Sure, Hollywood took liberties with the screenplay and the finished producted resembles practically nothing about the real 'singing nun's' life. But that is a peripheral issue. What is important here is that we have a film one can watch together as a family or a group, be enthralled by the heartwearming performances of the entire cast and have your heart lifted by the music that it contains. Beautiful melodies, simply performed with Debbie Reynolds perfect in acting and in singing voice.

To be fair, there are two minor issues that I have to nit pick. First the film is in need of tighter editing but, again, overlooking that, it is wonderful. Second, the last 1/3 of the film is lacking in music, but that is as it should be given how Sr. Ann is torn between her vocation and continuing her singing. Those two issues, notwithstanding, this film has you tapping your foot and singing along before you know it. It is a 'feel good' family film made in the sixties when America was desperately reaching for wholesomeness. On this matter the film succeeds. True, it is no "Sound of Music" and it doesn't attempt to be. But it stand on its own merits and is one film I never tire of watching, especially when I need some uplifting and edification.

What a shame that the soundtrack for this film is a rarity. I managed to obtain a vinyl disc copy through ebay and I enjoy it immensely but I wish they would release it on compact disc because the music is what sells this film.

Ignore the abysmal reviews by those who are cynical and desire more than good, clean, wholesome entertainment.

The irony of this film is that the real life singing nun tragically committed suicide in the early 1990s.

This film is pure escapism, something needed sorely today. Oh, and one more thing......let's get it released on DVD!!!


Superficial and over-fictionalized   November 13, 2002
This film was totally carried by the superstardom of Debbie Reynolds--it was more a Reynolds film than a biography of Belgian nun and folksinger Soeur Sourire. It strikes me that Reynolds was trying to [shadow] Audrey Hepburn's success in "A Nun's Story". Its storyline is of an evangelical ministry Soeur Sourire never did work at. The fact that the film's producers chose to name Reynolds' character "Sister Angela" was a [odd] stunt. The obvious reason was that the moviegoing public might have difficulties with Soeur Sourire's name--not being a French speaker, I can't pronounce it myself. The name Dominic (the title of Soeur Sourire's big hit single being "Dominique") was given to a small boy who had become an "adoptee" of Sister Angela's mission--in truth, the real Dominique the song was about was a Belgian evangelist and saint who figured prominently in Belgian history. To give the film its due, some of Soeur Sourire's music is featured here--for example, "Far Among the Stars" ("Entre les Etoiles"). I guess when you make a film about a person of fairly brief celebrity, you're faced with a dilemma. Tell the truth and the popcorn-munchers' hair-trigger boredom reflex will kick in. Embellish the story and you get pulp.