The Nun's Story (1959)
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Audrey Hepburn stars in The Nun's Story as Sister Luke, postulant of a Belgian order of nuns. Though frequently disillusioned in her efforts to spread good will -- at one point she is nearly killed by a mental patient (Colleen Dewhurst) -- Sister Luke perseveres. Sent as a nurse to the Belgian Congo, an assignment she'd been hoping for, Sister Luke is disappointed to learn that she will not be ministering to the natives but to European patients. Through the example of no-nonsense chief surgeon Peter Finch, the nun sheds her idealism and becomes a diligent worker -- so much so that she contracts tuberculosis. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Sister Luke tries to honor the edicts of her order and not take sides, but this becomes impossible when her father (Dean Jagger) is killed by the Nazis. Realizing that she cannot remain true to her vows, Sister Luke leaves the order and returns to "civilian" life. The Nun's Story ends with a long, silent sequence in which Sister Luke divests herself of her religious robes, dons street garb, and walks out to an uncertain future. There is no background music: director Fred Zinnemann decided that "triumphant" music would indicate that Sister Luke's decision was the right one, while "tragic" music would suggest that she is doing wrong. Rather than make an editorial comment, the director decided against music, allowing the audience members to fill in the blanks themselves. The Nun's Story is based on the book by Kathryn Hulme, whose depiction of convent life was a lot harsher and more judgmental than anything seen in the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Audrey Hepburn - Gabrielle Van Der Mal
- Edith Evans - Mother Emmanuel Superior General
- Dean Jagger - Dr. Van Der Mal
- Beatrice Straight - Mother Christophe
- Rosalie Crutchley - Sister Eleanor
- Barbara O'Neil - Mother Katherine
- Patricia Bosworth - Simone
- Stephen Murray - Chaplain
- Niall MacGinnis - Father Vermeuhlen
- Diana Lambert - Lisa
- Charles Lamb - Pascin
- Dorothy Alison - Sister Aurelie
- Ave Ninchi - Sister Bernard
- Eva Kotthaus - Sister Marie
- Peter Finch - Dr. Fortunate
- Peggy Ashcroft - Mother Mathilde
- Mildred Dunnock - Sister Margharita
- Patricia Collinge - Sister William
- Ruth White - Mother Marcella
- Margaret Phillips - Sister Pauline
- Colleen Dewhurst - Archangel
- Lionel Jeffries - Dr. Goovaerts
- Penelope Horner - Jeannette Milonet
- Errol John - Illunga
- Richard O'Sullivan - Pierre Van Der Mal
- Molly Urquhart - Sister Augustine
- Jeannette Sterke - Louise Van Der Mal
- Orlando Martins - Kalulu
- Director(s):
- Fred Zinnemann
- Writer(s):
- Robert Anderson
- Producer(s):
- Henry Blanke
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- 1959 - The Nun's Story - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best British Actress
- 1959 - The Nun's Story - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Special Achievement
- 1959 - The Nun's Story - National Board of Review - Best Picture
- 1959 - The Nun's Story - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actress
- 1959 - The Nun's Story - National Board of Review - Best Director
- 1959 - The Nun's Story - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
- 1959 - The Nun's Story - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
