HEAVEN KNOWS, MR ALLISON

US, 1957, 106 minutes, Colour.
Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum.
Directed by John Huston.

Heaven Knows, Mr Allison was a very popular film in its time and for repeating on television. It had the very good ingredients of sex and religion - although presented very discreetly and with good taste. A nun, Deborah Kerr, is stranded during the war on an island with soldier Mr. Allison, Robert Mitchum. They help one another in the war effort and, of course, have to confront their feelings for one another. John Huston, who at this time directed such films as Moby Dick handles what is potentially sentimental and hackneyed material very well indeed.

The main stars also worked together very well - and were later to be reunited in The Sundowners and The Grass is Greener. The subject matter has been the topic for quite a number of films and telemovies but perhaps has not been so well treated as here.

1. Comment on the light irony of the title and its two meanings.

2. Was this an enjoyable film? It has been very popular over the years. Why?

3. Was the situation too contrived? Or if the situation was contrived, did the film nevertheless succeed despite the contrivance?

4. Was the film a satisfying presentation of human beings in a difficult situation? Was it a successful presentation of religious and human values?

5. What attitude towards war did the film take? Was it in favour of war at all? How did it show Americans as heroic - did this fit into the context of the film? Did the film have any anti-war overtones?

6. Comment on the film as an illustration of the religious versus the irreligious, the strong versus the weak. Was it a confrontation of good and bad and the mutual effect on each?

7. Sister Angela: was Deborah Kerr convincing as a person, as a nun? Did you understand why she was on the island? What kind of mission work was she involved in? Did you understand the situation as regards her vows - that she had not made perpetual vows, therefore, still had the opportunity of leaving the convent? How religious a nun was she? How dedicated? Had she understood her feelings and the depths of her feelings? How did the experience and the encounter with Mr. Allison change her? Would she have been a better nun for her encounter?

8. Mr. Allison: was he a typical marine? His behaviour, his drinking, his reaction to the nun, the possibility of assaulting her? His response to her fright, his caring for her? How did Sister Angela change him? Did he understand the dedication of her life? why then did he support her?

9. Did the film show the effects of isolation and remote places on individuals?

10. How interesting and exciting were the various adventure aspects of the film -the survival of the two, illness, the occupation by the Japanese, the stealing of food, the killing of Japanese, the hiding in the caves etc.? How did these affect the two?

11. Were you glad when the navy came and relief was at hand? Why? What did you expect each of them to do?

12. Were the final war sequences too heroic? Or did they fit into the themes and tone of the film?

13. What was the final impact of the film as a human drama?

14. What was the final impact of the film as an exploration of religious values in such a situation? was this effective drama? In any way sensational? Was it valuable to understand people and relationships?