MovieChat Forums > The Trouble with Angels (1966) Discussion > The writer of 'Sister Act' obviously wat...

The writer of 'Sister Act' obviously watched this first.

posted 20 years ago by esskayess
6 replies | jump to latest

Several common elements:

1. The "fish out of water" elements involving hooligan(s) disrupting the ordered environment of a convent.
2. The Mother Superior with the tough exterior masking a heart of gold.
3. The stark change of a hooligan (Mills, Goldberg) into "one of the gang" by the ending.
4. The hip nun who is always smiling (Sister Liguori here, the Kathy Najimi role in "Sister Act").
5. Crusty Mary Wickes playing very similar nun roles in both.

Not to knock either movie; they are both lighthearted fun. But this one clearly helped blaze the trail for "Sister Act"'s success.

[–] moviefreak02 19 years ago

lol, yes I can see what you mean. They are both pretty similar. I love them both!

Drink up me hearties YO HO!

[–] Divmercy1 18 years ago

Also interesting trivia: the same "mean" nun, Sister Elizabeth in TTWA (played by Portia Nelson) also translated from her same "character" in "The Sound Of Music" (where she portrayed Julie Andrews' Mistress of Novices, also in same personality role)!

Mary Wickes not only played her delightful role as Sister Clarissa in TTWA, but also a funny, old-fashioned nun also in Sister Act I - in addition to the resourceful housekeeper in the "Father Dowling Mysteries" series on television!
Here again I was happy to see the producers use her again in the TTWA sequel, "Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows."

[–] grendelkhan 18 years ago

Mary Wickes was a hoot in anything she did. I loved her in MASH, as the Colonel who hits on Frank Burns, then cries rape. Fun stuff.

[–] amazon423 15 years ago

Mary Wickes in her role as doing what any self-respecting housekeeper would do,listen in on conversations, in "White Christmas."

I saw a lot of similarities between Angels and Sister Act. All 4 of the movies actually. They all were a hoot but also showed insights into each character that showed their compassionate sides.

[–] lroy77 14 years ago

How do you solve a problem like Sr George?

Now let's talk about Change of Habit? In a way, they too were protesting but in a very different way, and bucking against the old crusty priest (who apparently hadn't quite accepted Vatican II yet).

[–] Xcalat3 15 years ago

obvious inspiration

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...