Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»1950s Movies»Movies 1957
    Movies 1957 Movies H 3 Mins Read

    Heaven Knows, Mr Allison (1957)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    In the South Pacific in 1944, US Marine Corporal Allison (Robert Mitchum) and his recon party are disembarking from a submarine when they are spotted and fired upon by the Japanese. The submarine goes into a dive, abandoning the scouts. Allison survives and drifts across the ocean in a life raft for days before finally reaching an island.

    Here comes across a deserted chapel, empty save for a single occupant: Sister Angela (Deborah Kerr), a young Irish nun – a novice who has not yet taken her final vows.

    Sister Angela arrived with a 70-year-old priest four days before Allison to rescue a fellow clergyman. However, they found the Japanese occupying the island, and the natives abandoned the nun and her priest companion, Father Phillip, who soon died.

    The Marine and the nun spend some time alone on the island, getting to know each other and bonding through shared hardship and adventure, before being forced to flee to a nearby cave when a small company of Japanese soldiers return.

    The two become very fond of each other and the rough-hewn Allison earnestly tries to understand the young nun, who is as dedicated to her cause as he is to the Marine Corps.

    Her gentleness, tact and wisdom ease him over what could be some awkward moments.

    Eventually, smitten Corporal Allison gets drunk on some sake he “liberates” from the Japs and declares his love for Sister Angela.

    Overcome, she goes out into a torrential rainstorm and becomes sick.

    Finding her unconscious the next day, Allison carries her back to the cave and nurses her to recovery through chills, fever and delirium. When her condition worsens, he places his life in danger by returning to the enemy camp during daylight for food and a blanket. A Japanese soldier discovers him, and Allison kills him during a struggle.

    After the Japanese discover one of their troops has been killed, they search the hillside shouting, “Hey Joe – come out with hands up.”

    Fortuitously, the Americans begin to bomb the island in preparation for an assault landing and the Japanese retreat to take shelter. Allison, meanwhile, successfully sabotages the Japanese artillery.

    The pair are rescued the following morning and bid each other farewell as Allison lets his love go, recognising Sister Angela’s dedication to her faith.

    “Goodbye, Mr Allison. No matter how many miles apart we are, or whether I ever get to see your face again, you’ll be my dear companion always . . . Always.”

    Shooting took place on the Caribbean island of Tobago (which meant the production qualified for British film financing) where native workers built a thatched-roofed village, a small church, and an elevated filming platform.

    As there were no Japanese inhabitants on the island, the production crew hired fifty or so Chinese blue-collar workers which angered the locals because their service industry was disrupted as a result.

    Heaven Knows, Mr Allison was a modest financial success and Deborah Kerr’s performance as Sister Angela drew Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and won her the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. Robert Mitchum received a BAFTA nomination for Best Foreign Actor.

    Sister Angela
    Deborah Kerr
    Corporal Allison USMC
    Robert Mitchum

    Director
    John Huston

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Sweet Smell Of Success (1957)
      Sweet Smell Of Success (1957)
      A lacerating dissection of yellow journalism on Broadway, and one of the most acclaimed films of 1957. Burt Lancaster is…
    • Hypnotic Eye, The (1960)
      Hypnotic Eye, The (1960)
      A series of incidents in which beautiful young women disfigure themselves while under post-hypnotic influence baffles the police. Detective Sergeant…
    • Horizontal Lieutenant, The (1962)
      Horizontal Lieutenant, The (1962)
      Hapless Second Lieutenant Merle Wye (Jim Hutton) of US Army Intelligence is dismayed that he has not seen any action…
    • No Time for Tears (1957)
      No Time for Tears (1957)
      Made in colour in the wake of the success of ITV's Emergency - Ward 10, No Time For Tears is…
    • 12 Angry Men (1957)
      12 Angry Men (1957)
      12 Angry Men is the most probing, incisive, and penetrating look into the hearts and minds of a jury that has…
    • Kronos (1957)
      Kronos (1957)
      What appears to be a meteorite crashes into the sea off the coast of Mexico. After a few days and…
    • Hand, The (1960)
      Hand, The (1960)
      Captured by the Japanese in Burma during World War II, British infantrymen Private Mike Brodie (Reed De Rouen) and Corporal…
    • Hawk the Slayer (1980)
      Hawk the Slayer (1980)
      Lord Grade's ITC gave director Terry Marcel a modest budget of less than a million pounds to throw his hat…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleLady in a Cage (1964)
    Next Article ABC Funfit

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Risk
      Parker Brothers unveiled Risk in 1959. From the point of […]
    • Band Of Talabene
      Phil Manning  Guitar, vocals Tony Naylor  Guitar Phil Gaunt  […]
    • 2 Point 4 Children
      1 9 9 1 – 1 9 9 9 (UK) 56 x 40 minute episodes When Andrew […]
    • Luke’s Kingdom
      1 9 7 6 (UK/Australia) 13 x 60 minute episodes In 1829, […]
    • Alias the Jester
      1 9 8 5 (UK) 13 x 10 minute episodes Produced by Cosgrove Hall […]
    • Hot Metal
      1 9 8 6 – 1 9 8 8 (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes An […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    60 years of Billy Liar: how the Bradford locations have changed today ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    60 years of Billy Liar: how the Bradford locations have changed today

    theb.fi

    Not everything is at it seems about the shooting locations for this classic story of a Yorkshire daydreamer.
    6 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    “I’ll tell you what Charlie, there’s always been a Holroyd at Holroyd’s mill and by god there always will be” Love this film.

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 8
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Canada Cold War Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Kraütrock Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music Video games
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.