El diablo nunca duerme

Satan Never Sleeps is the final film by great director Leo McCarey, whose finest hour was probably the fondly-remembered Going My Way. This is almost a remake of Going My Way in many ways, but back in 1962 when the film was released it was savaged by critics who found it vulgar, cliche-ridden and boring. When I first saw the film in 1993, I was pleasantly surprised by it. The performances are good, the story maintains a reasonable level of interest, and it is shot colourfully. The film is certainly overlong and some of the characters are painted in too broad strokes, but apart from that the critics were unfairly unkind to the film.

Father O'Banion (William Holden) and Father Bovard (Clifton Webb) are a couple of Catholic priests running a remote mission post in China in 1949. O'Banion has recently befriended a young Chinese woman Siu Lan (France Nuyen), but she makes him feel uncomfortable by frequently flirting with him and hinting that she would like to share his bed. Communist forces move into the area and damage the priests' chapel. To add to their woes, Siu Lan is raped and impregnated, and the Communist forces order the public execution of all Christians in the region. Ultimately, they have to flee for safety, pursued by Communist soldiers.

The film was actually filmed in England and Wales, but only occasionally does the lack of authentic location lensing show. Holden gives a decent performance and Webb, though miscast, is entertaining to watch as his older companion. Nuyen strikes the right balance as the flirtatious native girl. The worst performance comes from Weaver Lee, as a Chinese communist colonel - his character is written as a caricature rather than a realistic person, and he just can't get across a convincing reading of the role. On the whole, Satan Never Sleeps is an engrossing, diverting way to pass a couple of hours - certainly not the mega bomb that the critics would have you believe.

While typical of the films of the 1950's in its style and perhaps anti communist profiling, it never the less gives us an insight into the total brutality that the communist showed towards the catholic church and for that matter any religion that wasn't ordained by chairman mao. One could almost imagine the actions of this film even today as the communist in china continue to maintain their stance of brutality against the catholic faith. this could be because so far the Holy See remains the one and only government to recogine the sovereign rights of Taiwan. As for the relationship between the woman and the priest I aggree that this is rather simplified and does leave one wondering exactly how old she would have been and if perhaps she suffered from some form of mild social retardation.

William Holden and Clifton Webb make an engaging pair of priests in China at the time of the 1949 Communist take-over.

Since Holden arrives late to replace Webb at the mission, the latter isn't able to get out in time as the Communist forces invade.

This is a story of how 2 different priests in the way of Crosby and Fitzgerald in "Going My Way" come to know one another under such adverse conditions.

The film succeeds due to its depiction of the eventual disillusionment towards Communism of a Chinese person who almost became a priest before being totally brainwashed by the Red system.

France Nuyen is absolutely wonderful as the young girl, who is saved by the Holden character and refuses to leave him. There is definitely a comic take to this fine film as Priest Webb will eventually think that her unborn child is that of Father O'Banion (Holden)

The film shows how the Communists would go to any length, including murder to get their point across. It shows how individual thought is done away with under the Communist system.

Good feeling and moving film with awesome acting, rousing score and heartbreaking scenes. Adventure drama and a bit of history with the communist rebellion led by Mao spreading across China. Accompanied by a young native girl (France Nuyen), Father O'Banion (William Holden) travels to China to replace the tenacious Father Bovard (Clifton Webb) a priest who has become too old to take on the mission while following the strife-torn China in the 40s. As a result the pressure from the communists will complicate things. During the Chinese Civil War of 1949, the Communist leader (Robert Lee) constantly harasses the two priests of the remote Catholic mission outpost. They are pursued by Communist forces along the way. How Violators of Human Decency Work Their Terror Countdown!." Chances are, you'll laugh and cheer with maybe here and there a tear¨. Leo McCarey who gave you "Going My Way" and "The Bells of St. Mary's" now brings you his crowning achievement...Funmaking, filmmaking Leo McCarey, who has been delighting the hearts of countless millions, with a succession of merry movies...does it again! It's McCarey! It's Wonderful!

A sensitive and agreeable flm set in China during the Japanese invasion, concerning love, religion, escapades and sacrifice . Dealing with an enjoyable yarn about two priests in China sticking out for their beliefs against the onslaught of communism. China is the evil empire here though it was in fact filmed in England and Wales. The film's sets were the already used in¨The Inn of the Sixth Happiness¨. As 'Variety' noted, more occurs in the final 15 minutes than in the whole of the rest of picture. This is the last of the more than 100 films that make up Leo McCarey's long filmography and who began his career in silent films and accumulated a total of 3 Oscars. On this occasion, however, the director ended up so fed up with the shoot that he left it, 5 days before finishing it, passing the responsibility to his assistant David W. Orton. Curiously, it was also the last film of one of the protagonists, the legendary Clifton Webb, known for 'Laura' and for playing 'Lynn Beldevere' several times, who this time appears without his characteristic moustache.

There are attractive events, adventures, perilous situations , and fun situations throughout the film. Main and support cast are pretty good. William Holden is top-drawer as the obstinate priest O'Banion and outstanding France Nuyen as the sweet and young girl who relentlessly pursues Holden with whom she is deeply in love while providing comic relief. In addition, Clifton Webb is especially excellent as the already tired priest who after a life dedicated to missions has decided to retire and go to his beloved England.

The famed producer, director and author who teased your heart and made it cry for joy, with"The Bells of St. Mary's" "Going My Way" (which won him two Academy Awards) and "The Awful Truth" (which won him another), now takes you away from the everyday with his crowning achievement, "Satan never sleeps¨. Being unevenly but professionally directed by Leo McCarey. He was considered one of the most handsome directors in Hollywood, and some said as good looking as Cary Grant, whom he directed in four films. He is the first director to win three major categories at the Academy Awards : Best Picture, Best Director and Best Writing, Original Story, for this Going my way (1944). He directed five Academy Award Best Picture nominees: Ruggles of Red Gap (1935), The awful truth (1937), An affair to remember (1939), his big hit: Going my way (1944) and Bells of St Mary's (1945). Rating Satan never sleeps (1962) 6/10 . Well worth seeing . Essential and indispensable watching for William Holden fans.

This movie is a typical example of American 1950-1960's anti-communist propaganda. Regardless of one's political persuasion, the portrayal of the Communist soldiers (and in particular the Communist colonel Ho San) is ridiculously exaggerated, just like the priests, who seem to be pure saints. A very black-and-white story, shot in colour. It can be interesting to watch as a historical document from a time of ideological hostility at the height of the Cold War, but as a movie it has few appealing qualities.

One thing which truly disturbed me was how the Chinese people were portrayed. The only Chinese characters who act like adults are the Communist leaders. The rest of them mostly act like enthusiastic but stupid children (despite them being adults), which reeks of racism. Just look at the thieving cook, he acts like a total imbecil. Not to mention Siu Lan, who seems to have the mental qualities of a 10-year old. If you're interested in Cold War propaganda history, or have similar academic reasons for watching this movie, then by all means do. Few movies are so outspoken as this one in terms of purpose. But if you're looking for some nice cineastic entertainment, don't waste your time.