Galileo

I do not remember this film in theaters. TCM showed it last night. After attempting to watch it I fully understand why it was not shown in many mainstream movie theaters. Galileo falls into the category of an art film, often very surreal. Viewing it reminded me of an over the top Broadway production. Brilliant costumes, often extravagant sets, complete with a 3 acolyte Greek Chorus of sorts. TCM did not run the credits, my guess is that Galileo was an international production it sounded as though it were dubbed occasionally but watching the mouths in some scenes the actors and singers were speaking their lines in English. The plot is the standard story of Galileo, after discovering proof that the earth is not the center of the universe, the Roman Catholic Church banned his theories regardless of how factual the theories were. In the film Galileo's daughter has been engaged to a suitor for eight years, for the times an extremely long engagement. In the course of the movie because Galileo keeps working on his theory of The Solar System the suitors family blocks the marriage although Galileo promises the suitor may collect the dowry any time. When Galileo's work needs funding he seeks out the support of the 9 year old ruler of Milan and others. His work went on but mainly in hiding. As the political climate changes he prepared for a rapid departure with a coach waiting. The Inquisitors thwart his plan to escape by whisking him away in a waiting Inquisition coach to face a formal Inquisition. Although this is an artistic rendition of the story that takes a great deal of license, the main premise does follow the historical facts of Galileo's persecution. In college I remember a professor stated that The Pope asked Jesuit scholars which side was correct, the Dominican Inquisitors or Galileo. The Jesuits told The Pope of course Galileo was correct but The Pope officially agreed with the Dominicans anyway.