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==''Life with Mother Superior''==
==Background==
''The Trouble with Angels'' was based on the book ''Life with Mother Superior'' by [[Jane Trahey]], about her own high school years at a Catholic school near [[Chicago, Illinois]] in the 1930s. While in the memoir the school was portrayed as a boarding school outside the city, Trahey attended what is now Providence-St. Mel's High School, which was a day school. Many of the incidents mentioned in the book were based on Trahey's experiences at [[Mundelein College]] in Chicago. The character of Mary Clancy (Mills) was based on Jane's friend, Mary, who later became Sister John Eudes, a [[Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters|Sinsinawa Dominican nun]] (1922-2017).<ref>{{cite news|title=Sister who was inspiration for ‘The Trouble With Angels’ character dies|url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/01/05/sister-inspiration-trouble-angels-character-dies/|date=January 5, 2018|publisher=Crux|agency=[[Catholic News Service]]|access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>
''The Trouble with Angels'' was based on the 1962 book ''Life with Mother Superior'' by [[Jane Trahey]], about her own high school years at a Catholic school near [[Chicago, Illinois]] in the 1930s. While in the memoir the school was portrayed as a boarding school outside the city, Trahey attended what is now Providence-St. Mel's High School, which was a day school. Many of the incidents mentioned in the book were based on Trahey's experiences at [[Mundelein College]] in Chicago. The character of Mary Clancy (Mills) was based on Jane's friend, Mary, who later became Sister John Eudes, a [[Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters|Sinsinawa Dominican nun]] (1922-2017).<ref>{{cite news|title=Sister who was inspiration for ‘The Trouble With Angels’ character dies|url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/01/05/sister-inspiration-trouble-angels-character-dies/|date=January 5, 2018|publisher=Crux|agency=[[Catholic News Service]]|access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>


The ''Washington Post'' called it "wonderful fun".<ref>Pens P.S. To H.S. Diploma
By Amber Eustus. The Washington Post, Times Herald 28 Oct 1962: F7. </ref> The book became a best seller.<ref>Life with Jane Trahey Is One Comedy After Another
Kramer, Carol. Chicago Tribune 28 Feb 1971: e2. </ref>
==Production==
==Production==
===Development===
⚫
''The Trouble with Angels'' was filmed in August and September 1965. The St. Francis Academy in the film was filmed on location at what was formerly known as St. Mary's Home for Children and is presently known as [http://mattisonestate.com/ Lindenwold Castle / Mattison Estate Property] in [[Ambler, Pennsylvania]]. All interior shots were filmed at Columbia Studios at Sunset & Gower in Hollywood. Most exterior shots were filmed at the [[Greystone Mansion]], which was leased by the City of Beverly Hills to the [[American Film Institute]]. The exterior train depot scenes at the opening and closing of the movie were shot at an [[Monrovia station#History|abandoned rail station]] (which still exists) in [[Monrovia, California]]. The film was budgeted at $2 million.<ref name="comicfilms">[http://www.comic-films.com comic-films.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527004850/http://www.comic-films.com/ |date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref>
In June 1962 film rights were bought by Ken Donnellon and Jacqueline Babbin who knew Trahey in advertising. Donnellon said he wanted the film to be seen through the eyes of one of the young nuns.<ref>LOCAL SCENE: 'OH DAD'
By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 3 June 1962: 125. </ref>


They were unable to make the film. In August 1963 [[Ross Hunter]] was pursuing the novel; he wanted [[Loretta Young]], [[Jane Wyman]] [[Barbara Stanwyck]] and [[Virginia Grey]] to play nuns and [[Patty Duke]] and [[Mary Badham]] to play students.<ref>Looking at Hollywood: Ross Hunter Makes Millions for Studio
⚫
Before shooting began, Rosalind Russell was asked by an old school friend, now a mother superior in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], to attend a fundraiser for a Catholic girls' school she was starting. Russell proposed that her upcoming film would be "the ideal fundraiser" and convinced Columbia to hold the premiere in St. Louis. The world premiere and a reception were held at St. Louis's [[Fox Theatre (St. Louis)|Fox Theatre]] with ticket proceeds going to the school's building fund.<ref>{{cite book|author=Dick, Bernard F.|title=Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vp7i1FSO4g8C|accessdate=6 January 2018|date=18 September 2009|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|isbn=978-1-60473-139-2|page=232}}</ref>
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 5 Aug 1963: b3. </ref>


In September 1964 it was announced film rights were held by Columbia Pictures. The film ended up being produced by William Frye who had a multi-picture deal with the studio.<ref>Advertising: Woman's Wit in a Man's World
By SAL NUCCIO. New York Times 3 Sep 1964: 38. </ref>

Frye offered the role of mother superior to [[Greta Garbo]] for $1 million but she turned it down.<ref>{{cite book|page=131|title=Garbo|last=Zierold|first= Norman J|year=1969|publisher=Stein and Day}}</ref> Frye was after Hayley Mills to star in November 1964 and she eventually signed the following May.<ref>Stark Party Opens Gay Holiday Season - Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 28 Nov 1964: B7. </ref> The other lead went to Rosalind Russell, who said "I have been around nuns my whole life and I wanted to do justice with them."<ref>Roz Is Glad They Never Saw Her as Sexily Symbolic
By Bob Thomas. The Washington Post, Times Herald 12 Sep 1965: G3. </ref>

Frye hired Lupino to direct. At the time Lupino was mostly working on action and suspense TV shows; this was the first time she had ever directed a large female cast. "It's a change of pace," she said.<ref>Nun's the Word in Movie Trend
Los Angeles Times 2 Nov 1965: c9. </ref>
===Filming===
Filming started in August 1965 under the title ''Mother Superior''.<ref name="bart">Lupino, The Dynamo
By PETER BARTHOLLYWOOD. New York Times 7 Mar 1965: X7. </ref>

"We are shooting it in color but the prevailing colors will be stark black and white and charcoal grey," said Lupino. "Then there will be sudden slashes of bright color - a turquoise swimming pool, a green meadow. The possibilities of color are fantastic. And the picture will be warm and funny. And it's such a nice change - no blood spilled at all, darling."<ref name="bart"/>

The St. Francis Academy in the film was filmed on location at what was formerly known as St. Mary's Home for Children and is presently known as [http://mattisonestate.com/ Lindenwold Castle / Mattison Estate Property] in [[Ambler, Pennsylvania]].

⚫
All interior shots were filmed at Columbia Studios at Sunset & Gower in Hollywood. Most exterior shots were filmed at the [[Greystone Mansion]], which was leased by the City of Beverly Hills to the [[American Film Institute]]. The exterior train depot scenes at the opening and closing of the movie were shot at an [[Monrovia station#History|abandoned rail station]] (which still exists) in [[Monrovia, California]]. The film was budgeted at $2 million.<ref name="comicfilms">[http://www.comic-films.com comic-films.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527004850/http://www.comic-films.com/ |date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref>

Camilla Sparv made her debut as a nun.<ref>MOVIE CALL SHEET: Columbia Buys 'Good, Evil'
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 30 July 1965: D11. </ref>

⚫
Before shooting began, Rosalind Russell was asked by an old school friend, now a mother superior in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], to attend a fundraiser for a Catholic girls' school she was starting. Russell proposed that her upcoming film would be "the ideal fundraiser" and convinced Columbia to hold the premiere in St. Louis. The world premiere and a reception were held at St. Louis's [[Fox Theatre (St. Louis)|Fox Theatre]] with ticket proceeds going to the school's building fund.<ref>{{cite book|author=Dick, Bernard F.|title=Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vp7i1FSO4g8C|accessdate=6 January 2018|date=18 September 2009|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|isbn=978-1-60473-139-2|page=232}}</ref><ref>Roz Reunited With College Classmate
Shaw, Robert. Los Angeles Times 31 Mar 1966: d17. </ref>

In September 1965 the title was changed to ''The Trouble with Angels'' out of fear there were too many other "nun" movies at the time (eg ''The Singing Nun'').<ref>Looking at Hollywood: Elvis Shows His Gratitude to Filmdom
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 27 Sep 1965: b4.</ref>

In October 1965 [[Jerry Goldsmith]] signed to do the music.<ref>'Waterloo' Set Next Year
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 7 Oct 1965: D16.</ref>
==Reception==
==Reception==
The film marked a departure for Mills, who was attempting to emerge from her juvenile leads in [[Walt Disney]]-produced teen comedies as a comedic actress. <!-- Commented out: [[File:The Trouble with Angels - Smoking scene.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Rachel ([[June Harding]]) and Mary ([[Hayley Mills]]) watch in disbelief as their smoking leads to the arrival of the fire department in ''The Trouble with Angels''.]] --> ''The Trouble with Angels'' enjoyed good reviews, although ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' was critical: "An appealing story idea—hip Mother Superior nun who outfoxes and matures two rebellious students in a Catholic girls' school—has lost impact via repetitious plotting and pacing, plus routine direction....Graduation finds Mills in character switcheroo to which Catholic audiences will long since be alerted."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Trouble with Angels|url=https://variety.com/1965/film/reviews/the-trouble-with-angels-1200420959/|publisher=''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''|access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>
The film marked a departure for Mills, who was attempting to emerge from her juvenile leads in [[Walt Disney]]-produced teen comedies as a comedic actress. <!-- Commented out: [[File:The Trouble with Angels - Smoking scene.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Rachel ([[June Harding]]) and Mary ([[Hayley Mills]]) watch in disbelief as their smoking leads to the arrival of the fire department in ''The Trouble with Angels''.]] -->
===Critical===
''The Trouble with Angels'' enjoyed good reviews, although ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' was critical: "An appealing story idea—hip Mother Superior nun who outfoxes and matures two rebellious students in a Catholic girls' school—has lost impact via repetitious plotting and pacing, plus routine direction....Graduation finds Mills in character switcheroo to which Catholic audiences will long since be alerted."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Trouble with Angels|url=https://variety.com/1965/film/reviews/the-trouble-with-angels-1200420959/|publisher=''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''|access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>
===Box Office===
The film earned enough box-office success to warrant a sequel (''[[Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows]]'').<ref>PROFIT MARKS SET BY CAMPBELL SOUP: Sales Also Reach Highs for Quarter and 9 Months COMPANIES ISSUE EARNINGS FIGURES
New York Times 27 May 1966: 61</ref> "I think it proves there's a place for the family picture," said Russell, "the sort of picture you can take the kiddies to and which isn't pure corn.<ref>Roz Russell: A Peripatetic Happening: PERIPATETIC ROZ RUSSELL
Lilliston, Lynn. Los Angeles Times 16 June 1967: c1. </ref>


The film earned enough box-office success to warrant a sequel (''[[Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows]]''). However, Hayley Mills opted not to reprise her role as the progressive protagonist and was replaced by [[Stella Stevens]], who played Sister George, a new foil to Rosalind Russell’s Mother Superior.
However, Hayley Mills opted not to reprise her role as the progressive protagonist and was replaced by [[Stella Stevens]], who played Sister George, a new foil to Rosalind Russell’s Mother Superior.


==Cameos==
==Cameos==

Revision as of 13:21, 14 May 2019

The Trouble with Angels
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIda Lupino
Screenplay byBlanche Hanalis
Produced byWilliam Frye
StarringRosalind Russell
Hayley Mills
June Harding
CinematographyLionel Lindon
Edited byRobert C. Jones
Music byJerry Goldsmith
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • March 30, 1966 (1966-03-30)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million
Box office$4.1 million (rentals)[1]

The Trouble with Angels is a 1966 American comedy film about the adventures of two girls, later best friends, in an all-girls Catholic school run by nuns. The film was directed by Ida Lupino and stars Hayley Mills (in her first post-Disney film role), Rosalind Russell and June Harding.

The film's cast includes Marge Redmond (who would play a nun in the television series The Flying Nun, which premiered the following year) as math teacher Sister Liguori, Mary Wickes (who later played a nun in the movie Sister Act and its sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit) as gym teacher Sister Clarissa, and Portia Nelson (who had played a nun in The Sound of Music the previous year) as art teacher Sister Elizabeth.

A sequel, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, starring Stella Stevens, was released in 1968.

Plot

The movie is set at St. Francis Academy, a fictional all-girls Catholic boarding school in Pennsylvania, operated by an order of nuns. Rosalind Russell plays the Mother Superior, who spends the movie at odds with Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills), a rebellious teenager, and her friend Rachel Devery (June Harding). The episodic story line follows the young women through their sophomore, junior and senior high-school years as they pull pranks on the sisters and repeatedly get into trouble. Although Mary spends much of her time at St. Francis resenting the authority of the Mother Superior and puzzling over why any woman would choose the life of a nun, as time goes on she is touched by examples of the sisters' dedication, devotion, kindness, love, and generosity, and begins to see that their life is one of fulfillment, not deprivation. Mary receives "the call" senior year and, after graduation, remains at the school to begin her novitiate in the order.

Cast

The Nuns:

The Girls:

  • Hayley Mills as Mary Clancy
  • June Harding as Rachel Devery
  • Barbara Hunter as Marvel-Ann
  • Bernadette Withers as Valerie
  • Vicky Albright as Charlotte
  • Patty Gerrity as Sheila
  • Vicki Draves as Kate
  • Wendy Winkelman as Sandy
  • Jewel Jaffe as Ginnie-Lou
  • Gail Liddle as Priscilla
  • Michael-Marie as Ruth
  • Betty Jane Royale as Gladys
  • Ronne Troup as Helen
  • Catherine Wyles as Brigette

The Outsiders:

Life with Mother Superior

The Trouble with Angels was based on the 1962 book Life with Mother Superior by Jane Trahey, about her own high school years at a Catholic school near Chicago, Illinois in the 1930s. While in the memoir the school was portrayed as a boarding school outside the city, Trahey attended what is now Providence-St. Mel's High School, which was a day school. Many of the incidents mentioned in the book were based on Trahey's experiences at Mundelein College in Chicago. The character of Mary Clancy (Mills) was based on Jane's friend, Mary, who later became Sister John Eudes, a Sinsinawa Dominican nun (1922-2017).[3]

The Washington Post called it "wonderful fun".[4] The book became a best seller.[5]

Production

Development

In June 1962 film rights were bought by Ken Donnellon and Jacqueline Babbin who knew Trahey in advertising. Donnellon said he wanted the film to be seen through the eyes of one of the young nuns.[6]

They were unable to make the film. In August 1963 Ross Hunter was pursuing the novel; he wanted Loretta Young, Jane Wyman Barbara Stanwyck and Virginia Grey to play nuns and Patty Duke and Mary Badham to play students.[7]

In September 1964 it was announced film rights were held by Columbia Pictures. The film ended up being produced by William Frye who had a multi-picture deal with the studio.[8]

Frye offered the role of mother superior to Greta Garbo for $1 million but she turned it down.[9] Frye was after Hayley Mills to star in November 1964 and she eventually signed the following May.[10] The other lead went to Rosalind Russell, who said "I have been around nuns my whole life and I wanted to do justice with them."[11]

Frye hired Lupino to direct. At the time Lupino was mostly working on action and suspense TV shows; this was the first time she had ever directed a large female cast. "It's a change of pace," she said.[12]

Filming

Filming started in August 1965 under the title Mother Superior.[13]

"We are shooting it in color but the prevailing colors will be stark black and white and charcoal grey," said Lupino. "Then there will be sudden slashes of bright color - a turquoise swimming pool, a green meadow. The possibilities of color are fantastic. And the picture will be warm and funny. And it's such a nice change - no blood spilled at all, darling."[13]

The St. Francis Academy in the film was filmed on location at what was formerly known as St. Mary's Home for Children and is presently known as Lindenwold Castle / Mattison Estate Property in Ambler, Pennsylvania.

All interior shots were filmed at Columbia Studios at Sunset & Gower in Hollywood. Most exterior shots were filmed at the Greystone Mansion, which was leased by the City of Beverly Hills to the American Film Institute. The exterior train depot scenes at the opening and closing of the movie were shot at an abandoned rail station (which still exists) in Monrovia, California. The film was budgeted at $2 million.[14]

Camilla Sparv made her debut as a nun.[15]

Before shooting began, Rosalind Russell was asked by an old school friend, now a mother superior in St. Louis, to attend a fundraiser for a Catholic girls' school she was starting. Russell proposed that her upcoming film would be "the ideal fundraiser" and convinced Columbia to hold the premiere in St. Louis. The world premiere and a reception were held at St. Louis's Fox Theatre with ticket proceeds going to the school's building fund.[16][17]

In September 1965 the title was changed to The Trouble with Angels out of fear there were too many other "nun" movies at the time (eg The Singing Nun).[18]

In October 1965 Jerry Goldsmith signed to do the music.[19]

Reception

The film marked a departure for Mills, who was attempting to emerge from her juvenile leads in Walt Disney-produced teen comedies as a comedic actress.

Critical

The Trouble with Angels enjoyed good reviews, although Variety was critical: "An appealing story idea—hip Mother Superior nun who outfoxes and matures two rebellious students in a Catholic girls' school—has lost impact via repetitious plotting and pacing, plus routine direction....Graduation finds Mills in character switcheroo to which Catholic audiences will long since be alerted."[20]

Box Office

The film earned enough box-office success to warrant a sequel (Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows).[21] "I think it proves there's a place for the family picture," said Russell, "the sort of picture you can take the kiddies to and which isn't pure corn.[22]

However, Hayley Mills opted not to reprise her role as the progressive protagonist and was replaced by Stella Stevens, who played Sister George, a new foil to Rosalind Russell’s Mother Superior.

Cameos

Burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee appears in a small role.

An uncredited Jim Hutton appears briefly as the principal of a competing school.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1966", Variety, 4 January 1967, pg 8.
  2. ^ Schiro, Anne-Marie (April 25, 2000). "Jane Trahey, Ad Executive And Author, Is Dead at 76". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "Sister who was inspiration for 'The Trouble With Angels' character dies". Crux. Catholic News Service. January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  4. ^ Pens P.S. To H.S. Diploma By Amber Eustus. The Washington Post, Times Herald 28 Oct 1962: F7.
  5. ^ Life with Jane Trahey Is One Comedy After Another Kramer, Carol. Chicago Tribune 28 Feb 1971: e2.
  6. ^ LOCAL SCENE: 'OH DAD' By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 3 June 1962: 125.
  7. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Ross Hunter Makes Millions for Studio Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 5 Aug 1963: b3.
  8. ^ Advertising: Woman's Wit in a Man's World By SAL NUCCIO. New York Times 3 Sep 1964: 38.
  9. ^ Zierold, Norman J (1969). Garbo. Stein and Day. p. 131.
  10. ^ Stark Party Opens Gay Holiday Season - Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 28 Nov 1964: B7.
  11. ^ Roz Is Glad They Never Saw Her as Sexily Symbolic By Bob Thomas. The Washington Post, Times Herald 12 Sep 1965: G3.
  12. ^ Nun's the Word in Movie Trend Los Angeles Times 2 Nov 1965: c9.
  13. ^ a b Lupino, The Dynamo By PETER BARTHOLLYWOOD. New York Times 7 Mar 1965: X7.
  14. ^ comic-films.com Archived May 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ MOVIE CALL SHEET: Columbia Buys 'Good, Evil' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 30 July 1965: D11.
  16. ^ Dick, Bernard F. (18 September 2009). Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell. University Press of Mississippi. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-60473-139-2. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  17. ^ Roz Reunited With College Classmate Shaw, Robert. Los Angeles Times 31 Mar 1966: d17.
  18. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Elvis Shows His Gratitude to Filmdom Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 27 Sep 1965: b4.
  19. ^ 'Waterloo' Set Next Year Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 7 Oct 1965: D16.
  20. ^ "The Trouble with Angels". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ PROFIT MARKS SET BY CAMPBELL SOUP: Sales Also Reach Highs for Quarter and 9 Months COMPANIES ISSUE EARNINGS FIGURES New York Times 27 May 1966: 61
  22. ^ Roz Russell: A Peripatetic Happening: PERIPATETIC ROZ RUSSELL Lilliston, Lynn. Los Angeles Times 16 June 1967: c1.

External links

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