WHERE ANGELS GO, TROUBLE FOLLOWS

US, 1968, 95 minutes, Colour.
Rosalind Russell, Stella Stevens, Binnie Barnes, Mary Wickes, Milton Berle, Arthur Godfrey, Robert Taylor, Van Johnson, Susan St. James.
Directed by James Neilson.

Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows is a pleasant sequel to The Trouble With Angels which was directed by Ida Lupino. The earlier film was a star vehicle for Hayley Mills and Rosalind Russell. Rosalind Russell returns in the sequel but the focus of attention on the modern nun played by Stella Stevens and the twin girls, including a young Susan St. James. Mary Wickes and Binnie Barnes reappear as two of the sisters. There are some pleasant guest appearances from Van Johnson, Robert Taylor, Milton Berle, Arthur Godfrey, William Lundigan. There is also a pleasant Lalo Schifrin song (reminiscent of the Beatles) and a psychedelic touch which makes it obviously a film of the late '60s. Direction is by James Neilson who directed a number of Disney features in the early '60s.

Of interest is the presentation of the Catholic church only a few years after the ending of the Second Vatican Council and the atmosphere of change and renewal that was prevalent. The film dramatises the changes in the convent (cloister as a reality and as a state of mind) and the changing in religious habits. (It is a pity that film-makers in later years did not have the same kind of awareness of the changes in women's religious life in the '60s and '70s.)

1. An entertaining comedy? Religion? Americana? An enjoyable sequel? Its merits on its own right?

2. 1968: Americana, the American roads and journey across the states? Music? Psychedelic touches?

3. The title, the comparison with the original? Religion and humour? The title song and its use throughout the film?

4. The atmosphere of the Catholic schools, the girls' school, boarders,, strictness, disobeying the rules, setting up the disco? Students and the growing freedom of the '60s? The sisters and their handling the situations of the time? Changes?

5. The portrait of religious sisters, the Hollywood tradition of nuns, the Mother Superior and her coping, the mannerisms and eccentric styles of the various sisters?

6. Rosalind Russell as the superior, her presence and style? Her reaction to Sister George and the demonstrations? The encounter with the bishop about the trip and her being outwitted? The plans? The running of the school, the go-go dancing and her discipline? The buying of the bus? Her wariness about the trip?

7. Sister George and Stella Stevens as a nun? Participation in the demonstrations, the causes? Her severity while being sincere? The making of the bombs, relationship with the girls, the planning of the trip, demonstrations?

8. The girls: ordinary schoolgirls, their going on a trip, their friendships, clashes, the go-go dancing? Rosabelle and her not being liked, her friendship? Their being in trouble? The gift of the bus? Rosabelle stowing away on the roof? The trip, the clashes between the two friends? At St. Francis' school with the boys? on the ranch and the romances, Jealousies? Horse-riding? Reconciliation? Friendship?

9. The trip: the buying of the new bus, the arrival at St. Francis' and the dance, Mother staying up all night supervising, the bikies, the stops in the desert, going to the ranch and the hospitality, the show for them, the film set and Mother Superior placating the vanity of the director?

10. Sister George and her clashes, being hurtful, the girls not wanting to confide in her, questioning her vocation, sulking? Her ability to communicate - the sequence with the bikies? The reconciliation with Mother Superior?

11. The Superior's handling of the trip, handling of Sister George, being a mother to the girls, communicating with the film director? Renewal in the convent?

12. The portrait of the sisters: the mousey sister and her worries, the bus driver and her skills over twenty years, the sister with her out-of-date music program? The capacity for change?

13. The guest stars and their characters: the father and his giving of the bus to the school (and his lady friend)? Van Johnson as the sympathetic priest, the discussion about boarding schools and methods of education, co-education? Robert Taylor and his sons at the ranch? Milton Berle and his humour with his vanity in directing the film, the bus caught up in the western, the advice given about the authenticity of the screenplay, his being persuaded by Mother Superior, his hospitality in fixing the bus? Arthur Godfrey as the Bishop outwitting Mother Superior?

14. An image of America in the '60s, change, a picture of the Catholic church - and change at the time?