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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.

William Holden and Clifton Webb star in "Satan Never Sleeps," a 1962 drama also starring France Nuyen. It's directed by Leo McCarey - it's his last film.

The story concerns a priest, Father O'Banion (William Holden) who comes to a mission in China to relieve an elderly priest, Father Bovard (Clifton Webb). A young girl, Siu Lan (Nuyen) is in love with O'Banion and has followed him. The Communists seize the mission, and the leader rapes Siu Lan, who becomes pregnant. The priests have to make an effort to flee China before it becomes too late.

Beautiful scenery is the highlight of this rather slow-moving story, as well as the beauty of young France Nuyen, who plays her part very well. Clifton Webb, as usual, does an excellent job as a tired old priest who is seeing his efforts at Christianity being rubbed out by the Communists, the leader being one of the boys he taught. Holden makes a handsome priest, but let's face it, there was never really anything very priestly about William Holden. One can never imagine such a man being celibate, which is probably why Siu Lan was following him all over the place.

There is a major personality change toward the end of this movie that really renders it foolish - not that such a thing couldn't happen, but not in that short period of time.

"Satan Never Sleeps" is not up to the standards of Leo McCarey, whose 43-year-career included "The Awful Truth," "Bells of St. Mary's" and "Going My Way." There are some good scenes, though, and the actors are likable.

This film, set in Mao's China during the Communist Revolution proved to be an almost infuriating film to view. It was the final film of Leo McCary's fantastic (and eclectic) directing career ("Duck Soup," "The Bells of St. Mary's). The story centers around a young priest, Father O'Bannion (William Holden) sent to relieve an aging priest in a Chinese mission. He meets a wide-eyed, idealistic young Chinese girl (France Nuyen) along the way. When he arrives at the mission, all hell seems to break loose. Without divulging too much plot...our young priest encounters many battles: fending off the affection of the young girl; remaining true to his faith, and abstaining from self-defense and violence (even under extreme duress); and pleasing his aging sage, the older preist (Clifton Webb). Why did this movie bother me? Well, in a nutshell: the young girl professes her love for Father O'Bannion...and he realizes he must send her off, despite his *true* feelings. Later, a character rapes the young girl while Father O'Bannion can only look on in desperation (after being tied up). After the inital horror, the good Father suscribes to the ideal that the resulting son needs a father. No matter who it is. When the rapist returns to see is his son, O'Bannion more or less encourages the young woman to form a family. This after our new "dad" has watched communists kill his parents in cold blood for the simple act of worshipping Christ. I suppose this movie is "pure to the period." But it's a tough movie to view in this day and age. A rapist is never properly punished. A man supresses his true feelings of love for a woman, who then must live with her attacker "just so the child can have a father." The finale is as wacky as forgiving rape for "family's sake." The charming Nuyen and Holden give solid performances, but the message sent, and the film itself, left me frustrated and somber.

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 (looking disinterested) and fey Clifton Webb are priests in the 1940s serving at a Chinese mission and being terrorized by the Red Chinese Army. Holden is actually being terrorized in another way as well--by twinkling servant Frances Nuyen, who's anxious to snuggle up to the heavy-sighing Man of the Cloth. Director Leo McCarey helmed this adaptation of Pearl Buck's novel as either a comedy-drama or as a drama with a comedic undermining (I'm not sure which, as the tone of the film strays all over the place). There are Communist takeover sequences such as the crucifix thrown on the fire which should be harrowing, but McCarey directs it thoughtlessly, cartoonishly. We never really fear for Holden or Webb's safety because the direction is so dispassionate (and Holden is so laconic) that fear seems nearly unwarranted. I actually found the Nuyen-seducing-Holden scenes more tasteless than the violence, and the pat conclusion is tacked on for silly relief--but by then the viewer has no idea where to stand emotionally with "Satan Never Sleeps". It's a curiosity, but not a particularly good example of one. ** from ****

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.

"Satan Never Sleeps" is a truly horrible film and there is little I can say positive about it. It's often dull and promotes a VERY dangerous message--and, while it's meant to be anti-communist, you can't help but think that crap like this actually makes America look really, really stupid.

The film begins with a young priest (William Holden) arriving very late to replace an aging priest (Clifton Webb). The problem is that a weird young lady (France Nuyen) has been following Holden across China--as she's infatuated with him and won't take NO for an answer. This is pretty stupid and is, in a way, a prelude for what is to eventually follow. Webb is VERY perturbed, as he's old and more than ready to leave the country--especially since a communist takeover is imminent.

Soon, the communists do come and their leader is bent on two important tasks--to break the priests and make the them confess to various crimes as well as to rape Nuyen. He's never able to break the men but, and here is where the film gets ugly and despicable, after raping and impregnating Nuyen, the priests encourage her to forgive and forget for the baby's sake!! And, over the course of the film, the nasty rapist leader slowly becomes a really swell guy and helps the folks escape. And, over the course of the film, Nuyen falls in love with him!!! Apparently, rape isn't bad at all in the world of "Satan Never Sleeps" and you wonder who the heck thought this was an acceptable message?! What's next--a film that asks the audience to empathize with a pedophile?! If you can ignore the sick message (and I pray that you can't!), you are left with a very badly written story that is, for the most part, stupid. It's really sad, as it was Clifton Webb's last film---and I loved him in all his other films up until this movie. He and the rest try hard to make this film work, but the script is just awful--so awful that its anti-communist message comes off as stupid and muddled.

PS--I noticed one review says this made it to the book the 50 worst movies of all time. I have a copy of Harry Medved's great book "The 50 Worst Movies of All Time" and it is NOT in this book and I really have no idea what book the other reviewer is referring to.

Always enjoyed the great acting of Clifton Webb,(Father Bovard),"Cheaper by the Dozen",'50 and his great performance in "Stars & Stripes Forever,",'52(John Phillip Sousa Story). In this picture, Webb plays an elderly Priest who is very strong willed against the Chinese Communists and the way they hurt the people and missionary's in China. William Holden,(Father O'Banion),"Picnic",'55 gives a great performance as Father Bovard's assisting Priest. There is comedy and also very sad situations in this film which made the film very entertaining for a 1960 film. Unfortunately, Clifton Webb made this film his Swan Song and gave one of his best performance in his career. Great Classic film actors made this film a film for all generations to view.

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.

Passably entertaining, but often unconvincing, silly, and down-right hokey, Leo McCarey's film of Pearl S. Buck's original screenplay "China Story," "Satan Never Sleeps" takes place during the Communist takeover of China in the late 1940's. Possibly seeking to replicate his success with the Oscar-winning "Going My Way," McCarey tackles the story of a younger priest sent to relieve an aging priest at a remote Chinese mission. However, the charming conflict between Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald is beyond the reach of William Holden and Clifton Webb. Although Webb, in his final screen role, is quite good as crusty Father Bovard, Holden as Father O'Banion is uneven, and neither actor benefits from France Nuyen's annoying presence. The French-Vietnamese Nuyen's Siu Lan, a young Chinese girl with an obsession for Holden, mugs and grins like a schoolgirl in a childish performance that undercuts the film's moral core. Not only does Siu Lan moon over a man obviously twice her age, but she ignores his priestly vows and even suggests he switch religions to attain her goal. The lack of candor between O'Banion and Bovard with regard to Siu Lan's intentions is puzzling, given that the elder priest would have been O'Banion's confessor, and the entire situation could have been cleared at the outset.

The script by Claude Binyon and McCarey himself simplifies Communism and the Chinese Civil War; rather than explore issues and motivations in historical context, the film uses blatant propaganda to paint a good-versus-evil, black-and-white portrait of the period. The propagandist approach was likely Buck's, because she had been refused entry to China during this period. Helming his last film, McCarey directs with a heavy hand and cannot decide between light comedy, tragedy, and political drama; the film abruptly weaves between various moods and succeeds at none. Although poor rear projection and obvious painted backdrops mark the image, Oswald Morris's impressive cinematography captures the Welsh locations that convincingly stand in for rural China.

Marred by a simplistic political backdrop, an unconvincing dynamic between the two priests, and a performance by France Nuyen that grates like fingernails on a blackboard, "Satan Never Sleeps" is not worthy to be the swan song of two cinematic talents: Leo McCarey and Clifton Webb. Both are better remembered for their classics from the 1930's and 1940's. While Holden survived the film to give some remarkable performances in the following decades, Nuyen was relegated to minor roles, principally in television series. Unfortunately, this film is not a high point on any participant's resume.

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.

Unfortunately this film got the wrong director. Leo McCarey was known for entertaining blockbusters, while the subject and story here is sinister indeed, and the message of it all gets lost in a direction that clearly had no interest in the subject. Leo McCarey actually hated directing it, and he left it unfinished thoroughly disgusted with it, to let others finish it off. The story is very arguable indeed especially by the disinterested treatment given it by the direction, while the novel is by Pearl S. Buck, who if anyone knew her China. She if anyone knew what she was writing about whenever she wrote of China. The story is a grim account of the communist take-over in 1949, masking its imposition in pretty phrases and feigned demonstrations of good will, while gradually the destruction sets in, methodically going from bad to worse until finally there is nothing left but ruins and corpses. William Holden and Clifton Webb are the two priests who get caught in this force of pincers with no way out except martyrdom, while they can do nothing about the towering accumulation of atrocities. Leo McCarey was a good Catholic himself and made some very nice Christian films, above all "The Bells of St. Mary's" with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman, but here the Christian bathos and tendencies must have become too much for him, so he abandoned the ship, letting it founder by itself, which it partly does. However, the acting is superb, so is the music and the cinematography, but to make a film like this a more serious director would have been needed with some detachment and perspective to the story he actually is filming,

Did Leo McCarey really direct this overblown piece of junk? Is this this thing actually based upon a story by Pearl Buck?

Astounding. What passes for a plot is grotesquely unfocused, the actors are disinterested, the whole thing is a snore.

It purports to detail the evils of Communism and so on, but it's really just an amorphous muddle of mumbo jumbo. Holden is just channeling his role in Bridge on the River Kwai. Clifton Webb, whose work in previous films was impeccable, just sleepwalks through this mess.

You want samples of McCarey before senility set in? Try The Awful Truth, Love Affair, Going My Way - and avoid this movie at all costs.

This film is a living testimony to the fact that the messages sent in a movie do matter, not only socially, but also to the quality of the film it's self. In other words, just because a movie has good production value and acting does not make it a great film (e.g. Pulp Fiction, in my humble opinion) I know what I just said is not politically correct, but try reconciling the events in this movie with your emotions afterwards and I'm sure you will agree. Over all this is a wonderful film, very well directed by award winning comedic impresario Leo McCarey (An Affair To Remember, Going My Way, Duck Soup, and many others). Fantastic scenery and cinematography, solid acting all around, well... Holden is okay I guess, but I've never been a huge fan of his. Every one else, even the unknown Weaver Lee as the communist Colonel Ho San gives a strong performance, but the message of the film is unforgivable. This could have been a classic if it had a better storyline. France Nuyen (South Pacific) is spectacular. I found her every bit as appealing as any sex symbol, including the 3M's (I.E.) Monroe, Margret, Mansfield. If any woman could make a man forsake the priesthood, she was it (WOW!) The movie is worth watching just for her. But, back to my point, the messages sent in the film are so disturbing, it is no wonder no one has ever heard of it.

WARNING! THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS SPOILERS.

The villain in the story, Ho San, is an ex catholic turned communist that is now persecuting the mission that cared for him and his family. He rapes Siu Lan (France Nuyen), orders the destruction and desecration of the church and even is responsible for his own parents being shot for saving a crucifix from a fire. And his comeuppance for these atrocities? He gets the girl (the one he raped) and escapes to communist free Hong Kong. It makes it impossible to like this film.

I suppose Satin Never Sleeps could develop a cult following among communist rapists, but I'm not sure how large that market is. Actually, come to think of it, this film may well have a future.