Director
Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino
Cast
Rosalind Russell - Mother Superior
Mary Clancy - Hayley Mills
June Harding - Rachel Devery
Marge Redmond - Sister Liguori
Barbara Hunter - Marvel-Ann
Rosalind Russell - Mother Superior
Mary Clancy - Hayley Mills
June Harding - Rachel Devery
Marge Redmond - Sister Liguori
Barbara Hunter - Marvel-Ann
I'm dedicating this post to my truly better half, my wife Andrea, and her highly commendable taste in movies! I whole heartedly believe she was brought up with a much classier taste in films than my own.
I like what I like. But my wife has introduced me to some true classics as well as notable films - ones that I would have otherwise overlooked or just not taking any interest in on my own. There are a number of movies falling into this category, and one of those is the 1966 comedy The Trouble with Angels.
I first watched this movie with Andrea about eight years ago while we were dating. And then I watched it again last night at my lovely wife's request. I noticed much more after my second viewing.
This movie certainly isn't obscure. And I came to a better understanding about the story while watching it for the second time.
The movie opens as new students arrive to St. Francis Academy girls boarding school run by a religious order of Catholic sisters.
Among these new students are Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills) and Rachel Devery (June Harding), who meet on the train heading to the station where the bus is scheduled to pick them up.
I like what I like. But my wife has introduced me to some true classics as well as notable films - ones that I would have otherwise overlooked or just not taking any interest in on my own. There are a number of movies falling into this category, and one of those is the 1966 comedy The Trouble with Angels.
I first watched this movie with Andrea about eight years ago while we were dating. And then I watched it again last night at my lovely wife's request. I noticed much more after my second viewing.
This movie certainly isn't obscure. And I came to a better understanding about the story while watching it for the second time.
The movie opens as new students arrive to St. Francis Academy girls boarding school run by a religious order of Catholic sisters.
Among these new students are Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills) and Rachel Devery (June Harding), who meet on the train heading to the station where the bus is scheduled to pick them up.
They quickly become as thick as thieves, as they make it a point to get away with as much as they can without getting caught.
The head of the Academy is the order's Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell) who runs a tight, respectable school while leaving some room for understanding.
The story follows Mary and Rachel through their academic years at the school, while pulling pranks on the nuns and consistently getting in trouble.
Mary obviously doesn't care much for authority, and can't figure out why any woman with an ounce of self respect and taste for life would want to be a nun. Rachel follows suit, of course.
Talk is cheap when it comes to Mother Superior's lessons. As the school years roll by, Mary watches the examples of the sisters' selflessness, charity, compassion, guidance. She also gains an understanding on the necessity of rules. Mother Superior watches Mary's knack of observation and doesn't interfere.
On graduation day, Mary makes a decision that leaves Rachel in shock and dismay.
With its innocent comedy centered on a Catholic girls boarding school, and Hayley Mills in the central role, I initially thought this was a Disney movie. After all, Mills starred in some iconic Disney films in the 1960s such as Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, The Moon-Spinners, and That Darn Cat!
What makes the comedy stand out is the genuine approach to the relationship between Mary and the Mother Superior.
At first, to Mary, the Mother Superior is just an authority figure stamped from the same press all other authority figures come from.
The head of the Academy is the order's Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell) who runs a tight, respectable school while leaving some room for understanding.
The story follows Mary and Rachel through their academic years at the school, while pulling pranks on the nuns and consistently getting in trouble.
Mary obviously doesn't care much for authority, and can't figure out why any woman with an ounce of self respect and taste for life would want to be a nun. Rachel follows suit, of course.
Talk is cheap when it comes to Mother Superior's lessons. As the school years roll by, Mary watches the examples of the sisters' selflessness, charity, compassion, guidance. She also gains an understanding on the necessity of rules. Mother Superior watches Mary's knack of observation and doesn't interfere.
On graduation day, Mary makes a decision that leaves Rachel in shock and dismay.
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| June Harding, Hayley Mills, and Rosalind Russell. |
With its innocent comedy centered on a Catholic girls boarding school, and Hayley Mills in the central role, I initially thought this was a Disney movie. After all, Mills starred in some iconic Disney films in the 1960s such as Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, The Moon-Spinners, and That Darn Cat!
What makes the comedy stand out is the genuine approach to the relationship between Mary and the Mother Superior.
At first, to Mary, the Mother Superior is just an authority figure stamped from the same press all other authority figures come from.
Mary discovers this authority figure, who can be staunch and strict, also has emotions and is affected by her students just as much as the students are affected by her.
But to the Mother Superior, Mary, though a cross to bear with the constant jokes and trouble making (trouble such as smoking cigars in the basement producing enough smoke to fool one of the other sisters to call the fire department, or attempting to skip swimming lessons for their entire time at St. Francis's Academy) she sees a child who not only deserves consequences for her actions, but also deserves understanding and empathy.
Rather than chalking Mary and Rachel up to just being "bad kids," the Mother Superior learns where they're coming from. She doesn't deal with them because she has to. Rather, she wants them around regardless.
But to the Mother Superior, Mary, though a cross to bear with the constant jokes and trouble making (trouble such as smoking cigars in the basement producing enough smoke to fool one of the other sisters to call the fire department, or attempting to skip swimming lessons for their entire time at St. Francis's Academy) she sees a child who not only deserves consequences for her actions, but also deserves understanding and empathy.
Rather than chalking Mary and Rachel up to just being "bad kids," the Mother Superior learns where they're coming from. She doesn't deal with them because she has to. Rather, she wants them around regardless.
She'll reprimand when the time calls for it. During the rest of the time, she leads by example rather than preaching.
The comedy may be a bit dated at times, but as Russell once put it, "it's the sort of movie you can take the kiddies to and which isn't pure corn."
I still laughed at some of the jokes and remarks between the young and progressive-ish school girls, and the traditional Mother Superior.
The storyline is still enjoyable and relatable even for anyone who's been through Catholic schools. The Trouble With Angels is based on a book called Life With Mother Superior by Jane Trahey in which she details her experiences attending a Catholic School in the Chicago area.
The comedy may be a bit dated at times, but as Russell once put it, "it's the sort of movie you can take the kiddies to and which isn't pure corn."
I still laughed at some of the jokes and remarks between the young and progressive-ish school girls, and the traditional Mother Superior.
The storyline is still enjoyable and relatable even for anyone who's been through Catholic schools. The Trouble With Angels is based on a book called Life With Mother Superior by Jane Trahey in which she details her experiences attending a Catholic School in the Chicago area.
You just haven't lived until you've spent time in a Catholic school. For me, it was a boys boarding school. Who am I trying to fool? You probably have lived if you've never attended a Catholic school!
Hayley Mills, June Harding, and Rosalind Russell work so well off each other as their characters develop through the story, semester by semester. Their chemistry on the screen still holds up.
The film manages to keep a steady pace without going overboard with ridiculous comedy and repetition. Nor does it fall into painful predictability. I mean, obviously the girls are going to get caught in their misdeeds. There's enough human element to give the story life so it doesn't become stagnant and, again, repetitive.
Joy can be found in places you'd never think of looking. This movie certainly makes that clear.
The film manages to keep a steady pace without going overboard with ridiculous comedy and repetition. Nor does it fall into painful predictability. I mean, obviously the girls are going to get caught in their misdeeds. There's enough human element to give the story life so it doesn't become stagnant and, again, repetitive.
Joy can be found in places you'd never think of looking. This movie certainly makes that clear.
The 1968 sequel, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows is, in short, a boring waste of time. But that's another post for another day...maybe.
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