Reluctant Saint, The

The story of the simple peasant boy who became known as Saint Joseph of Cupertino stars acclaimed Academy Award -winner Maximilian Schell (1961, Best Actor, Judgment at Nuremberg) as Giuseppe Desa, thought of by many as the village idiot. At a time when scholars filled the ranks of the monastery, Giuseppe longed to be a priest, and his devotion eventually won him a place among the Franciscans at Otranto, where he continued to struggle to meet the ideal. Only when Giuseppe is exiled to the stables does his true nature become recognized by another former peasant-turned-Bishop (played by Akim Tamiroff, Touch of Evil). The young priest's faith was so great that he began to have visions and levitated during prayer, feats which would "elevate" him to sainthood. Directed by Edward Dmytryk (The Caine Mutiny, Crossfire), written by John Fante and Joseph Petracca and featuring Ricardo Montalban (Border Incident and TV's "Fantasy Island"). Newly remastered.