The Nun and the Devil (1973)

To prevent the young Isabella from seeing her love Mario, she is sent to the convent of St Archangel, where contact with the outside world is strictly forbidden, and a power struggle rages on as two nuns are eager to become the new abbess.

Director:

Domenico Paolella (as Paolo Dominici)

Writers:

Domenico Paolella (story), Domenico Paolella (screenplay)

Stars:

Anne Heywood, Luc Merenda, Ornella Muti

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anne Heywood	...	Mother Giulia
Luc Merenda	...	Carafo
Ornella Muti	...	Isabella
Martine Brochard	...	Chiara
Muriel Catalá	...	Agnes
Claudia Gravy	...	Carmela
Maria Cumani Quasimodo	...	Lavinia
Pier Paolo Capponi	...	Don Carlos
Claudio Gora	...	Cardinal d'Arezzo
Duilio Del Prete	...	Pietro
Luigi Antonio Guerra	...	(as Luigi Guerra)
Gianluigi Chirizzi	...	Fernando

Storyline

Kingdom of Naples, 1577: The Roman Inquisition and the witch hunt are in force and torture is authorized in the trials, while the people live in misery and fear. The handsome Spanish nobleman Don Carlos enjoyed it in the convent of Sant'Arcangelo di Baiano, satisfying his eroticism with Sister Giulia di Mondragone, a powerful ecclesiastic who aspired to the title of abbess of the convent. Having evaluated the power of Don Carlos, Giulia tries to please him, while other sisters, especially Sister Carmela, plot against her as interested in the coveted title of abbess. Giulia offers herself on several occasions to Don Carlos, despite being a lesbian and eager to be alone with her sweetheart: Sister Chiara. Giulia pleases Don Carlos even when he asks her to spend a night of love with the beautiful young Sister Isabella, Giulia's niece, forced against her will to take the monastic vows but, in reality, very much in love with a boy from the country 'origin. Considering that the current ...

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Plot Keywords:

convent | attempted rape | lesbian sex | lust | leg spreading | 

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Taglines:

In the convent of St. Archangel, there is a struggle for lust & love.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening credits state that the movie is 'Based on authentic 16th Century records and a story by STENDHAL'.

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Alternate Versions

Restored version: Argent Films DVD release as The Nun And The Devil is the longest available version at 99min 20 secs (in PAL): it is re-edited from Italian masters materials with an English soundtrack.

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Connections

Referenced in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates: Widdershins (1996)

User Reviews

You are judging me for corruption and cruelty. Am I more corrupt than you?

There are some really scandalous nunsploitation films available for those who want to indulge their fantasies or prurient interests. This is not one of them. Before you go running away, however, you should know that this film is well worth watching for the quality of the film.

It is all about the machinations that go on in and out of a convent after the Mother Superior dies. Three nuns: Mother Giulia (Anne Heywood), Mother Chiara (Martine Brochard), and Mother Livinia (Maria Cumani Quasimodo) are vying for the position of Mother Superior.

The latter two have very wealthy and influential connections on the outside. Sister Giulia uses poison to get rid of one rival, and is going to expose the other's immorality with a man. This is easy for her as her rival is bisexual and her lesbian lover. No, we don't get to see Heywood in the buff, but we do see Brochard.

Another player in this game is a young, virginal novitiate, that also happens to be the niece of Mother Giula. Isabella (Ornella Muti) was put in the convent to get her away from her boyfriend. Mother Giula is using her to get a nobleman on her side. What she doesn't know is that Isabella and her boyfriend have been secretly meeting at the convent, and now they will have a chance to be together.

The sets are exquisite and the story is compelling. There is some nudity, but it is just the right amount for the story, not exploitative.

There is a torture scene, including water-boarding at an inquisition to discover the truth behind the campaign. Cardinal d'Arezzo (Claudio Gora) screams for more torture. He is a symbol of the evil and corruption in the church at the time.

Justice is meted out for some sinners, but certainly not for all.

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

25 January 1973 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Innocents from Hell

Filming Locations:

Cinecitta, Rome, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imp.Ex.Ci., Les Films Jacques Leitienne, Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (P.A.C.)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 95 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1