Falam os Sinos

"Come to the Stable" is a charmingly entertaining tale of two French nuns attempting to establish a children's hospital through their faith in God and their fellow man. This story, set in the post-WWII New England,is not a Christmas movie per se but it does embody the spirit of the season. Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are wonderful as the nuns - Loretta as the feisty Sister Margaret and Celeste as Sister Scholastica with the unshakeable faith. Elsa Lanchester is yet again exceptional, this time in her role as the reluctant aide to the nuns. Hugh Marlowe is wonderful as the harried and frustrated songwriter/neighbor.

This movie is about determination and faith and accomplishing the improbable. Sit back and allow this magnificent cast to entertain you. The experience will be well worth it.

Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are two nuns from a French convent on a mission to establish a children's hospital in a rural village much to the consternation of composer Robert Masen (Hugh Marlowe) who would like to see his place in the country stay just like it is. Against all odds the indomitable sisters move Masen and several other unlikely contributors into making the hospital a reality. It's fine family viewing with a warmth an innocence unseen in today's more cynical Christmas pics.

"Come to the Stable" is a beautiful, sentimental movie, in the vein of "Bells of St. Marys" and "Going My Way." I saw it many years ago before buying the video and seeing it again. Loretta Young, unquestionably one of the great actresses of all time, is outstanding as a dedicated nun. So is Celeste Holm. It is easy to see why they were nominated for oscars. The picture itself received (I believe) six nominations.

The picture has you pulling for these dedicated nuns to accomplish their task. As with movies of this era, of course they do.

It is well worth watching.

"An irresistible force has been let loose in New England" as two nuns travel across what appears to be desolate country by foot, coming upon a stable in the clearing...true, they're in Bethlehem, but it's Bethlehem, New York! The stable is being rented by a dotty artist who specializes in religious paintings, and the sisters have been drawn there by a picture-postcard with the hopes of spearheading development in that area for a children's hospital. Skillful sentiment walks a nimble line between heartfelt religiosity and treacle. The nuns (Loretta Young and Celeste Holm, both Oscar-nominated) lack just two things in their quest--land and money--and the ways in which they acquire these necessities will warm even the grumpiest of viewers (they melt the heart of Thomas Gomez's surly racketeer--luckily for the sisters, he's a Catholic!). No weighty or ponderous agendas here, just simple, old-fashioned entertainment. Beautifully photographed by Oscar-nominated Joseph LaShelle, with music direction by Lionel Newman that tugs at the tear ducts. *** from ****

Charming old-fashioned dramedy about a pair of nuns (Loretta Young, Celeste Holm) who travel from France to the small New England town of Bethlehem with the intention of building a children's hospital there. They meet various characters while they try to raise the necessary funds for the construction of the hospital. A simple but heartwarming story, suitable for Christmas viewing but good to watch any time of the year. Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are both perfect for their roles. The always enjoyable Elsa Lanchester is the movie's scene stealer as a quirky artist who takes the nuns in. The rest of the cast includes Hugh Marlowe, Thomas Gomez, Regis Toomey, Dorothy Parker, Mike Mazurki, and Dooley Wilson. It's a beautiful-looking film whose sets and cinematography both received Oscar nominations (it received seven Oscar nods overall). It features the nice song "Through a Long and Sleepless Night," sung by the obviously dubbed Hugh Marlowe and Dorothy Parker. Dripping with sentiment, humor, and good will, it's a lovely film. 'The kind they don't make anymore,' as they say.