El pecado de Raquel

Deep in the Belgian Congo in 1939, white missionary nurse Angie Dickinson--a virtuous woman who carries the Holy Bible like a shield--arrives in a small village just as the resident doctor dies of a heart attack. The natives believe this is the curse of their wrathful god who lives in the mountains, so it's up to Dickinson's Rachel Cade to teach them the word of Christ as well as earn their trust under her (limited) medical supervision. It would be easy for cynics to dismiss this adaptation of Charles Mercer's novel "Rachel Cade" as Hollywood hokum, but the conviction with which it is presented doesn't feel plastic. Dickinson's prayers for a new doctor are answered in the arrival of an RAF pilot (Roger Moore, with not one hair out of place); however, his attraction to her isn't romantic, rather lustful--desires which go against everything she stands for. The plot is soapy, certainly, and Peter Finch has the thankless role of an agnostic colonel who makes big entrances and exits yet seems pretty inefficient. The religious aspect is handled sensitively, while the "Sin" of the title refers to a personal shame which was a very real concern for single women in the early 1940s. Beautiful Warner Bros. production includes impressive J. Peverell Marley cinematography. **1/2 from ****

Definitely in line with IMDB majority opinion here in regarding this as a mostly bombastic (especially where religion is involved), dull film with occasional flashes of interest and a couple good performances, from Juano Hernandez and the always under rated Angie Dickinson in the title role. The main problem with it flows from the egregiously bad story decision by scenarist Edward Anhalt to soft peddle the most interesting conflict, namely that of Rachel versus the tribal hierarchy symbolized by Hernandez, and instead highlight the pale, bloodless love triangle between Dickinson, Peter Finch and truly one of the dullest British actors ever to trod the boards, Roger Moore. His romantic scenes with Dickinson act as built in bathroom and snack breaks. The ones between Finch and Dickinson are a little better because Finch is a ten times better thesp than Moore but, still, you weary of them and want more scenes like the African dance that arouses Finch's and Dickinson's carnal desire...and not just for each other. Yes, the scene is on the racist side with its not so subtle message that white passions can be unhealthily aroused by dark races, but it is also quite envelope pushing for 1961, a good seven or eight years before the code was sent a packing, and I'm sure got this movie at least semi banned or censored in the American South. Give it a C plus.

PS...Hard to say whose supposed accent was worse, Finch's Belgian or Moore's American.

Although The Sins Of Rachel Cade does present a realistic view of Africa which Hollywood was now doing after The African Queen and King Solomon's Mines the story never gets above the level of a Harlequin novel set in Africa. This story could have just as easily played out in the good old USA.

Which is where Angie Dickinson in the title role hails from, Kansas in fact, about as far from the Belgian Congo as you can get. She's been sent to aid Dr. Douglas Spencer who no sooner than when she arrives goes and dies on her. That leaves the inexperienced Angie to run the mission until God knows when.

District Commissioner Peter Finch tries to be of help, but he's in a tenuous position. It's never really brought out, but as his country has been overrun by the Nazis, his authority as a Belgian is severely limited. Belgium it is well known did not have a sterling record, in fact it had the worst colonial record of any European power. But Nazi racial doctrines did have a limited appeal to the natives there, so Finch is safe for the moment.

He's liking Angie, but when American doctor from Boston who is volunteering for the Royal Air Force played by Roger Moore drops from the skies, she's his. And her moral authority is put to the test when she has Moore's baby in violation of the beliefs she's been preaching to the natives.

The Sins Of Rachel Cade found a wealth of opportunity for prominent black actors like Woody Strode, Juano Hernandez, Errol John, and Rafer Johnson to play various tribal figures. Dickinson's interaction with them is far more interesting than the hackneyed romance she has.

I wish the film had been more about the politics and less about the romance in another girl done wrong film no matter how exotic the location.

The performances of the principles in this movie are really very good. The story is interesting and the presentation is balanced in regard to all of the characters. Both the native African and the missionary viewpoints are well presented and believable. The Head Witch Doctor, the chief of the tribe, and Rachel's chief assistant are both believable and representative of a different cultural viewpoint. The way in which she finally puts herself on the line to gain the trust of these people is compelling. Her guilt when she feels that she has failed to be true to her preaching and beliefs appears genuine. The difficult decisions she faces at the end seem to be realistic. All in all a very good movie.

The film was not what I was expecting, especially with the likes of up and coming actors such as Angie Dickinson and Roger Moore starring in the film. The story takes place in the Belgian Congo where Nurse Rachel Cade who is young, beautiful and somewhat naive decides to set up shop with all the good intentions in the world to help the native people's with both their physical and spiritual needs. What the young Nurse Rachel lacks in the real world of hard knocks and love she makes up for with her perseverance and dedication to her nursing skills.

Of course the beautiful Nurse Rachel has not one but two men vying for her attention. As I explained earlier Rachel was somewhat naive and inexperienced with being in a serious relationship. But the Belgian Congo can be a lonely place for a beautiful women and all the preaching Rachel provides to the native people she finds herself in a compromising position and suddenly she needs to put her big girl pants on and make a few life changing decisions in a very short period of time.

I can't say I was overly impressed with Ms. Dickinson's "oh so very innocent soft sultry voice" but the native people love her for all she has contributed to their village. The middle of this picture runs rather slow and predictable, but if you choose to hang in there, the results and the ending are worth waiting for.

I give the film a decent 6 out of 10 IMDb rating.