HEAVEN KNOWS, MR. ALLISON (1957)

Director and co-writer John Huston revisited the themes of his earlier hit The African Queen (1951) for this World War II drama. He throws together two opposites: a tough Marine (Robert Mitchum) and a novice nun (Deborah Kerr), marooned together on an island in the South Pacific. In addition to the threat of capture by the Japanese, Huston generates tension in the relationship. As they grow closer, will Sister Angela forsake her vows for Mitchum? This was a hot-button issue in the 1950s, and it took five years and several writers before Huston and co-writer John Lee Mahin could come up with an adaptation of Charles Shaw’s novel that passed the censors. Even then, the Catholic Church had a representative on location in Trinidad and Tobago to make sure nothing offensive got into the film. Kerr was nominated for an Oscar and also forged a lifelong friendship with Mitchum.

d. John Huston, 106m, DCP

Courtesy of The Walt Disney Studios.