The Singing Nun (film)

The Singing Nun

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Henry Koster
Produced by John Beck
Written by John Furia (story and screenplay)
Sally Benson
Starring Debbie Reynolds
Ricardo Montalbán
Greer Garson
Music by Jeanine Deckers (songs)
Harry Sukman
Cinematography Milton Krasner
Edited by Rita Roland
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
 April 4, 1966
Running time
 97 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $3,800,000 (est. US/ Canada rentals)[1]

The Singing Nun is a 1966 American semi-biographical film about the life of Jeanine Deckers, a nun who recorded the chart-topping hit song "Dominique". It starred Debbie Reynolds in the title role. The film also stars Ricardo Montalbán, Katharine Ross, Chad Everett, and Ed Sullivan as himself. It was Henry Koster's final directing job.

Harry Sukman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment. Randy Sparks wrote the English translations of Jeanine Deckers' songs as well as writing a couple of original songs for the film.

Plot

Sister Ann (Debbie Reynolds) leaves the Dominican convent near Antwerp for her assignment at Samaritan House in a depressed area of Brussels. Sister Ann loves to play the guitar and sing, and when she joins in the traditional evensong at Samaritan House, she impresses the other nuns and Father Clementi (Ricardo Montalbán). She becomes fond of Dominic Arlien (Ricky Cordell), a motherless child whose father is an unemployed drunkard and who is loved only by his 17-year-old sister, Nicole (Katharine Ross). Sister Ann composes the song Dominique for the boy. Father Clementi persuades Robert Gerarde (Chad Everett), a partner in a recording firm, to listen to Sister Ann's music in the hope of having it recorded. When Robert meets Sister Ann, he discovers that she was his classmate at the Paris Conservatory of Music five years earlier. Later, while visiting the Arlien house, Sister Ann discovers pictures of Nicole in provocative poses; the girl defiantly tells the nun that she posed to get food and rent money for her family. Her father overhears them, strikes Nicole, and orders the nun out of the house. The Mother Prioress (Greer Garson) later admonishes Sister Ann for allowing the young girl's secret to be made known to the father. Robert, whose attraction to Sister Ann has been rekindled, obtains permission from church authorities to have her record an album; "Dominique" becomes a worldwide hit, and Ed Sullivan brings a television crew to Brussels to film Sister Ann for his show.

Sister Ann becomes confused by her success and by Robert's personal interest in her, and she seeks counsel from Father Clementi. Her decision is made for her when Dominic is seriously injured in an accident; she prays for him, promising to give up her music and care for others if he recovers. The boy recovers, and the Arlien family, shaken by the incident, decide to move to the country. Sister Ann gives Nicole her guitar and goes to an African village to work among the natives.

Cast

Production

Henry King was originally announced as director but left after differences with producer John Beck. He was replaced by Henry Koster.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Big Rental Pictures of 1966", Variety, 4 January 1967 p 8
  2. ↑ Coburn in 'What Did...?' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 May 1965: B5.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.