Monsignor

Plot

An ambitious priest discovers that honoring the Ten Commandments isn't as easy as he imagined in this drama. Father John Flaherty (Christopher Reeve) is a Catholic priest who was ordained during World War II, and soon found himself forced to fight enemy forces while serving as a chaplain in the Army. As his life and career in the church moves on, Flaherty finds himself frequently torn between his duty and devotion to the church and his ambitions, appetites, and the notion that the ends can justify the means. Flaherty eventually rises through the church hirarchy to win an appointment at the Vatican, where he helps to manage the church's finances. When the Vatican's books reveals a major cash flow crisis, Flaherty suggests a rather unusual plan to Cardinal Santoni (Fernando Rey) -- buy hard-to-find American goods at a discount, and then sell them at a profit to mafia kingpins, who will then sell them on the black market at premium prices. As Flaherty and Santoni debate the ethics of this scheme, Flaherty meets and finds himself becoming attracted to Clara (Genevieve Bujold), a postulant nun. Posing as an American businessman, Flaherty romances and seduces Clara, until she discovers his secret. Monsignor also stars Jason Miller, Robert Prosky, and Joe Patoliano.

~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cast

• Christopher Reeve - Flaherty
• Geneviève Bujold - Clara
• Fernando Rey - Santoni
• Jason Miller - Appolini
• Joe Cortese - Varese

Adolfo Celi - Vinci; Leo Cimino - Pope; Robert Prosky - Bishop Walkman; Francesco Angrisano - Priest; Ritza Brown - Maid of Honor; Stefania D'Amario - Girl; Jan Danby - Lieutenant; Tomas Milian - Francisco; David Mills - Major; Harrison Muller - Soldier; Joe Pantoliano - Musso; Anna Papa; Greg Snegoff - Soldier; Yanti Somer - 2nd Flaherty Secretary; Joe Spinell - Bride's Father; Milena Vukotic - Sister Verna; Remo de Angelis - Killer; Pamela Prati; Mike Fenton; Jane Feinberg

Credit

Gianni Cozzo - Art Director, Stefano M. Ortolani - Art Director, Kurt Neumann - Associate Producer, Theoni V. Aldredge - Costume Designer, Frank Perry - Director, Peter E. Berger - Editor, John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Roy Charman - Composer (Music Score), John De Cuir - Production Designer, Billy Williams - Cinematographer, Kurt Neumann - Production Manager, David Niven, Jr. - Producer, Frank Yablans - Producer, Joe Chevalier - Set Designer, Roy Charman - Sound/Sound Designer, Wendell Mayes - Screenwriter, Abraham Polonsky - Screenwriter, Jack Alain Leger - Book Author

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