COME TO THE STABLE

US, 1949, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Loretta Young, Celeste Holm, Hugh Marlowe, Elsa Lanchester, Thomas Gomez, Dorothy Patrick, Basil Ruysdael, Dooley Wilson, Regis Toomey, Henri Letondal.
Directed by Henry Koster.

Come to the Stable shows a view of the Catholic Church by Hollywood of the 1940s. It had been popular with the Oscar-winning Going My Way and the follow-up The Bells of St. Mary's. Frank Sinatra was also a priest in The Miracle of the Bells. Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are good as the nuns - though it is surprising to see they were Oscar-nominated for their performances. The film is full of sweetness and light, sentiment and charming hope. It seems quite unreal these days - although is the kind of film popular on television for Christmas celebrations. Direction is by Henry Koster, who directed a wide range of popular films in Hollywood from the Deanna Durbin musicals to the first Cinemascope film The Robe and James Stewart's domestic comedies of the '60s.

1. An enjoyable light comedy? Human values? An American view of the Catholic Church and religion? Its authenticity in the '40s? Later?

2. Production values, black and white photography, the stars and their Oscar nominations? Celestial choirs? Hollywood's view of how the Catholic way of life should be presented on screen? Box office popularity in its time?

3. The image of the Catholic Church, the image of nuns - then and now? Nuns as charming but seemingly unreal? Their simple faith? The habits., rules, prayer - medals and blind faith? The sentimental touch with speedily driving jeeps, playing tennis. charming bishops? Charming gangsters? A sentimental version of perennial tradition of faith?

4. The title and the reference to Bethlehem? The opening with the snow and the nuns wandering, the discovery of the crib, the Christmas tableau? The biblical names for the towns? The Christian meaning for this contemporary fable?

5. Sister Margaret and Sister Scholastica and their background in France, Sister Margaret an American? Their arrival and plan? The encounter with Miss Potts and her welcoming them? mason and his lending the jeep and the comedy with his being woken up? Anthony and the drive from the station? The visit to New York? The police and the parking, tearing up the ticket? The encounter with the Damon Runyon-type gangsters? The waiting for Mr. Rossi, converting him? The deal about the factory? Interview with the bishop? The bishop and his comment on their being an irresistible force? Their particular styles, charm?

6. The plan at the hospital? The war experience? Emigration from France? Their being joined by the other nuns? Providence and the encounter with Mason, Mr. Rossi, the ringing of the bell, the selling of the goods?

7. The background of 'realism' with Mason and his Hollywood deals, the dog, his fiancee? The hostility at his return? His musical - and the irony of his song echoing the plain chant? His drinking? His deal to buy up factory?

8. Nuns and their expected behaviour - work, prayer, charm, piety? Sister Scholastica and her tennis background - the match and losing?

9. The background of World War Two and the motivations for building the hospital? Mason and his experience in the war? Rossi and the window for his son?

10. The expected happy ending? Audience appreciation of this kind of optimistic and sentimental fable?