Going My Way

Rating: 4/5

Going My Way is a perfectly pleasant, sweet little movie. Not one of the big standouts of all the Oscar Best Picture Winners, but one that I will genuinely enjoyed from start to finish.

Though I didn't know much about Going My Way before watching it, I grew up watching Bing Crosby in White Christmas, so I was already very familiar with his mannerisms and voice, so I was looking forward to seeing this movie just to get a chance to see Bing Crosby in something different. Then when I read the plot for the movie, I figured it would be a very simple, but enjoyable film, and I was correct. Coming after Casablanca, it definitely suffered from not feeling as impressive as that classic, but it also showed that, unlike many of the very long Oscar winners that came after it, that you don't need to be a big budget cinema epic in order to be recognized as Best Picture.

Now, based on today's standards of what wins for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, I'm not sure if something this subtle would win the top prize, but it would likely get decent reviews and have a large number of people who really enjoyed it.

For some of these Best Picture winners, I find myself questioning if I'll ever take the time to watch them again, but Going My Way is one I know I will. I love a musical, and even though this isn't a musical in the traditional sense, it still has that same uplifting feel as some of the greats.

1945 Best Picture Winner- Going My Way

1945 Best Actor in a Leading Role Winner- Bing Crosby

1945 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Winner- Barry Fitzgerald

1945 Best Director Winner- Leo McCarey

1945 Best Writing, Original Story Winner- Leo McCarey

1945 Best Writing, Screenplay Winner- Frank Butler & Frank Cavett

1945 Best Music, Original Song- "Swinging on a Star"