MovieChat Forums > The Trouble with Angels (1966) Discussion > End of Innocence

End of Innocence

posted 18 years ago by bjuanjes
7 replies | jump to latest

T w A really marks an age of innocence in American film and life. Places like St. Francis existed all over the US and gave a chance for kids like me to get ahead in life. (Most) American nuns are too busy learning about Eastern mediatation and "finger painting" than the self-less structured women who raised me. Most of these "boarding" schools for well-to-do/troubled kids also took in orphans/poor like me. These nuns did EVERYTHING from cooking to harvesting the farm. I was in one from age 4 to 13: orphange, sent to the high school with rich girls, given a full scholarship to the unversity run by the same sisters. I felt so guilty marrying and not joining them-- they were just the opposite--- are you crazy? You have no vocation to be a nun. Be happy and we will share your happiness. Looking back, I find it amazing, all done by poor women in a society where all the power was held by men. T w A was EXACTLY my experience of high school: mostly girls from rich families with things (divorces, deceased moms, etc.) going on. We graduated 30 and 8 of us were orphans from birth bascially raised by the nuns without a penny from the State. There were the wacky nuns, the pretty ones, the intellectual ones, the old ones, the wise ones, the fun ones, etc. I know the movie was based on a book, but the director must have visited a school like this. It was JUST the way it really was.

[–] Tjcat 18 years ago

I enjoyed your comments. My cousin was "too hot to handle" in the 1960's and was sent to live in an Ursuline Convent School in Brown County Ohio. While there she received an outstanding education. Unfortunately, the convent and the nuns are long gone. You brought up a very valid point, these nuns did nearly EVERYTHING without the help of men. When the Sisters of Mercy were Building a hospital in my home town years ago, the chief architect was a nun. My uncle worked during construction as a stonemason and he had the greatest admiration for this nun as she was extremely competent. I love to watch this film and remember when life was more innocent, there were consequences for infractions and we were brought up to be young LADIES. One more comment: the sene at the retirement home when Rosalind Russell (Mother Superior) is comforting the lady who is softly crying. She is bewildered and hurt because her children promised to bring her to their house for Christmas and they never came. I begin to weep just thinking about it. The strength and genuine empathy Mother Superior conveys is remarkable when she says, "Be happy. That's the greatest gift a mother can give her children. It is our Savior's birthday and there must be no tears." Mother Superior understands this situation is one she has no control over. She offers support and comfort with genuine empathy and no condemnation. This movie is definitely one of my top 10 favorites!

[–] jenifefa 17 years ago

I loved reading your comment. My mom and grandmother have fond (and funny) memories of the nuns in their Catholic school years. I've always been sorry that I didn't have that experience, because I went to public school. Even if I had, there are so few nuns now that I probably would have had mostly lay teachers. (I'm not knocking lay or public school teachers -- I am one myself.)

This movie is a powerful reminder that we should pray for vocations.

What can I say about that suit that hasn't already been said about Afghanistan?

[–] bitsyblatt 17 years ago

that sounds so great! I would have loved to go to a school like that. I though this movie must have not been very realistic, because my mother went to a school with nuns and she said they were all really terrible to the children and made bad teachers...

[–] marktayloruk (2502) 3 years ago

Read Julie Walters' autobiography.

[–] notahetero 17 years ago

well, no wonder it is so realistic! It is a movie from Jane Trahey's autobiographical novel... "life with mother superior", the situations in the movie are directly from the book about Trahey's experiences in a catholic boarding school in the 50's... a lot of the pranks.. including the smoking and the fire trucks coming really did happen!

[–] TooSlim 17 years ago

My mother grew up in a city next door to a convent. She said the nuns could be hard in school but there were pluses and minuses. The nuns used to conviscate all toys, books etc in class. But at the end of the year they gave them all to my mother and her siblings! Of course you didn't want to hang around the neighborhood early on Saturday mornings though, or the sisters would shanghai you into carrying their packages up and down the avenue all morning....then reward you with a prayer card!!!

[–] loveoldmovies22 17 years ago

Actually, Jane Trahey's experiences are from the 1930's. If you can find the book "Life with Mother Superior" buy it, it's a treasure!