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Was 'The Cardinal' based on any particular priest?

posted 15 years ago by guy_lazarus
2 replies | jump to latest

In the documentary that accompanies the DVD, there is headline saying "SPELLMAN DENOUNCES FILM AS INVASION OF PRIVACY."

Since Cardinal Spellman was a reactionary, rather than a liberal (a least he had this reputation in the film community, as he helped lead the Catholic juggernaut against freedom of expression in film), I thought to myself, "It couldn't be about him!"

[–] BoomerMovieFan 13 years ago

The Wikipedia page for author Henry Morton Robinson acknowledges Fermoyle is "partially" based on Spellman. The source cited is Henry Morton Robinson's Papers 1915-1965. Here's the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morton_Robinson

[–] ArizonaKnightWolf 12 years ago

I have also heard that Fermoyle is based on the preist that Robinson hoped to be someday when he was a young boy.

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