Pretty Good

Captivating movie !

A Masterpiece!

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Excellent movie. Great acting, cinematography, editing, music, script, dialogue. It's got it all.After watching a bunch of low life garbage movies, mostly modern nonsense, this movie is highly welcome.They don't make movies like this anymore. Why? Because the writers don't exist, or if they do they are not given the chance. What we get now days is action nonsense with cliche dialogue.

Producers: Buddy Adler, Eugene Frenke. Copyright 1957 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 14 March 1957. U.S. release: March 1957. U.K. release: 4 August 1957. Australian release: 11 July 1957. 9,544 feet. 105 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A cut-down version of "Sea Wife". This time the nun has to contend with only one guy instead of three!NOTES: Deborah Kerr was nominated for Hollywood's most prestigious award for Best Actress, losing to Joanne Woodward in "The Three Faces of Eve". John Lee Mahin and John Huston were nominated for Best Screenplay (based on material from another medium), losing to the infamous award handed to Pierre Boulle for allegedly scripting "The Bridge on the River Kwai".COMMENT: For all British-based film critics and commentators, it's just about the most impossible thing they've ever been asked to believe. But the fact is that "Heaven Knows, Mr Allison" was Fox's 5th most popular release of 1956-57 in the domestic market. The explanation (like most seemingly impossible feats) is quite simple. "Mr. Allison" was released in North America a good five to nine months before "Sea Wife".OTHER VIEWS: I just don't believe it! I've just got the testy taste of the tedious "Sea Wife" out of my system, and here's yet another movie from the very same studio based on that identical wearisome theme! It wasn't a very exciting premise to begin with. Not in movies anyway. Because all the faith, all the stubborn religiosity, all the real reasons that induce human beings (of either sex) to accept a life of celibacy, aren't going to be discussed or even hinted at. It's just a meretricious device to throw a man and a woman together on an isolated island so that she can reject his advances and kick the hell out of him. A great evening's entertainment for sadists, misanthropists, masochists and misogynists, but downright boring for the rest of us. Oh, the locations look effective enough, and they're well-composed in CinemaScope, and there's a bit more action in this one at the end — if you're prepared to be bored solid for 105 minutes and pay for the privilege — but if I want to see a travelogue on the West Indies I'll take James A. Fitzpatrick any day. Yes, he's boring too, but only for a tenth the length!In this one, the nun is played by Deborah Kerr, no improvement at all on dreary Joan Collins, whilst the virile young man is Robert Mitchum. Grudgingly I'll admit that Bob is slightly less wooden than Dick, but mostly he comes across more forcefully because his part is more pointedly characterized. In other words the writing is of better quality. Considering the atrocious script forced on Burton and Collins, acting comparisons are unfair. But no way in my opinion did Deb deserve a Best Actress nomination. But since she did get one, why wasn't Joan Collins nominated? I thought they were equally bad, but since Miss Collins had to contend with a script that everyone agrees was far inferior, I would have expected Joan to get the nod first. Maybe some Academy voters think the players make up their own lines?Both "Sea Wife" and "Allison" are disappointing movies — for exactly the same reasons. Whilst retaining their basic plots, both remove all the worthwhile characterization and conflicts of their original novels, diluting them to a pablum that can be teasingly presented in the front-of-house poster art, but that in actuality amounts to precious little in the way of genuinely gripping entertainment. — J.H.R. in July 1957 "Films in London" (with added comments).

Of all the great World War II films, this one seems to be the most overlooked of all. That is a crime of the highest magnitude, for it remains a masterpiece of the genre. First of all, the central story—a jarhead and a nun, trapped on a deserted island together. You couldn't possibly find a better "hook," and you never will. But to make a film starring, essentially, only two people, demands actors, script, and direction of monumental talents... and they find it in these two actors, both in the prime of their professional lives. You couldn't have found two people more perfectly suited to their roles— Mitchum's natural, macho demeanor was tailor made to the part, but that only made his more tender moments just that much more moving. And who could have embodied the pristine loveliness and virginal qualities of Kerr? Answer: No one, now, or ever. I am honored to have the associate producer, of the film Harold Nebenzal as my uncle (he also assoc. produced another wonderful motion picture, "Caberet"), and his heroic service as a Marine on those same Japanese-held islands in the South Pacific during WWII gave the final script and film it's altogether authentic feel. If you've missed this film gem, simply do yourself a favor and watch it. It's truly an achievement for the ages.

The movie, set in 1944, begins with a US marine drifting on a rubber raft to the shore of a small island in the South Pacific during World War II. The rugged chap, Corporal Allison, discovers a Roman Catholic nun, Sister Angela, living all alone after she was inadvertently left behind by those who fled before the impending Japanese onslaught. The island has plenty of natural foods, with along with fishing, will provide the two with plenty to survive. Although the two are incompatible – the corporal is crude, while the nun is refined – they make the best of what they have. They learn to co-exist and share a not uncomfortable existence. It all changes when a small Japanese detachment arrives to secure a base on the island. Before that they shelled the island, destroying many of the breadfruit and coconut trees.Now the soldier and nun retreat to a hidden cave on higher ground, and the lifestyle of two mismatched people becomes less comfortable. Now they have to hide from peril. The corporal can still provide food like fish, but as they cannot take a chance on cooking, it must be eaten raw. Here Sister Angela has a problem, so the marine takes a huge chance and sneaks into the Japanese encampment to take a large supply of canned goods. The nun says that she will surrender herself to the Japanese, as the worst that can happen to her is that she will be placed in an internment camp. "That is not the worst thing that can happen," replies the corporal, discouraging her.Sister Angela wears a white habit, meaning that she has not yet taken her final vows of celibacy, after which she will wear a black habit and exchange her silver ring for one of gold. The marine begins to fall for the nun, but of course she will have none of it. In the purpose of her life and religious training, she is spiritually married to Jesus. Meanwhile, the main bond of the two leads is mutual respect for their beliefs. The marine understands that his job as a soldier is to protect her from harm. The nun's job is to pray. Those who maintain that this movie could have been a "love story" do not understand that being a Catholic nun means going beyond the things of this world. And a story about falling in love would not be the point of the film! After a time American forces prepare to invade the island. Will the nun and soldier survive the ordeal? This film has heart. Although the story is simple, it is beautiful. Two people essentially carry the whole picture, and the acting is great. Also the movie is a visual delight. As the situation is dangerous and often tense for our hero and heroine, the picture is not boring. See the expression on Mitchum's face when he smells the welcome bottle of sake. Although Deborah Kerr received an Oscar nomination for this movie, Robert Mitchum did not. Never did either performer ever win an Academy Award for acting. Hard to believe, is it not?