The Power And The Glory (1961)

Set in Mexico in the 1930s, when Mexico was trying to suppress the Catholic church. An outlawed alcoholic priest (Laurence Olivier) is a fugitive sought after by the government for continuing to conduct the Catholic Mass. Based on the novel by Graham Greene (THE THIRD MAN) and directed by Marc Daniels (JANE EYRE). Shot for American television but released theatrically overseas. Greene's acclaimed novel has never received anywhere near a definitive adaptation in spite of numerous stage and TV productions and John Ford's 1947 version entitled THE FUGITIVE. But this one has a dream cast and a fine performance by Olivier. It's a complex role and the priest is a hot mess: he's a drunk, he has an "illegitimate" daughter from an affair and he exploits the faithful for money. Olivier never attempts to make this man a hero as his priest struggles to maintain a semblance of duty while unrepentant in his earthly pleasures. The impressive cast includes George C. Scott, Julie Harris, Roddy McDowall, Patty Duke, Mildred Dunnock, Keenan Wynn, Fritz Weaver, Martin Gabel, Cyril Cusack, Rose Gregorio and Lou Antonio.