The Trouble With Angels

On the basis of its 1966 publicity, those who viewed the "The Trouble With Angels" (TTWA) must have been expecting a comedy. Jane Trahey, who wrote the novel ( Life With Mother Superior.  [1962]) on which TTWA was based, also co-authored a stage version ( Life With Mother Superior, acting edition ). But the stage version was essentially a slap-stick comedy. TTWA is rather more complex. In fact, most of the comic episodes occur early in the film; thereafter, life gets serious, as the girls visit a home for the aged, learn how one sister was abused by the Nazis, and how another plans to teach in a leper colony. Then the friendliest sister passes away. Thus, the film gradually evolves into a serious portrayal of life in a boarding school (St. Francis Academy), the transition from youth to maturity, and the experiences that can make, or break, friendships. The principal protagonists are guilty of various misdemeanors--smoking, entering the sisters' living quarters, and skipping swimming instruction. But these infractions are primarily a reflection of immaturity, which largely disappears after one year at St. Francis.TTWA follows the relationship of its two principal characters, Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills) and Rachel Devery (June Harding) in their three years at St. Francis Academy. Both were sent there to be straightened out. At first, both react unfavorably to the school, which they see as "medieval," and akin to a girls' reformatory. They view school authorities as "the enemy," and agree that the Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell) is a "fink"--once when her back is turned they honor her with a Fascist salute. But, the girls have their differences, especially in matters of religion. Mary, who has visited the Vatican and seen the Pope, is increasingly receptive to Catholicism and its doctrines. Pretty obviously, Rachel is not a Catholic. Twice, under the Mother Superior's disapproving scrutiny, Rachel is unable to make the sign of the cross. Near the end of her first year at St. Francis, Rachel writes to the head of her former school that she is "a captive in a nunnery." Once, the Mother Superior tells Rachel that she is the "Devil's agent." In their second and third years at St. Francis, the differences between the girls are becoming clearer. When Rachel suggests that Mary stuff a picture of the Pope in the window to keep out the snow, Mary is horrified. Later, Rachel considers it appropriate that Sister Constance should leave the order and rejoin her former lover--a prospect that leaves Mary incredulous. Purely fortuitous happenings serve to confirm the girls' differing attitudes. Mary observes the Mother Superior feeding the birds, comforting an elderly woman, and grieving over Sister Liguori's casket. But Rachel, who hears only the Reverend Mother's impersonal announcement of Liguori's death, wonders aloud, "How can she be so cold?"Predictably, contemporary promotional material emphasized the relationship between Mary (Hayley Mills) and the Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell), who were portrayed by the most famous members of the cast. But, as other reviews demonstrate, TTWA can be viewed from various perspectives. It is perhaps most interesting to focus on friendship between Mary and Rachel, viewing them as two distinct, but equally important, personalities. Although it occasionally seems that Rachel is a failure in everything, in some respects, she seems to be more in touch with reality than Mary. It is Rachel who seeks Mary's assurance that the sisters will be away from the cloister during Mary's planned "tour." It is Rachel who expresses concern about skipping swimming lessons. When the girls are smoking in the boiler room, it is Rachel who inquires about the significance of the alarm bell; and, when fire engines arrive, it is Rachel who suggests an effort to locate the fire. As the girls, unable to swim, having avoided swimming lessons for three years, are about to dive into the pool for the mandatory life saving test, it is Rachel who asks, "What do you think we ought to do?" Rachel, in posing such practical questions, is playing Sancho Panza to Mary's Don Quixote. Mary's "leadership" has done nothing but get Rachel in trouble. It is a testimony to friendship or loyalty that Rachel continues to follow Mary--and Rachel expects the same loyalty in return. When she learns that Mary plans to become a nun, Rachel is stunned by what she regards as Mary's act of betrayal. In retrospect, Mary's decision, and Rachel's response are not surprising. And TTWA, having morphed from a comedy into an interesting cinematic essay about friendship, concludes in a dramatic final scene in which Rachel struggles with conflicting emotions and ultimately chooses reconciliation.Equally talented in comedy and drama (and herself a product of a Catholic school), Rosalind Russell was well cast as the Mother Superior. The role of Mary did not capitalize on Hayley Mills's talents. And, for perhaps the first time in her career, Mills is not the center of sympathetic attention. Instead, that attention focuses on Rachel, whose shortcomings and vulnerabilities are manifest. June Harding was certainly not the obvious choice for the part of Rachel. She was too old (she turned 28 during the filming), and had almost no experience in comedy. Seeming to confirm her unsuitability for this role, she showed up at an early interview looking more like a Manhattan model than an adolescent schoolgirl. But director Ida Lupino immediately saw something in Harding--perhaps Harding was like Rachel--and lobbied executives to give her this role. Mills and Harding were a sort of cinematic odd couple. Mills was a scion of a prominent English theatrical family, who had already been in 10 films, usually as the star. Harding on the other hand, was the daughter of a wholesale meat packer in a tiny southern Virginia town, making her only major film. Nonetheless, they worked well together; and Harding delivered a convincing performance as Mary's rather naïve and impressionable understudy--although she was nine years older than Mills. From her letters, one gets the feeling that Harding was having more fun than anyone else on the set, and it shows. Also contributing to the success of TTWA are Lupino's unobtrusive but effective direction, and Jerry Goldsmith's music.

I have always loved Haley Mills. It is a very cute movie.

Hayley Mills is adorable and this film is really fun, one of my faves.

I loved it a child and cherish it still as an adult. A fun family film, with laughter and ideas worth revisiting.

If you haven't seen this movie, this review (or perhaps reflection) definately has spoilers.This movie has been a part of my life since I first saw it in the theater when it came out in 1966. I lived pretty close to where the exteriors where filmed (now the Villa, a program for troubled youth and families) in Ambler PA and whenever I go by there, I still look to see "the castle".In the 50+ years since it came out, I've seen this movie countless times, from when it would be broadcast on local TV to owning it though Amazon video. In the past, I would always hope it would be shown in late autumn as the movie always had an autumnal feel to it for me. The segue from Marvel Ann's sick room to the large lighted tree in front of the castle with the snow falling and the singing of "Angels we have heard on high" by the nuns always put me in an anticipatory Christmas mood.So what makes this movie special?Everything.The cast is perfect - with Rosalind Russell who is both very controlled (can anyone roll their eyes like she can?), yet deeply moving; I had a crush on Hayley Mills before this movie came out - so did many other boys my age. And June Harding is under-appreciated - it wouldn't be the same movie without her. She really is Rachel and she holds her own with Hayley. It's a realistic portrayal.Then we have the direction by Ida Lupino, a wonderful dramatic actress from those film noirs. In different hands, this movie could be overly sentimental or more of a zany comedy. But all the scenes are played straight which heightens their impact. The directing for such a movie makes it so much more than it has any right to be.Then there's the music. When I would watch it over the years, one of the things that would bring me immediately into the spirit of the movie was the opening music and the music through out the movie so brings out the feeling of the movie. Again, the impact of the movie wouldn't be the same without Jerry's contribution.And that's just the point: this little movie from 1966 has deep emotional impact. Yes, there's the "scathingly brilliant ideas" but those are placed within movie of deep richness showing real and moving relationships and, in the case of Mary, the real development of her humanity. It's understated insights don't cease to amaze and move. My favorite scenes are those where the main characters are just being with each other in special ways - Mother Superior with Liguori after Mother Superior decides not to expel the girls, Mother Superior with Mary as she is finishing up Rachel's dress (the moving "finding something better" speech), Mary and Rachel at the window late at night as graduation approaches. Even Mary's "harsh" statement at the "Home for the Aged" at Christmas shows that she is on her way - she is effected by what she sees and experiences - and Mother Superior knows it. These are real relationships movingly portrayed. And these relationships make the scene with Mother Superior in the chapel after the loss of her closest real friend and confidant (and she probably didn't have many) so devastating and moving - I've never not cried at this scene- the sense of deep loss and grief is very real.So we have this silly little movie from 1966 which judging from the reviews here on Amazon just is more special and rich than it has any right to be. Yes, there's a nostalgia for my childhood, but I saw a lot of other movies at this time, and few have I had the relationship with over the years as I have had with this - this silly little movie, that is so much more.

This has been one of, if not the most watched movies of my life. The older I get (I'm a 67 y/o man), the more this tugs at all kinds of 60 y/o strings. I know the dialogue by heart. The film's score is etched on my brain. Just a well-written, well-directed, well-acted warm film. I was in love with Ms. Mills for a good portion of my young life! BTW, my daughter's name is Hayley. This little movie is in my TOP TEN!

Imagen buena y doblaje en castellano de España de los años 70 o así, es decir, el original con que llegó a España y que es el que yo recordaba.

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a fun movie with hayley mills...really enjoyed it

Thoroughly enjoyed this DVD.

Happy with the quick delivery. Family Movie Night. Great Movie. Recommend to use who are over 60 years. Great memory from the 60ty.Thank You Amazon .