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The White Sister (1923)

| Drama, Romance | 5 September 1923 (USA)
The White Sister Poster
A young woman becomes a nun when she believes her sweetheart has been killed, but things get complicated when he returns alive.

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Francis Marion Crawford (novel), George V. Hobart | 3 more credits »

Stars:

Lillian Gish, Ronald Colman, Gail Kane | See full cast & crew »
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On Disc

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1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lillian Gish ... Angela Chiaromonte
Ronald Colman ... Capt. Giovanni Severini
Gail Kane ... Marchesa di Mola
J. Barney Sherry ... Monsignor Saracinesca
Charles Lane Charles Lane ... Prince Chiaromonte
Juliette La Violette Juliette La Violette ... Madame Bernard
Gustavo Serena ... Prof. Ugo Severi (as Signor Serena)
Alfredo Bertone Alfredo Bertone ... Filmore Durand
Roman Ibanez Roman Ibanez ... Count del Ferice
Alfredo Martinelli Alfredo Martinelli ... Alfredo del Ferice
Ida Carloni Talli Ida Carloni Talli ... Mother Superior (as Carloni Talli)
Giovanni Viccola Giovanni Viccola ... Gen. Mazzini
Antonio Barda Antonio Barda ... Alfredo's Tutor
Giacomo D'Attino Giacomo D'Attino ... Solicitor to the Prince
Michele Gualdi Michele Gualdi ... Solicitor to Count
See full cast »
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Storyline

Lillian Gish is the daughter of a rich Italian count who is killed in a fall from his horse. Though Lillian stands to inherit a large estate, her older half-sister burns the will and thus inherits the property herself, throwing Lillian into poverty. Fortunately, she is engaged to marry the dashing officer Ronald Coleman, but he is captured by Arabs on an expedition to Africa. Dedicating her life to his memory, Lillian becomes a nun, unaware that her lover has escaped his captors and returning to Italy! The climax takes place against a backdrop of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Written by Ed Lengel <egl2r@faraday.clas.virginia.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

nun | italy | female protagonist | monsignor | convent | See All (10) »

Taglines:

A love that outlived passion! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 1923 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Die weiße Schwester See more »

Filming Locations:

Algeria See more »
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Box Office

Gross USA:

$657,532, 31 December 1924
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Inspiration Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Quotes

Marchesa di Mola: Father, Father - I want to confess!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Century of Cinema: Die Nacht der Regisseure (1995) See more »

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User Reviews

Brilliant Lillian Gish, surprising Ronald Colman; Catholic melodrama
28 October 1999 | by Doug-193 – See all my reviews

This commendable silent has now apparently been restored by Turner and is available for sale - though not as yet for Netflix rental, so I can't comment on the image quality. Even given the less-than-luminous print I saw some years ago, the film deserves to be seen. Lillian Gish is brilliant. And Ronald Colman gives an emotionally charged, subtle performance unlike anything else I've seen of his work in film. The story is not to my taste: it is old-fashioned, sentimental melodrama, heavily laced with Catholic religious fervor. The real attractions, besides these two glorious stars, are the wonderful Italian locations, and - presumably - some beautiful black and white photography.
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