Au péril de sa vie

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 ****

I spent a good deal of "The Sins of Rachel Cade" confused, wondering whether or not I had already seen it. Or was I mixing it up with "The Nun's Story" - not hard to do, since Peter Finch, a brilliant, sexy actor apparently was cast in the same part over and over. It seems to me his role in this was similar to his role in "The Nun's Story." The story is similar to "The Nun's Story" and also to "Sister Kenny."

During World War II, Rachel Cade (Angie Dickinson), a beautiful young nurse, goes to the Congo to help in the hospital and to bring Christianity to the people. She meets two men, both of whom are interested in her - Colonel DeRode (Finch) and a downed airman who turns out to be a surgeon, Paul Wilton (Roger Moore). Cade suffers inner conflict as a result, and it changes her life.

I like Angie Dickinson in this - she gives a very simple performance, that of a dedicated spiritual woman with great inner strength, and one who really understands why the people of the Congo love her and respect her. But she's miscast. To put it bluntly, Dickinson is too hot a number for this role. If she were just beautiful in the Audrey Hepburn sense, she would be believable. But Angie's always been a sex bomb and how anyone thought she could work in darkest Africa and not spend 99% of her time fighting off men was crazy. Either someone a little older, like Jean Simmons, or with less sex appeal would have been more appropriate.

Peter Finch was very good, very appealing, but I just saw him do this role in "The Nun's Story." I'm still confused.

Two favorites of mine, Woody Strode and Juano Hernandez, are on hand as well and give excellent performances.

There are certainly interesting aspects to "The Sins of Rachel Cade," and it has some appeal, but in the end it leaves one feeling a little flat.

Tolerable romantic/exotic/religious melodrama from producer Henry Blanke, who had earlier been responsible for the more acclaimed THE NUN'S STORY and the more popular THE MIRACLE (both 1959). As a matter of fact, this basically extends the African scenes of the former's second half to take up its entire length but, at the same time, incorporating the emotional/vocational struggle inherent in the latter – and, for good measure, the male stars of each (Peter Finch and Roger Moore respectively) were brought on board for this new venture as well! Anyway, the titular figure is played, quite convincingly, by Angie Dickinson; as for her co-stars, Finch is typically commanding but one has a hard time believing Moore as either a flyer (the setting the eve of WWII) or a doctor (and it is clear he did not take the part seriously himself)! The most prominent among the indigenous community are 'holy man' Juano Hernandez (who holds his own against Finch in the acting stakes) and 'medicine man' Woody Strode (whose contribution is, alas, rather limited). The narrative takes a thoroughly predictable but pleasing route – with earnest (and luscious) Dickinson having as hard a time convincing agnostic Governor Finch of the true faith as the superstitious natives…but the 'miracle' finally occurs when she cures a local boy, whom Hernandez and Strode had already given up for dead because his father had dared defy the gods! Similarly, when Moore's dashing but uncommitted character turns up in the second half, conflict naturally arises between him and Finch over the heroine (since both have no qualms about showing their feelings to the missionary girl)! The denouement, then, is as unlikely (with spiritual grace taking the upper hand over basic human fulfillment) as it is melodramatic, but that's Hollywood for you. While unsurprisingly meandering somewhat over the course of its generous two-hour length, the film emerges a good-looking and mildly enjoyable effort very typical of the time – also marked by a lush score courtesy of veteran Max Steiner (that is perhaps exceedingly reminiscent of his Oscar-winning theme from NOW, VOYAGER [1942]!). Incidentally, while the full title of this one smacks of exploitation which is barely present in the film proper, the print shown on TCM UK actually dropped the heroine's foibles and left us with just her name – an alternate moniker under which, however, it seems never to have been shown until now!

The melancholy tale from the Charles Mercer book dealing with a young missionary working as a nurse during WWII . In 1939, while the Nazi regime subjugates European Nations Rachel Cade (enticing Angie Dickinson) travels to the Belgian Congo , her assignment in the Congo is at a European hospital under the atheist eye of a Colonel but she no sooner arrives than Dr. Bikel, who runs the installation where she is to work, dies of heart failure . She is also soon aware that the hospital has been a misfire and has yet to treat an only patient . Slowly , Rachel Cade heals ills , helps injured villagers and preaches Gospel . There the local government Col. Henry (tough but tenderheart Peter Finch) falls hard while she resists his advances and a subsequent lover upsets his schemes . The sexually repressed and frigid Rachel however has fallen madly in love with Paul (sympathetic Roger Moore) , who is a surgeon shot down . When medical doctor Paul has a plane crash , he is meticulously healed by Rachel . Both of them gradually revealing their pasts each other , but earnest Rachel is influenced by her lover to leave the hospital to go America , then Rachel comes to question her vocation . But the Nazis rise to power and invade her homeland and Africa .

Director Gordon Douglas struck a correct balance of pace and sensitivity in the absorbing tale of a young Belgian girl who becomes a religious missionary and is sent to the Belgian Congo to work at a hospital . She is struggling to reconcile her free spirit and philanthropic wishes with the religious rigors . There Rachel questions her religious vocation and her moralizing comes back to haunt her when she learns after his departure that she is pregnant . Finely starred by a luminous Angie Dickinson who chalked up another hit in this long but always interesting flick based on Charles Mercer's novel , being rightly adapted by prestigious Edward Anhalt . This agreeable flick packs an exciting screenplay , intense drama , fine interpretations and intelligent filmmaking . Casting is frankly well . Good acting by Angie Dickinson as a beautiful missionary nurse who gains the trust of the local people , not only providing medical care but preaching the Bible ; Peter Finch as middle-aged local government official Colonel Henri Derode , he doesn't quite hit it off with Rachel at first but soon starts to develop deep affections for her ; and an attractive as well as likable Roger Moore as dashing Capt. Paul Winton , an American serving in the RAF . Furthermore , a nice support cast formed by notorious African-American secondaries such as Woody Strode as Muwango , Juano Hernandez as Kalanumu , Rafer Johnson as Kosongo , Scatman Crothers as Musinga and veteran Mary Wickes ,subsequently famous for her role in ¨Sister act¨ . This film follows the wake of the highly acclaimed ¨Nun's story¨ also starred by Peter Finch that consolidated a sub-genre about nuns or religious people in far countries , going on ¨Heaven knows , Mr Allison¨ with Robert Mitchum Deborah Kerr and ¨A Nun at the Crossroads¨ with Rosanna Schiaffino and John Richardson , among others .

Appropriate as well as sensitive musical score by the classic Max Steiner . Glamorous and evocative cinematography by J. Marley , though mostly filmed on studio . The motion picture well produced by Henry Blanke was professionally directed by Gordon Douglas. This is one of various and pleasant works , some major and minor successes of his long career as a filmmaker. He was a Hollywood veteran director, directing early movies (Little rascals, Spanky), expert on Western (Chuka, Rio Conchos, Yellowstone Kelly, Only the valiant), and usually worked for Frank Sinatra in various films (Lady in Cement, Tony Rome, The detective , Robin and the 7 Hoods) . Rating : 6 , acceptable and passable , though overlong . The film will appeal to Angie Dickinson and Roger Moore fans .

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.