The Nun's Story (1959)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Robert Anderson (screenplay)
Kathryn Hulme (book)

Release Date:

18 July 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Her Faith Remained Strong and True in the Face of Africa's Terrors!

Plot:

In 1930, in Belgium, Gabrielle van der Mal is the stubborn daughter of the prominent surgeon Dr. Pascin...

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Belgium | Convent | Missionary | Nurse

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Audrey Hepburn	...	Sister Luke (Gabrielle van der Mal)
Peter Finch	...	Dr. Fortunati
Edith Evans	...	Rev. Mother Emmanuel (Belgium) (as Dame Edith Evans)
Peggy Ashcroft	...	Mother Mathilde (Africa) (as Dame Peggy Ashcroft)
Dean Jagger	...	Dr. Van Der Mal
Mildred Dunnock	...	Sister Margharita (Mistress of Postulants)
Beatrice Straight	...	Mother Christophe (Sanatorium)
Patricia Collinge	...	Sister William (convent teacher)
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Sister Eleanor
Ruth White	...	Mother Marcella (School of Medicine)
Barbara O'Neil	...	Mother Didyma (War-time Hospital)
Margaret Phillips	...	Sister Pauline (medical student)
Patricia Bosworth	...	Simone (postulant who changed her mind)
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Archangel Gabriel (Sanatorium)
Stephen Murray	...	Chaplain (Father Andre)
Lionel Jeffries	...	Dr. Goovaerts (School of Tropical Medicine)
Niall MacGinnis	...	Father Vermeuhlen (Leprosarium)
Eva Kotthaus	...	Sister Marie (Sanatorium)
Molly Urquhart	...	Sister Augustine (Africa)
Dorothy Alison	...	Sister Aurelie (martyred nurse, Africa)
Jeanette Sterke	...	Louise (sister of Gabrielle) (as Jeannette Sterke)
Errol John	...	Illunga (African convert)
Diana Lambert	...	Lisa (the Resistance)
Orlando Martins	...	Kalulu (African servant)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elsa Albani	...	(uncredited)
Gabriella Andreini	...	(uncredited)
Juan Aymerich	...	(uncredited)
Ludovice Bonhomme	...	Bishop (uncredited)
Grazia De Rossi	...	(uncredited)
Giovanna Galletti	...	(uncredited)
Dara Gavin	...	Sister Ellen (uncredited)
Penelope Horner	...	Jeanette Milonet (uncredited)
Irene Labhart	...	(uncredited)
Charles Lamb	...	Pascin (uncredited)
Ave Ninchi	...	Sister Bernard (uncredited)
Richard O'Sullivan	...	Pierre (brother of Gabrielle) (uncredited)
Elfride Simbari	...	Sister Timothy (uncredited)
Frank Singuineau	...	Murderer of Sister Aurelie (uncredited)
Marina Wolkonsky	...	Marie (sister of Gabrielle) (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Zinnemann

Writing credits
Robert Anderson		(screenplay)
Kathryn Hulme		(book) (as Kathryn C. Hulme)

Produced by
Henry Blanke	....	producer
Fred Zinnemann	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Franz Waxman

Cinematography by
Franz Planer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Walter Thompson

Art Direction by
Alexandre Trauner		(as Alexander Trauner)

Set Decoration by
Maurice Barnathan

Costume Design by
Marjorie Best

Makeup Department
Alberto De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Grazia De Rossi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Julien Derode	....	production manager: for Belgium and Congo
Chuck Hansen	....	production manager (as Charles Hansen)
Orazio Tassara	....	production manager: for Italy

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bernard Vorhaus	....	assistant director (as Piero Mussetta)
Sam Zebba	....	second unit director
Sergio Leone	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Italo Tomassi	....	manager of art department (uncredited)

Sound Department
Oliver S. Garretson	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Goffredo Bellisario	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Léo L. Fuchs	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Franz Waxman	....	conductor

Other crew
Stanley Browne	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Christian Ferry	....	location manager (uncredited)
Marie-Louise Habets	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Elaine Schreyeck	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures A TimeWarner Company)
• Warner Bros. (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1959) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

149 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:PG (tv rating) | UK:U | West Germany:12 (nf) | USA:Approved (certificate #18979) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Trivia:

The scenes where there is palpable sexual tension between Dr Fortunati and Sister Luke are not present in the novel.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When the patient in the Congo hospital is being attended by several people, the voice of the actor playing the patient is obviously dubbed over by actor Dean Jagger, who plays Sister Luke's father in the film.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator:"He that shall lose his life for me shall find it. If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and come follow me." Each sister shall understand that on entering the convent, she has made the sacrifice of her life to God.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'My Fair Lady' (1995) (V)

the art of subtlety

Perched high atop the list of the finest American movies of the 1950's, Fred Zinnemann's "The Nun's Story" is an intensely beautiful and powerful film about a woman who undergoes a crisis of faith and, through her struggle, learns the importance of finding one's true path in life. Based on the novel by Kathryn Hulme, the film tells the story of Gabrielle van der Mal, a Belgian woman who enters the convent in the 1930's, spends a brief period working as a nurse in the Congo, then leaves the order after years of intense personal struggle with herself and with God. Among American films of its time, "The Nun's Story" stands virtually alone in its ability and willingness to dramatize a conflict taking place in the deepest recesses of a character's mind and soul.

Audrey Hepburn - sans makeup and the kind of fashion-plate wardrobe that had already become the hallmark of her movie career - delivers one of her richest performances as the strong-willed and fiercely independent Sister Luke, whose very psyche is torn asunder by the battle between her own innate, personal pride and a sincere desire to live a life of obedience to the Church and its rules. With everything but her countenance hidden beneath a nun's habit, Ms. Hepburn is forced to draw on her resources as an actress, having to convey the titanic internal conflict taking place within her character almost entirely through facial expressions, vocal intonations and body language. And she proves herself more than equal to the challenge. She is brilliantly complemented by Peter Finch, playing the cynical but humane Dr. Fortunati, a dedicated surgeon who is as concerned about Sister Luke's spiritual health as her physical health. The relationship between the two is handled with a great deal of subtlety and tact, never allowing the obvious romantic attraction between the two attractive people to come too much to the fore. Rounding out the excellent cast are Dean Jagger as Gabrielle's loving and concerned father, Peggy Ashcroft and Mildred Dunnock as two older nuns who help guide Sister Luke along the way, and the incomparable Edith Evans, simply astounding as the Reverend Mother who sees unwavering devotion to God and the Church as the one and only goal of a serious nun.

Among other things, "The Nun's Story" is that rare film dealing with religion and spirituality that doesn't contain a single hokey or sentimental moment, that knows the difference between religion and religiosity, that is respectful without being unduly reverential, and that acknowledges the complexity of the human heart in matters of devotion and faith. It also is not afraid to take its time to set the scene and tell its story, never feeling the need to rush headlong into the next dramatic moment just to keep the movie going. In a perfect blending of form and content, the film is every bit as thoughtful, subtle and contemplative as its subject matter, its mood greatly enhanced by the rich and beautiful Franz Waxman score that underlines the seriousness of the work.

In addition to all its other fine virtues, "The Nun's Story" features one of the greatest final scenes and closing shots in motion picture history, a masterpiece of precision and understatement that demonstrates the kind of taste Zinnemman always displayed as a director. The movie is made up of small, beautifully observed moments that, when put together, provide a powerful glimpse into the heart and life of a fascinating, caring individual who wants to do great things in the world but who realizes that the path she has chosen is not the one that will ultimately lead her to her rightful destiny.

On every level of film-making, this is truly one of the greats.