MovieChat Forums > The Trouble with Angels (1966) Discussion > Is Mr. Gottschalk supposed to be Jewish?

Is Mr. Gottschalk supposed to be Jewish?

posted 17 years ago by Jessica-656
18 replies | jump to latest

I just finished rewatching TTwA after several years, and it really is a good movie - not great, maybe, but good! I was wondering if Mr. Gottschalk, who provides the band uniforms, is supposed to be Jewish. First, because of his name, second, because he seems to have no clue why Reverend Mother could possibly object, and third, because of their discussion about the nuns lighting a candle for him. I just wondered if this was supposed to be an example of mid-20th-century American ecumenicalism!

Also, I was wondering where the name "Liguori" came from. All the other nuns have names like Celestine, Constance, Clarissa, Rose Marie, Barbara, Elizabeth, etc. - very feminine-sounding English names, while Sister Liguori has one that sounds masculine and Italian.

Thanks to the poster who pointed out that "Marvel-Anne" was a real name. I certainly never heard of it before. I wonder where *that* one came from - if it was popular during a certain era, and possibly more among Catholics. As someone else mentioned, I kept thinking of Marvel Comics whenever I heard it, and also wondered why a semi-religious Catholic couple would give their child a name that implied she was marvelous (not conductive to a proper humility of spirit!:-)

[–] spike71 17 years ago

I'm not sure if he was supposed to be Jewish but you can definetly tell he wasn't Catholic.

As for as Sister Liguori, I'm not Catholic either but I do believe that nun's names can come from saints. In the real Trouble With Angels, the real Mary Clancy became Sister George! So that's not very feminine.

Perhaps someone with some real facts will be able to enlighten us some more!!

[–] loveoldmovies22 17 years ago

Yes, Mr. Gottschalk is supposed to be Jewish.

As far as the names of the nuns--when a nun made her first vows (usually for a period of 2-3 years, and then they would make their final vows) she was given a new name. Many times these were masculine and came from Saints. Ligouri comes from St. Alphonsus Ligouri.

[–] boxerrebellion 11 years ago

I think it depends on the order. I went to a school of the Sisters of St. Joseph and most of our Sisters had a male and female name: Terrence Ann, Agnes Philip, James Carmel although there was a Helen Catherine. I can't remember which one (40 odd years later), but I seem to remember one taking her Mother and Father's names, although not necessarily in that order.

[–] BoomerMovieFan 16 years ago

Yes, he's supposed to be Jewish.

It reminds me of going to parochial school in Philadelphia. All the girls had to wear the blue serge jumper uniforms with white Peter-Pan-collar blouses. These were made and sold by one company in Philadelphia ---- Ginsberg and O'Brien, I believe the names were. O'Brien was the salesman. Ginsberg ran the factory.

This invites another memory, something Dick Clark of American Bandstand relates. Originally American Bandstand was a local Philly TV show. When it went national, the show got flurries of letters from girls all over the country, wanting to know where they could get the jumpers they saw the girls wearing on the show. They were talking about the Catholic girls' school uniforms they would wear to the show after coming from school.

I think G&O missed a great opportunity there.

[–] spike71 16 years ago

My friend went to Goretti and she told me about her uniform and I do remember seeing the girls on Bandstand back when it was originally broadcast from the WFIL studios at 46th and Market. I have another friend who went to Mater Misericordia Academy which I think is now called Merion Mercy Academy. She shared some great stories which almost sounded like they were right out of TTWA. We both share a love of the movie and have been to the castle several times.

[–] jdmartin61 16 years ago

Mr. Gottschalk was indeed a Jewish man. Notice his understanding of Mother Superior's shock at the band uniforms.

Reverend Mother: This is a Catholic school, Mr. Gottschalk!

Gottschalk: Band uniforms are non-sectarian.

John, 46

[–] BoomerMovieFan 16 years ago

I went to North Catholic in the Kensington/Frankford area, 4K (+/-) of the roughest, meanest boys in the city. (Needless to say, they were up against some pretty stiff competition in this regard.)

We called the girls who attended your friend's school "Goretti Gorillas".

So many of the parish elementary schools have closed in the last few years.

By the time I was dance crazy, American Bandstand had already moved to LA. We went to the WCAU studios (at least I think it was WCAU) on City Line Avenue to see the Jerry Blavatt, i.e. The Geater, dance show.

I think the reason the TTWA has stayed with me for so many years is that it did have that mid-60's, mid-Atlantic feel to it. The convent and the grounds reminded me so much of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, where I went on a couple of retreats.

Spike 71, thanks for the stroll down memory lane.

[–] spike71 16 years ago

My pleasure,

Kensington is tougher than ever...

Jerry Blavat (the geator) is still going strong making tons of appearances and is on WVLT radio just about every day!

I think TTWA is special for many people for many reasons, particularly the ones above. It takes you back to good times and good places. If you ever get back in the area, take a ride through Ambler and you'll see the castle, it's beautiful.

[–] bookwormdreamer 16 years ago

Mary Clancy and Sister George are two different characters.I think Mary would be a good eight to ten years younger then sister George.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] sole2soul 15 years ago

Not sure if Gottschalk was supposed to be Jewish or not, but many years ago I encountered the son of the real Mr. Gottschalk. I was working at an ad agency and a guy with the last name of Gottschalk called and left a message for my boss. I asked him to spell it for me and said to him, "That's an unusual name, I've only encountered it once before in the movie The Trouble With Angels." He then proceeded to tell me that his father was a friend of Jane Trahey and even though the name was not mentioned in the book, Jane Trahey was responsible for the character name being in the movie.

[–] spike71 15 years ago

Wow, that is really great. Something you'll always remember especially since you're a fan.

[–] jdmartin61 15 years ago

I love the information, Sole2Soul!
John Martin

[–] grendelkhan 13 years ago

It is a German name, and not necessarily Jewish. My great grandmother was a Gottschalk and they were all protestant Germans. You could interpret it either way, in my opinion.

"Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!"

[–] amazon423 13 years ago

There is also a chain of stores in the South by that same name. for those who think otherwise there is also a chain called Godchaux.

[–] EllisFowler 11 years ago

He's supposed to be Jewish, I think you mean "ecumenism," and this ain't it. Ecumenism refers only to religious interaction (e.g. dialogue) among Christian denominations. You probably mean "interfaith."

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] lroy77 10 years ago

All I can think of is she is named after St. Alphonsus Liguori. There may be others.

He wrote a version of Stations of the Cross which I personally do on Fridays during Lent.