The Nun's Story (1959)

After leaving a wealthy Belgian family to become a nun, Sister Luke struggles with her devotion to her vows during crisis, disappointment, and World War II.

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Robert Anderson (screenplay), Kathryn Hulme (book) (as Kathryn C. Hulme)

Stars:

Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

In 1930, in Belgium, Gabrielle van der Mal is the stubborn daughter of the prominent surgeon Dr. Hubert van der Mal that decides to leave her the upper-class family to enter to a convent, expecting to work as nun in Congo with tropical diseases. She says good-bye to her sisters Louise and Marie; to her brother Pierre; and to her beloved father, and subjects herself to the stringent rules of the retrograde institution, including interior silent and excessive humbleness and humiliation. After a long period working in a mental institution, Gaby is finally assigned to go to Congo, where she works with the Atheist and cynical, but brilliant, Dr. Fortunati. Sister Luke proves to be very efficient nurse and assistant, and Dr. Fortunati miraculous heals her tuberculosis. Years later, she is ordered to return to Belgium and when her motherland is invaded by the Germans, she learns that her beloved father was murdered by the enemy while he was helping wounded members of the resistance. Sister ...

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Plot Keywords:

nun | nurse | belgian congo | world war two | leper colony | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Historia de una monja

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$12,800,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

149 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A patient in the Congo hospital has lines in just one scene; when it was necessary to dub over his line, it was spoken by Dean Jagger.

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Goofs

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.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in Here's Looking at You, Warner Bros. (1991)

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Soundtracks

Voi Che Sapete
from "The Marriage of Figaro"
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W. A. Mozart)
Played by Gabi and her father on the piano, and recurring throughout the film's score.

User Reviews

You can cheat your sisters, but you cannot cheat yourself or God.

Eight Oscar nomination, five Golden Globe nominations, and five BAFTA nominations, with a win for Audrey Hepburn for Best British Actress indicates that this was one of the best films of 1959. Unfortunately, it had to go up against Ben Hur for most awards. That doesn't take a bit from it's excellence and entertainment value.

This is an utterly fascinating story of a young nun (Audrey Hepburn), and a non-believing doctor (Peter Finch). Sister Luke (Hepburn) is constantly challenged in sticking to her vows, especially the one of obedience.

She chaffed at the rules that did not leave room for common sense. Is it better to strictly obey or to do more good in disobedience? It is a question asked over and over.

Things become more difficult as WWII starts. Now, the rules must be set aside to help the war effort. Eventually, the conflict between the rules and her need for independence is resolved.

Hepburn was fantastic, as was Finch. Well worth seeing.