SISTER ACT

US, 1992, 100 minutes, Colour.
Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Harvey Keitel, Kathy Najimi, Mary Wickes, Joseph Furst, Bill Nunn.
Directed by Emil Ardolino.

Sister Act was one of the most popular films at the American box office in the summer of 1992. It relies very strongly on the presence of Whoopi Goldberg, her comic style and charm. She relies on her comic talent - with a touch of sentiment in the vein of Clara's Heart.

The film was directed by Emil Ardolino (Dirty Dancing, Chances Are). The story is fairly obvious and simple - and relies on a very old-fashioned notion of nuns and convents. However, the old-fashioned jokes work (echoes of Going My Way, Bells of St Mary's, Come to the Stable).

Maggie Smith is rather starchy as the Mother Superior. Harvey Keitel is the gangster villain. Many of the scenes are almost stolen by Kathy Najimy as the exuberant Sister Patrick (so exuberant her mother said she would either be a nun or a stewardess).

The film his high-spirited and good-spirited, with the sight of Sister Whoopi Goldberg directing the choir of old-fashioned nuns singing `My Guy' as a hymn, `My God', as well as `I Will Follow Him'. Even Pope John Paul II comes in at the end.

Probably very corny - but quite entertaining and offering many laughs.

1. Popular comedy? Whoopi Goldberg? The familiar story of the witness in hiding? Nuns, old-fashioned religious life, religion? The Pope? Religious humour?

2. The world of Reno glitz, the contrast with San Francisco, the austerity of the convent? The musical score, the hymns, the popular songs - and The Supremes style (as well as the parody)? And their being turned into religious hymns with a touch of Gospel style?

3. The title, the humour, religion? The prologue, Delores as a little girl, the Beatles names for the Apostles and her cheekiness?

4. The portrait of the nuns, Delores' teacher warning her of what she would grow up to be like (and being correct)? The old-fashioned order, piety? The ascetical style and unworldly manner, silly behaviour, the curiosity of the nuns - especially for the street people across the street? Religious ideals? Niceness? Yet tough, being able to deal with the world?

5. The humour, verbal, visual, gags, slapstick, ironies, religious?

6. Delores and the credits, the cheeky little girl? The life in the nightclub, singing the songs, the audience ignoring them, singing the repertoire faster and faster, the meagre applause? The decision for the group to split, their relying on Delores, the group ethos? Delores and her affair with the gangster, tough, his story about going to confession? The break-up? Her strong stance? The purple mink - his wife's? Her going to defy him, witnessing the killing? The escape and the chase through the restaurant and kitchen (later repeated)? Her going to the police?

7. Discussions with the police, her being the witness, her being hidden? Going to San Francisco, reluctance to go into the convent, clashing with the police officer? Meeting Mother Superior, the arguments? The pressure on her - to control herself? Becoming Sister Mary Clarence?

8. Her being accepted in the community, her deciding to stay? Getting the old-fashioned habit, her name, the reaction? Meeting the sisters, her elaborate Grace and drawing on all the prayers she knew? Talking too much, criticising the food, being made to fast? On silence? In the vegetable garden? The friendship of Sister Mary Patrick? Sister Mary Robert as the novice? Her room and the cell, unwilling to get up? Prayer, Mass? Going to choir? Audience familiarity with convent routines?

9. The police, getting in touch with her, the fear? The gangster and his thugs, the search, seeing her on television? Harvey Keitel as the gangster, character, angers, control over the police, clash with the police?

10. Mother Superior and her primness, her hold over Sister Clarence, their clashes? The regime of the convent, Mass and the singing? The Superior holding the truth over Delores? Sister Mary Patrick, her cheerfulness and joy, waving, singing, dancing? Sister Robert and her friendship? The discussion about vocation and God's call? The range of sisters in the convent?

11. Clarence stealing out and going across to the bar, Robert and Patrick following, the behaviour in the bar, the reaction of the patrons, the drinking, the dancing? The bartender? Their return and being caught by the superior? The consequences?

12. The choir, the poor performances? Sister Lazarus? The Monsignor and his wanting a change? Clarence put in charge of the choir, the practices, the polyphony, harmony? Performances? `My God'? The people in the street hearing, coming in, the church being filled?

13. Clarence confronting the superior? Going out across the street, helping with the people? The nuns serving the people? The response, the sex shop and their stopping people going in? The poor? The change in the perspective on the convent, the people in the church, the choir? Finally winning over the superior? The television interviews - and the police with their horrified reaction, the thugs finding Delores?

14. The arrival of the thugs, the pursuit of Clarence and Robert? Their being caught, the car, Robert pushed out? Going to Reno?

15. The superior and her decision to leave? Clarence persuading her to stay, seeing her role in the convent? The possibility of the Pope's visit? The discussion about the choir list and songs - and the vote, the superior being outvoted?

16. The sisters discovering the truth, their reaction? The police - the need to rescue Delores? The helicopter, flying to the city, the nuns in the glitzy city? Finding the nightclub, the pursuit in the club? The habits disguising the individuals? Delores able to escape?

17. The final confrontation with the gangster? The thugs and their being ordered to shoot Delores? Their inhibitions about killing nuns? The gangster and his orders? Their being caught? Clarence's final `Bless you'?

18. Delores and her options, the superior staying? The Pope's visit - and Delores leading the choir? The humour of the final credits with Delores on the cover of so many magazines - and with the Pope? The end of a good-natured religious comedy?