The Runner Stumbles (1979)

The Runner Stumbles: Directed by Stanley Kramer. With Dick Van Dyke, Kathleen Quinlan, Maureen Stapleton, Ray Bolger. Father Rivard is a priest in a small, economically depressed coal mining town. Working on what he thinks is a “controversial” work, he lives with the brutal lives of his poor parishioners, the old, unfriendly nuns in the nearby convent, and his own self doubts. When Rita, an energetic and bright young Sister, arrives at the parish, he finds someone he can talk to, someone with whom he has much in common. This sets into motion a series of events that leads to Sister Rita’s death – and the indictment of Father Rivard in that act.

“This is one of the best movies ever made. How it never managed to garner the respect it so richly deserves is yet more proof of the shallowness and stupidity of its viewing audience. And that goes for Robert Ebert as well even though he is no longer around.”