Tempête sur la colline

It's a can-we-prove-her-innocence before the convicted murderess is executed drama set in a convent hospital in Norfolk County, England, in the 1940s. A significant rainstorm and collapsed dike have isolated the convent hospital. Major characters are the Mother Superior (Gladys Cooper), hospital matron Sister Mary (Claudette Colbert), handyman Willi (Michael Pate), Dr. Jeffreys (Robert Douglas) and his flighty wife, Isabel (Anne Crawford), and angry Nurse Phillips (Phyllis Stanley). During the downpour, Police Sergeant Melling (Gavin Muir), Prison Matron Pierce (Norma Varden), and prisoner Valerie Carns (Ann Blyth) are forced to take cover at the convent. Carns has been found guilty of poisoning her disabled brother and is on her way to Norfolk to be hanged.

The plot revolves around Sister Mary's saintliness, which some around her challenge when she begins to doubt Valerie's guilt of the crime. Slowly, Sister Mary gathers information and discerns the villain's identity despite Mother Superior's opposition.

"Thunder of the Hill" (we hear thunder during the storm) is a straightforward murder mystery and not really in the noir style that some call it. Colbert does well as the nun who searches for perfection as she feels guilt for her own brother's suicide. I was less impressed with Ann Blyth's acting; it seemed forced and brittle. The other primary actors did well, including Michael Pate, Robert Douglas, and Phyllis Stanley.

Convicted murderess, Valerie Carns (Ann Blyth), is being transported to Norwich to be executed when a flash flood strands her and her guards at a convent hospital.

As Nurse Sister Mary (Claudette Colbert) grows to know Valerie, she becomes convinced of her innocence and sets out to find the real killer... and gets much disapproval from doing so ...

King of melodrama Douglas Sirk sharply directs this whodunnit in which several people harbour a secret that could stop an innocent woman from being hanged. There's wonderful gothic atmosphere, drama especially around the convent; corridors, shadows, arched windows and winding stone staircases, complete with a bell tower, of course. The cute face of Claudette Colbert is luminously-lit as she puts on her detective hat on in the race of ensnaring a killer - a killer amongst a small group in a convent. Sounds very much like Agatha Christie. Unlike in a Christie novel, it's not hard to guess who the killer is, but it's a highly enjoyable film nevertheless, with fine acting (Claudette Colbert, Ann Blithe and Michael Pate are standouts) and a very strong plot teemed with enough suspense. Maybe some flashbacks would've been good to flesh out the "murder". Ends with a nail biter sequence on top of a bell tower.

When there is a flooding in Norfolk, many locals move with pets and animals to the local convent and hospital that is isolated from the mainland when the dam collapses. Sister Mary Bonaventure (Claudette Colbert) coordinates the arrangement with the Mother Superior (Gladys Cooper) to lodge and feed the unsheltered people. Soon she meets Valerie Carns (Ann Blyth), who was convicted for fratricide and condemned to the gallows on the next day, but is trapped in the convent with Sgt Melling (Gavin Muir). Her brother Jason died of overdose and she was responsible to give his medicine to him. Sister Mary, who is the nurse of Dr. Edward Jeffreys (Robert Douglas), talks to Valerie and is convinced that she is innocent. Dr. Jeffreys' testimony in court was crucial for her sentence. His wife Isabel Jeffreys (Anne Crawford) is very sick in the hospital. Valerie asks Sister Mary to bring her fiancé Sidney Kingham (Philip Friend) to the convent, and she does to Norfolk by boat with the employee Willie (Michael Pate) to bring him to stay with Valerie in her last hours. Willie comments a letter that he kept with him and Sister Mary tries to find evidences in old newspaper that may prove Valerie's innocence.

"Thunder on the Hill" is a melodramatic film directed by Douglas Sirk and with Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth in the lead roles. Despite the mystery, the plot is too religious and has many flaws. For example, how Sister Mary is convinced that Valerie is innocent after talking for a short period with a bitter and aggressive woman? How easy is to her to find evidences in the newspapers and no lawyer had given much attention to the detail. But for fans of old movies, there is not much importance these flaws. The performance of Claudette Colbert is great. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Agonia de Uma Vida" ("Agony of a Life")

One needs to enter into the atmosphere of this taut emotional story to really appreciate the fine acting done by all. Have seen "Thunder on the Hill" countless times and it's still riveting. The dialogue unfolds splendidly like a fine dramatic stage play of intrigue and mystery.

Claudette Colbert gives a fine performance as Sister Mary who is haunted by certain memories of her past and yet feels compelled to do what is right according to her conscience even though it conflicts with those in authority especially Mother Superior (Gladys Cooper).

Ann Blyth as Valerie really does make one feel that life is very precious - no one wants to die when there's so much to live for especially when young, very much in love and with plans to marry being dashed by this unjust verdict of guilty which will destroy everything.

Philip Friend as Sidney, Valerie's intended, is distraught with despair but eventually comes round and being convinced of her innocence tries to help in some way, offering Valerie his love and support in their emotionally charged scenes together.

Michael Pate as simple-minded Willie does add texture to the story of intrigue in the beginning - he holds an important letter - his voice and minor dialogue reveal a well-acted character role.

Robert Douglas as the doctor is suave and believable (well-oiled you might say) and he cares for his wife's delicate mental condition to the extent of becoming very possessive and controlling which becomes his downfall eventually.

It's a strong story of deep human conflict that everyone can relate to. One of my favourites.

A murder mystery dealing with a convicted murderess named Valerie Carns (Ann Blyth) who's being transported to Norwich to be executed by hanging when a flood strands her and her guards at a convent hospital. Then Nurse Sister Mary (the great Claudette Colbert) becomes convinced of her innocence and sets out to find the real killer , there six desperate people...hiding one guilty secret . There's a simple janitor , an attendant comic nun and a killer visible a mile off adding to fun .

A suspenseful movie in which our starring , the understanding , sweet nun Claudette Colvert , becomes a stubborn detective to discover the true killer throughout the story . Sirkian intrigue/melodrama movie in Agatha Christie style , it melds with the director's earlier , pulpier mode in a Norfolk convent hospital , where a condemned murderess is trapped by a flash flood the night before her execution . Here there is mystery , emotion , a love story , suspense and plot twists . Interesting and attractive plot based on the play ¨Bonaventure¨ written by Charlotte Hastings with agreeable script from Oscar Saul and Andrew Solt. Interpretation actors are first-rate . Colbert is nice as the nun to get her off with blind faith and a casual disrespect for the law of the land and the convent . She is obstinate , comprehensive, perfect and pig-headed , while the allegedly guilty is wonderfully grotesque , then stirring . They are very well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Robert Douglas , Anne Crawford , Philip Friend , Gladys Cooper, Michael Pate, John Abbott, Connie Gilchrist , Tudor Owen, among others .

It contains a superb cinematography in black and white by William H. Daniels , Greta Garbo's usual cameraman , mostly shot in interior , as filming Locations : Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California . Likewise, atmosperic and enjoyable musical score by Hans J. Salter . The motion picture was well directed by Douglas Sirk who milks the giant set for all its atmospherics. Douglas was a fundamental filmmaker who gave prestigious movies , usually collaborating with similar technicians as cameraman Russell Metty , Production Designer Alexander Golitzen , Producer Ross Hunter and writer George Zuckerman . Sirk directed a lot of classic melodramas, such as : Never say goobye , Interlude , Summerstorm , The first legion , The lady pays off , Tarnished Angels , A time to love a time to die , Magnificent obsession , All that heaven allows , Written in the Wind . But he also directed other genres as WWII : Mystery submarine , Hitler's madmen ; Thrillers and Film Noir : Shockproof , Thunder on the hill , A scandal in Paris , Lured ; Historical : Attila with Jack Palance ; Adventures : Thunderbolt and Lightfoot with Hudson and Barbara Rush ; and even a Western : Taza with Rocka Hudson , his fetish actor . Rating : 6.5/10 , better than average . Worthwhile. The picture will appeal to Claudette Corbett fans .