition of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown, more concerned with Douglas's standing before God as the Roman Catholic church teaches it than for any of man's temporal justice. The film plays like Father Brown going after master crook Flambeau which would come out in fact a couple of years after When In Rome.

Some newsreel shots of the Holy Year in Rome give us the Roman identification and the film was obviously done in black and white to blend those in. If you're a fan of G.K. Chesterton you will absolutely love this film.

Who triumphs, God's justice or man's law? In a way a little bit of both.

In order to celebrate the "Holy Year" of 1950, Pennsylvania priest Van Johnson (as John X. Halligan) decides to sail on a sabbatical to Italy. Aboard ship, Mr. Johnson befriends likable, gruff bunkmate Paul Douglas (as Joe Brewster). Johnson doesn't know it (yet), but Mr. Douglas is a swindler who just escaped from San Quentin. Douglas correctly realizes authorities will be looking to arrest him after the ship docks. He dons Johnson's priestly clothing and makes a quick getaway. Johnson is left to wear Douglas checkered green jacket and hat. Johnson is falsely arrested. Douglas is accepted by other priests in Rome. After the polizia sort things out, they want Johnson to assist in Douglas' capture...

However, Johnson becomes more interested in Douglas' soul...

One of MGM's most winning teams, director Clarence Brown and cinematographer William Daniels, make "When in Rome" very attractive. After arriving on location, the picture approaches art. A highlight in storytelling occurs when Douglas looks at cold, stark church-like walls and realizes they look very much like his former prison. The picture morphs into a prison, then fades back to a monastery look. This calls later events into question, but Douglas ends in a more tranquil setting; possibly, it shows the character "questioning" a transformation. Although he is billed second, the story is clearly about Douglas's character. The bigger "box office" name, Johnson is commendable and supportive in the less stellar role.

******* When in Rome (1952-05-11) Clarence Brown ~ Paul Douglas, Van Johnson, Joseph Calleia, Carlo Rizzo

I was drawn to the film by TCM's summary and by the presence of two estimable actors. Van Johnson and Paul Douglas never quite made Hollywood's A-list but for my money they are two very accomplished practitioners of the thespian art.

Johnson, as Father Halloran, shares a ship cabin with Joe Brewster (Douglas) who, unbeknownst to Halloran, is on the lam from San Quentin. Halloran is on his way to Rome for Holy Year, and his and Brewster's paths become intertwined.

The movie seems to want to be a lighthearted comedy but in the end becomes quite touching, as Halloran becomes Brewster's confessor. The script is excellent and the action moves along well.

In addition the movie is a wonderful travelogue of pre-Vatican II Rome, in stunning black and white. And to a dinosaur like myself it is bittersweet to watch a movie from a time when religious devotion was respected and taken seriously. Today anti-Catholicism is, as some wag commented, "the last respectable bigotry of the intelligentsia."

Be sure not to miss this overlooked little gem.

So fate puts two men together on an ocean voyage; Father Halligan, a man of the cloth with good intentions, and Joe Brewster, with less than an honorable past. Van Johnson was in his prime here, and could play just about anything. Paul Douglas is Brewster, and usually played the thug, due to his appearance. Brewster takes the priest's clothes and his identity, and makes a run for it when the boat docks in Roma. There are some funny lines… at dinner on the cruise, the passengers have a good sense of humor, and tell some clever jokes, but for the most part, it's a pretty serious suspense drama. Also some beautiful scenery of Rome, as we travel around. 1950 had actually been a holy year in the Catholic church, so Buckner, the writer, used that as a basis for the story. What better theme to include the battle of right and wrong than a story based on a priest? We hear over and over again how Father Halligan is trying to decide if he should turn in Brewster. Lots of jokes about safe-crackers and what it was like in Sing Sing. Pretty good story, if you buy in and go along for the ride. We see all the beautiful, old historic landmarks of Rome, and have an adventure along the way. Directed by Clarence Brown, who had directed so many Garbo films, and was nominated for SIX Oscars! Shows on Turner Classics now and then. Kind of a "feel good" story, but not real meaty.

Father John visits Rome at the height of the 1950 Holy Year. His stay will get pretty complicated when Joe Brewster, a con man, steals his identity and garb. Clean '50s fun with Rome's structural highlights as a background.