This movie is not at all what I expected. One might imagine that a the movie, Directed by John Huston, about a US Marine and Catholic nun marooned together on a South Pacific Island during World War II, to be quite different. Yet, any preconceived notions about a hardened man being schooled and converted by a strong-willed religious nun are soon laid aside as these two people slowly reveal themselves to each other as the movie progresses. Nor is this a Robinson Crusoe-type movie of discoveries and survival techniques. However, there are some modern similarities, with Japanese troops landing on the island, making survival even more challenging for the pair. The pairing in this basically two-person movie, with Robert Mitchum (as Mr. Allison) and Deborah Kerr as the nun (Sister Angela), must have seemed as unusual as the pairing of the prim and proper Katherine Hepburn character, (Rose Sayer) with the uncouth African stream boat captain, Humphrey Bogart (Charlie Allnut), were in The African Queen (1951). Yet, these unlikely pairings were part of John Huston's genius as a director. While thinking of these two John Huston movies, there ARE some comparisons to be made: 1) and handy man; 2) a war setting; and an unlikely couple thrown into an unusual situation. In this movie, Allison is washed ashore in an inflatable life raft, whereas Sister Angela had been left behind as the sole survivor of a remote island mission. Kerr's performance is also unusual in that she is so shy that she barely talks, yet she is obedient and cooperative with Mr. Allison's knowledge about survival. Mr. Allison is a polite and gentle Marine with an unusual background of being orphaned as a child and adopting the Marine Corp as the only family he had ever known. He is as uneducated about women as he is about the Catholic Church (or any religion for that matter). He gradually falls in love with Sister Angela and asks her to marry him, not realizing that, as a nun, she was already married to the church. Another thing I like about the movie is the chance to see Japanese soldiers viewed as actual people (joking and laughing with each other, drinking, eating, and playing card games), as Mitchum and Kerr watch them from a safe location while figuring out what they should do.Kerr received her 4th of 6 Oscar nominations for the movie. Mitchum and Kerr would later co-star in two more movies: The Sundowners (1960) and The Grass Is Greener (1960).

This is a two character story similar to Mamet's OLEANNA and yet what a world of difference. The altitude of thematic content gives it a ten and underscores the difference between the films of today and the films of the so-called yesteryear. The situation the characters find themselves thrust into makes for a fascinating character study of two people from completely different walks of life. There is in this film a meditation on the values of War and Peace as lifestyles without these subjects ever being formally mentioned. This is first and foremost a story about duty, love and honor that never gets preachy or uses a sledgehammer to drive its points home.Everything is expert about this film from the way spiritual values are conveyed through the interaction of the characters, to the brilliant color cinematography of Oswald Morris, and the deft direction of John Huston who co-authored the screenplay with John Lee Mahin. I find myself reluctant to share any of the details so as not to spoil the experience for those who have never seen this film. The best I can say is that it is both life affirming and spiritually affirming while the decisions and choices that the characters make are never maudlin and reflect the personalities of individuals adhering to the codes of institutions to which they believe they owe their growth and development. These are mature adults dealing with harsh situations in rational and realistic ways.Long ago I decided that Robert Mitchum was one of the three greatest natural actors that American Cinema ever produced. The others being Gary Cooper for films like SERGEANT YORK and Glen Ford for films like BLACKBOARD JUNGLE. But once you see his performance as Corporal Allison in this film you will see my point and also understand why I think he was probably the main inspiration for the character of Nick Fury in Marvel Comics. I would have to admit I would be hard put to imagine anyone else acting this role so creditably. The same goes for Deborah Kerr as Sister Angela. This performance does not hearken back to her earlier work in BLACK NARCISSUS, but is an entirely fresh interpretation of a Bride of Christ.This film stands out because in an age that is in many ways the fallout from the 'anything goes' sixties and the quest for individual and personal power, it defines in a curious way what it means to be a lady and a gentleman. Also, I found the intelligent exercise of strength of character quite sexy as it is inevitably demonstrated by this unlikely pair of castaways. Even though this could have been done as a stage play, its virile sensitivity is almost flawlessly conveyed as true cinema; the accent always being on the visual rather than the verbal. Herein what the characters do speaks volumes more than anything that they might ever express in words.Also, here Machismo and Marianismo drift out of the smoke and the violence of a great World War and scramble ashore and stumble blindly forth from the desolation to rub shoulders together on a hope and a prayer. There is humor and shared adventure and a sense of having gotten to know two people who say what they mean and mean what they say and live by this accordingly. I doubt that you will ever see two worlds collide in quite such an entertaining and inspiring way. Heaven may be looking down on Mister Allison and Sister Angela, but every time I see this film I find myself looking up to them.

What are the chances of two people from different backgrounds developing a friendship amid the horrors of war? That's the scenario depicted in John Huston's "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison". Robert Mitchum is a cast-away hard-ass marine who lands on an island where a pious nun (Deborah Kerr) has taken up residence during World War II. I think that the movie would have been more interesting if the Japanese troops had gotten depicted as more than simply the empty antagonists. As an adventure story it works well, showing the corporal and the sister having to figure out things like catching a sea turtle. A particularly effective scene shows Mitchum hiding amid the rocks, using the waves as cover while the Japanese search the area.So, I wouldn't go so far as to call this movie a masterpiece, but I did enjoy it. If anyone ever tells you that history is boring, use this movie to disprove that comment.

Has Deborah Kerr ever made a bad movie? Has Robert Mitchum? NO! Neither has John Huston!All are present in this great movie about two people from completely different backgrounds suddenly thrown together and working together to avoid or overcome the many dangers they encounter...to survive.Deborah Kerr, the beautiful-yet-dainty lady of the 1950s, as a Catholic Nun, stuck on a Pacific island during World War 2 with Robert Mitchum, the tough-guy ladies-man of the same era, as a US Marine!?!?Sister Angela (Kerr) is not only a devout 'almost' Nun, but, also a beautiful "LADY;" whereas Corporal Allison (Mitchum) is not only a devout and tough US Marine, but, also a studly "MAN."I'm only happy that this movie was made in the 1950s (1957), because, if it was made in the late 1960s or later, some, or, many, improper and even, unsavory things may have happened that would have turned the potential 'hero' Marine into something much less honorable; and/or, the innocent 'celibate' Nun into something less pure. I felt the need to include this because, in reality...how many pairs of heteros are there in the world who could possibly find themselves in a situation like this and not have 'thoughts' and 'feelings?' ...and, how many of them wouldn't actually act upon them, especially after time goes on, and, on, and, on, and you continually find this 'good-looking opposite-sex' person as your 'only' companion, day-after-day, week-after-week, etc...and, they're so good to you!?!? It could either be like Job's devotion to God; or, like your natural devotion to nature and normalcy...even, love!?!?However, Sister Angela is a Nun and a Proper Lady; and, Corporal Allison is all of a Gentleman.Either way, this is a great movie that not all will find particularly realistic and/or believable, but, all will enjoy...without exception.