Deus Me Deu um Amigo

I first saw this film on TV about 25 years ago and the magic and chemistry of Bing and Barry was obvious. Years later, I finally acquired this film in VHS format(I had recorded it previously in Beta format). It has everything to offer to movie buffs and I hope that the networks start to show it as a Christmas movie. It took the public about 30 years to catch on to "It's A Wonderful Life". This movie, like another of Bing's gems"Holiday Inn(1942)" could fit right in at any time of the year;and with the beautiful Joan Caulfield-anytime. I think that to date, I've watched it about 30 times. My favorite line is Bing's telling taxi driver Percy Kilbride(who refuses Bing's offer of a tip) "You'ld be a big hit in New York".

Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald, who scored a hit playing Catholic priests in "Going My Way," reunited a few years later in this tale of small-town doctors. I expected this to be just a secular version of the earlier film. In a way it is, but it starts out considerably darker.

Crosby's character, a free-spirited young physician named Jim Pearson, is pretty much like the priest he once played, except that this guy has an eye for the ladies. Pearson is easygoing, quick with a quip and blessed with a great singing voice.

But Fitzgerald's character, Dr. Joe McRory, is a less likable version of the crusty old priest he portrayed earlier. At least at the beginning of the film, McRory is not just eccentric and cantankerous, he's moody and sometimes downright mean.

Early on, Pearson heads to the little community of Fallbridge, Maine, to assist McRory's practice. The two men meet accidentally without knowing each other's identities, and due to a series of trivial mix-ups, the old doctor develops a nasty grudge against the young stranger. McRory's insistence on quarreling at every turn is supposed to be funny, but it makes him seem almost unhinged.

The misunderstanding is soon resolved. But McRory, instead of laughing it off, tries to drive Pearson out of town, denouncing him as a quack and a scoundrel.

The prickly old doctor persuades the leading folks in Fallbridge to give Pearson the cold shoulder, too. Among these people is pretty schoolteacher/amateur nurse Trudy Mason (played by Joan Caulfield), who fights her obvious attraction to the newcomer by repeatedly insulting him.

None of this makes any sense, because young Dr. Pearson is always the soul of geniality. In fact, the attitude of the old doc and the town's elite is so illogical that you wonder how the hero will ever get through to them.

Fortunately, this is a Bing Crosby movie, with upbeat songs, contrived situations and gentle jests, some of them done with the proverbial wink at the audience. Eventually, the Crosby charm starts to work its magic on these stony New England hearts. Better late than never.

Some of the most memorable characters in this movie are the minor ones, the town's more marginal citizens who, unlike the establishment types, are friendly to Pearson from the start. Percy Kilbride is perfect as a cabdriver who likes to share his homespun philosophy. Frank Faylen plays the town journalist and town drunk, an interesting mix.

And Wanda Hendrix is totally convincing as a lonely, plain 13-year-old girl (the drunk's daughter) who develops a crush on the kindly young physician. It's hard to believe Hendrix was already 18 and on the threshold of the glamorous, sexy roles for which she's best remembered today. She was a better actress than I'd always thought.

Going My Way was such a blockbuster hit for Paramount with the inspired teaming of Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald that sooner or later you knew they would be teamed again.

Going My Way had one problem; with Bing and Barry as priests you couldn't have any romance. So in this one, they're doctors. Bing is supposed to be a temporary replacement while Barry takes a long postponed vacation. Just like in Going My Way, they don't hit it off at first, but circumstances push them together and by the end of the picture they're fast friends and Bing ends up with schoolmarm Joan Caulfield.

Welcome Stranger does stand on its own merits as a picture, it's not just a pale imitation of Going My Way. Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke give Bing four good songs. Personally, I think the highlight of the movie is Bing singing and calling the square dance in Country Style.

He also sings a nice number called Smile Right Back At the Sun. Crosby had a song genre all his own, the upbeat philosophical songs and this is a perfect example of that kind of number. It's in the same vein as Swinging on a Star. No other singer ever sang so many numbers of that type as Crosby or sung them so well.

One of my favorite character actors Charles Dingle is the villain of the piece. Whether he's a serious or a comic villain like here, Dingle never disappoints with his patented brand of pomposity.

I would venture one criticism of the film. I believe Frank Faylen and Wanda Hendrix who play father and daughter could have had their characters more fully developed. I think a lot of their performances was edited out of the finished product.

But Welcome Stranger is still grand entertainment, Crosby and Paramount at their best.

Let no one tell you that Hollywood has really changed in the last 100 years. The same phenoms seem to reappear time and time again. One that will always hold a special place in the heart of all who love movies, is the repairing of stars. Thus is the case with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. The two stars of Going My Way (1944), the Best Picture winner of that year, come together again for a romp in the country. This time it's far away from the confines of the catholic cathedrals and religious iconadry. Crosby plays a free spirited young doctor, who is basically Father O'Malley without the collar. One can understand why taking the character out of the church was so important to the studios, with out the church Crosby can get the girl. Which in this case that girl is Joan Caulfield. Don't worry it's not going to be that easy, cause this young teacher is already involved with somebody. He is a sort of pompous arrogant know-it-all that just isn't right for young Miss. Caulfield. A woman needs a man who can sing her a song, and show her a good time on a twilit hayride. I have to say that with all it's predictability and repetition, from Going My Way (1944), I have to say that this film has yet to get old for me. I have watched this movie so many times it's worn out the VHS tape. The film is just so much fun, and so light hearted that you can't really not enjoy it's carefree attitude. The songs are so instantly and equally fun, that I find myself just smiling at there pleasant familiarity.

After Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald were paired so well in the seven-Oscar winning film, "Going My Way" of 1944, Paramount cast them again in this 1947 film. Both men won Oscars for the first film, Crosby as best actor, and Fitzgerald as best supporting actor. Interestingly, Fitzgerald had been nominated for both best actor and best supporting actor. In that film they were Catholic priests, the younger Crosby being sent to take over a parish from the elder Fitzgerald.

So, similar roles are in "Welcome Stranger," this time as medical doctors. Crosby's Dr. James Pearson is going to the town of Fallbridge, Maine, to take over for the town's sole doctor, Joseph McRory, who is going on a long overdue vacation. It's been over 30 years since he's had a vacation, and Fitzgerald's McRory is looking forward to his two months off.

Well, the same type of shenanigans occur in this film, with Dr. Pearson not making a good impression right off the bat, and Dr. McRory afraid to trust any patients to him. In this case, the bad feelings start out before the two men even know each other. McRory has gone to Boston for some shopping and has stopped into the medical replacement association. He wants to look over the man that will replace him. That's code, meaning he wants to be able to decide and/or pick his fill-in doctor. But, he is informed that the qualified doctor is already on his way. Then, when McRory boards the train for the ride home, Dr. Pearson is on the same train, and the events with mishaps that occur between the two men are the stuff of wonderful comedy. I think it's only because of Barry Fitzgerald that these scenes could come off so warmly funny. So, after they "meet" again at his home, more fireworks - of a low key - start. It's a wonderful and funny story, with Crosby getting in a little singing - even though it isn't also a musical.

Watching this movie again after many years, I wonder if audiences in its day were curious about the train ride. People were very familiar with train transportation then, and schedules, distances, and times. Most people had traveled by train at least once in their life. I probably didn't think about it when I as young and first saw the film on late night TV in the early 1950s. But, things like this get my attention now. First, it's appropriate to note that the towns in Maine are all fictitious. There is no Fallbridge, Maine. And the neighboring towns mentioned in the film, and those that the train serves - Hillboro, Carson Junction, Lankato, Tanner City, Bentonville, and Callensburg just don't exist.

So, the doctors board an overnight train in Boston - 4:15 or 4:50, as I recall. The distance from Boston to Portland, Maine is just 110 miles, so that would be just a two-hour train ride. And the distance across the whole State of Maine, from its SW corner to the NE corner and Canadian boarder is just 320 miles. It's broad daylight, and after breakfast when they arrive at Fallbridge, and there aren't that many towns of any size the train might have stopped at to drop off or pick up passengers during the night. So, their 12-to-14-hour train ride could have gone all the way to Quebec, Canada, and back to Boston.

Well, that's Hollywood, and movie fans have to overlook things like this. Because the fact of an overnight train provided the setting for the very good opening humor between the two leads. I think people today would still enjoy this film, and it might give a peak at history for younger audiences about how people traveled in bygone days.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Dr. McRory, "To be honest, I wouldn't trust you with my dog." Dr. Pearson, "Where did you acquire your Yankee accent?"

Dr. Pearson, "Doctor, I don't think I could stay for a fortnight, but I'll tell you what I'll do." Dr. McRory, "What?" Dr. Pearson, "I'll stay a couple of weeks."

Nat Dorkas (Percy Kilbride), "Used about 20 cents worth of gas getting out here." Dr. Pearson, "Well, I'll take your temperature sometime, on the house."

Dr. McRory, "Meddling? A man tries to squeeze a little brains into the narrow, pig-headed skull of yours and you call it meddling."

Mrs. Gilley, "Dr. McRory, Dr. Pearson would like the sugar."