Debbie Reynolds had one more chance after her triumph as Molly Brown to sing in the movies, and even if the critics carped that this was simply a rip-off of "The Sound of Music" craze, she came off unscathed. Reynolds is Sister Anne, a Belgian nun who brings music into her new convent and turns it upside down. Like Sweet Apple Ohio in "Bye Bye Birdie", she gets "Mr. Showbiz" (Ed Sullivan) into the act, but unlike other sudden new stars cast into the limelight, she doesn't get into any "nasty habits". Sister Anne simply wants to praise God through her music, and thanks to the kindly Father Clementi (Ricardo Montalban), her Mother Superior (an overly chatty Greer Garson) agrees. A grouchy Agnes Moorehead and a sweet Juanita Moore are the other nuns in the order, and with Reynolds' charm working her over, it is no time at all before Moorehead actually cracks a smile. Like Angela Lansbury sings in "Dear World", it only takes one person to play a drum (in Sister Anne's case, it is her guitar, "Sister Adele") to get everybody marching.
Sister Anne was famous for the hit song "Dominque", the only time in music history where a nun had music on the charts. The soundtrack is filled out with a few other small gems, which include the touching "Beyond the Stars" and the lively "It's a Miracle!". A group number, "Brother John", features all of the nuns, and is another highlight. With this music, you won't need "The Sound of Music's" Eleanor Parker promising that next time she will bring in her harmonica.
There are some serious plot points in this sentimental tale, most sweetly Sister Anne's love for the young Dominic (Ricky Cordell), a feisty but lovable child she looks after when discovering the truth about his situation. When a young woman tells Reynolds of her intentions to have an abortion, Reynolds acts appropriately to the convictions of a Catholic nun, not judgmental, even if it appears she is being so. And when she hears "Dominique" being played to a (rather bad) rock beat, Sister Anne must find a new venue to continue to do her work for God.
Reynolds is excellent, while Moorehead, Moore and Garson seem to be playing "types" of nuns than "characters". It is nice to see Moorehead switch from grouchy to kindly, but I found Garson's overly wise mother superior a bit pretentious, unlike Peggy Woods' serene Reverand Mother in "The Sound of Music". Of "Nun" films (there are many!), Reynolds' Sister Anne may not ever be compared to Deborah Kerr's ("Black Narcissus", "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison") or Audrey Hepburn's ("The Nun's Story"), but she ain't no Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopie Goldberg, "Sister Act"), either. Too bad Mary Wickes wasn't available here to be the bus driver! The real life Sister Anne did not end up as lucky, having a rather tragic ending that is a movie of itself.
Sister Anne was famous for the hit song "Dominque", the only time in music history where a nun had music on the charts. The soundtrack is filled out with a few other small gems, which include the touching "Beyond the Stars" and the lively "It's a Miracle!". A group number, "Brother John", features all of the nuns, and is another highlight. With this music, you won't need "The Sound of Music's" Eleanor Parker promising that next time she will bring in her harmonica.
There are some serious plot points in this sentimental tale, most sweetly Sister Anne's love for the young Dominic (Ricky Cordell), a feisty but lovable child she looks after when discovering the truth about his situation. When a young woman tells Reynolds of her intentions to have an abortion, Reynolds acts appropriately to the convictions of a Catholic nun, not judgmental, even if it appears she is being so. And when she hears "Dominique" being played to a (rather bad) rock beat, Sister Anne must find a new venue to continue to do her work for God.
Reynolds is excellent, while Moorehead, Moore and Garson seem to be playing "types" of nuns than "characters". It is nice to see Moorehead switch from grouchy to kindly, but I found Garson's overly wise mother superior a bit pretentious, unlike Peggy Woods' serene Reverand Mother in "The Sound of Music". Of "Nun" films (there are many!), Reynolds' Sister Anne may not ever be compared to Deborah Kerr's ("Black Narcissus", "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison") or Audrey Hepburn's ("The Nun's Story"), but she ain't no Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopie Goldberg, "Sister Act"), either. Too bad Mary Wickes wasn't available here to be the bus driver! The real life Sister Anne did not end up as lucky, having a rather tragic ending that is a movie of itself.