Going My Own Way Author:Gary Crosby, Ross Firestone In a way, I did understand why Dad’s fans loved him so. When I saw Going My Way I was as moved as they were by the character he played. Father O’Malley handled that gang of young hooligans in his parish with such kindness and wisdom that I thought he was wonderful too. Instead of coming down hard on the kids and withdrawing ... more »his affection, he forgave them their misdeeds, took them to the ball game and picture show, taught them how to sing. By the last reel, the sheer persistence of his goodness had transformed even the worst of them into solid citizens. Then the lights came on and the movie was over. All the way back to the house I thought about the difference between the person up there on the screen and the one I knew at home....
But the persona wasn’t simply an act. That side of him was real too. Once he left the house and stepped into the world he became another man, that same nice guy everyone loved in the movies. « less