Dieu seul le sait

One of Huston's buried treasures,this offbeat tale of a nun and a marine stuck on an island.They say it was to be directed by Wyler,but he turned it down and went to make "desperate hours".

Deborah Kerr had already played a nun in Powell-Pressburger's excellent "Black narcissus",and the part was tailor-made for her.The same goes for Robert Mitchum as a crude,simple,but with a golden heart marine.People cannot help but be struck with the analogies between "heaven" and "African queen" :both feature an odd couple,in jeopardy;that's why the former is overlooked today which is totally unfair.

The two characters are extremely endearing and,when the movie is over,it seems we've always known Sister Angela and Corporal Allison.I dig the line:"it's a gourmet's dish" when the nun is eating turtle soup.I love the way the scenarists show the analogies between a nun's and a marine's lives.The Garden of Eden metaphor is obvious,but the story subtly progresses,and the Snake's temptation happens late in the movie.

The cinematography is splendid,with a superb use of cinemascope,and Georges Delerue's score deserves admiration.Yes "heaven knows..." is certainly one of Huston's sleepers.But I wonder what Luis Bunuel would have done with such a screenplay.

In 1944, in South Pacific, the castaway Marine Corporal Allison (Robert Mitchum) drifts in a raft to the Tuasiva Island, where he meets Sister Angela (Deborah Kerr). She tells him that she is the only person in the island and was left behind by the runaway boat to Fiji Island while seeking the local priest. Stranded in the island, but with water, fish and fruits, their paradisiacal life ends when the Japanese arrive to build a base, forcing Allison and the nun to hide in a cave. The crude marine provides the necessary supply for their survival and falls in love for the nun.

"Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" is not a masterpiece, but it is one of my favorite movies ever. The beautiful story is a kind of Robison Crusoe in times of World War II, without Friday, cannibals or pirates, but a hardened marine, a gorgeous nun and Japanese. The story has war, adventure, romance and drama, and is supported by the awesome direction of John Huston and the stunning performances of Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr in the roles of endearing characters. Deborah Kerr deserved her nomination to the Oscar, but Robert Mitchum was forgotten by the Academy in spite of having a top-notch performance. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Céu Por Testemunha" ("The Heaven as Witness")

Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr give beautiful performances in this touching study of a Marine and a young nun who find themselves stranded on a Pacific island during WWII. Their platonic relationship deepens when the Japanese return to occupy the island, and Cpl. Allison and Sister Angela take refuge in a cave, surviving by his wits, her prayers, and the saving grace of their mutual respect and affection. Mitchum gives one of the finest performances of his career as the proud Marine who finds himself falling in love with his companion, and Deborah Kerr is unaffectedly enchanting as Sister Angela. Quiet moments of compelling character study are interspersed with suspenseful action sequences set amid ruggedly beautiful scenery.

John Huston virtually remade "The African Queen" as a two-hander but set during the Second World War and on a Pacific island occupied by the Japanese and on which are hiding an American marine, (Robert Mitchum), and a nun, (Deborah Kerr), the only other sole occupants. Dextrously moving between scenes of genuine suspense, (will they be discovered), and real intimacy in which the comic as well as the dramatic potentials of the story are beautifully played out by both actors, Huston creates a film that works on a number of levels and shows real flair for the use of the widescreen imposed on him by 20th Century Fox. Indeed Kerr wears her habit as if to the manor born, (she's a much more relaxed nun than her Sister Clodagh in "Black Narcissus"), while Mitchum, with only Kerr to react to, has probably never been better. In this film he refined his laconic style to a fine art. Although popular with those who have seen it the film has never really acquired much of a reputation even if it is one of Huston's finest and certainly most undervalued films.

During WWW II in a Pacific tropical island that might be a paradise in other circunstances , there a ship-wrecked , two-fisted American soldier : Robert Mitchum and a nun : Deborah Kerr's favourite film make an unlikely friendship and eventually falling in love . But then the island is invaded , appearing a Japanese detachment overrun the lonely place and the duo hide out during the day and forage for food by night , gradually revealing their pasts to each other . Meanwhile , they struggle to stay alive until USA forces invade the island.

Terrific double studio character on two interesting roles finds a tough soldier , and a sensitive nun , along the way he falls hard while she resists his advances . An enjoyable and good movie with plenty of action , entertainment , high pathos, excitement and tenderness . Perfectly cast Deborah Kerr as kind nun and Robert Mitchum as Marine Sergeant Allison , both of whom providing top-notch interpretations . Based on the novel by Charles Shaw and cleverly written script from John Lee Mahin and John Huston himself . It follows in the wake of The African Queen , instead of a riverboat skipper : Bogart and a missionary : Hepburn here there is a soldier and a nun , delivering virtually duologue between the two .

It packs colorful cinematography by Oswald Morris , providing the exquisite , humid and lush atmosphere of a small tropical island. As well as rousing and stirring musical score by George Auric. This decently made picture results to be one of John Huston's best . Being skillfully made by conveying a moving drama , adventure and battles to hold the interest enough . Huston made films of all kinds of genres , directing some masterpieces , outstanding the following ones : The Maltese Falcon , Key Largo, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Moulin Rouge , Beat the Devil, Moby Dick , The Unforgiven, The Misfits , Freud, The Night of the Iguana , Fat City , Roy Bean , Victory , Wise Blood , Under the Volcano , and his last feature film : The Dead . Rating : 7.5/10 . Better than average . The movie will appeal to Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr fans .