Come to the Stable (1949) User Reviews

Clare's Catholic Valentine

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 6 August 2005]

During the late 1940s Clare Booth Luce, wife of Henry Luce of the Luce Publications, noted playwright, Republican Congresswoman had a celebrated conversion to Catholicism courtesy of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. There's nothing like the zeal of the newly converted so this screenplay was written to show how God does move in mysterious ways for the believers.

What's hard to believe is that the same author of The Women actually wrote Come to the Stable. But it's true and Luce is a skilled writer and she fashioned a very easy to take tale of two nuns over from France trying to build a children's hospital in memory of the kids they couldn't save in World War II.

The two nuns are played by Loretta Young and Celeste Holm. There was no doubt that Young would be one of the three leads. Loretta Young, Irene Dunne and Rosalind Russell were three of the leading female Catholic lay people in the country at that time. I'm sure all were approached with this film.

Young and Holm were both recent Oscar winners, for The Farmer's Daughter and Gentlemen's Agreement and both were nominated for Best Actress here. Both lost the big sweepstakes to Olivia DeHavilland who was also a recent winner for To Each His Own. Strange are the ways of the Academy voters. Elsa Lanchester was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the religious artist who offers the nuns shelter and lodging during their quest. Lanchester is her usual charming, but off the wall self in her part.

In today's audience some may find all the happy coincidences a bit much. But then again that is precisely the point of the film, that God will help those who help themselves.

One other thing. Some very rough and irreligious people contribute to the sister's endeavor and I think the message there is that on occasion, man can rise above just looking out for himself and think of the human race at large.

Exceptionally pleasant outing, nearly the best of the religious-themed pictures in the post-WWII era...

[moonspinner55 · 7/10 · 6 December 2009]

"An irresistible force has been let loose in New England" as two nuns travel across what appears to be desolate country by foot, coming upon a stable in the clearing...true, they're in Bethlehem, but it's Bethlehem, New York! The stable is being rented by a dotty artist who specializes in religious paintings, and the sisters have been drawn there by a picture-postcard with the hopes of spearheading development in that area for a children's hospital. Skillful sentiment walks a nimble line between heartfelt religiosity and treacle. The nuns (Loretta Young and Celeste Holm, both Oscar-nominated) lack just two things in their quest--land and money--and the ways in which they acquire these necessities will warm even the grumpiest of viewers (they melt the heart of Thomas Gomez's surly racketeer--luckily for the sisters, he's a Catholic!). No weighty or ponderous agendas here, just simple, old-fashioned entertainment. Beautifully photographed by Oscar-nominated Joseph LaShelle, with music direction by Lionel Newman that tugs at the tear ducts. *** from ****

Lovely movie

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 9 January 2016]

Charming old-fashioned dramedy about a pair of nuns (Loretta Young, Celeste Holm) who travel from France to the small New England town of Bethlehem with the intention of building a children's hospital there. They meet various characters while they try to raise the necessary funds for the construction of the hospital. A simple but heartwarming story, suitable for Christmas viewing but good to watch any time of the year. Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are both perfect for their roles. The always enjoyable Elsa Lanchester is the movie's scene stealer as a quirky artist who takes the nuns in. The rest of the cast includes Hugh Marlowe, Thomas Gomez, Regis Toomey, Dorothy Parker, Mike Mazurki, and Dooley Wilson. It's a beautiful-looking film whose sets and cinematography both received Oscar nominations (it received seven Oscar nods overall). It features the nice song "Through a Long and Sleepless Night," sung by the obviously dubbed Hugh Marlowe and Dorothy Parker. Dripping with sentiment, humor, and good will, it's a lovely film. 'The kind they don't make anymore,' as they say.

Excellent Performances, Nice Story

[Michael_Elliott · 5 April 2010]

Come to the Stable (1949)

*** (out of 4)

Excellent performances and a touching story highlight this comedy/drama about a pair of nuns (Loretta Young, Celeste Holm) who travel from France to New England where they plan on building a children's hospital. Without any type of funds, the nuns try to gather enough money for their dream to come true but they're going to have to depend on some characters who aren't all that thrilled about the hospital. This film was nominated for seven Oscars but it seems to have been forgotten, which is a real shame because this is a pretty touching little gem that works on many levels. What really stands out are the terrific performances with Young and Holm both turning in strong work. There wasn't a single second that I ever looked at their characters and saw actors because the two were so good that you'll have no trouble believing that they are nuns. They're surrounding by some fine actors including Hugh Marlowe as a neighbor who doesn't want to church built. Elsa Lancaster plays an elderly, lonely woman who first takes the nuns in and Thomas Gomez is terrific as a gambler who owns the property where the sisters are wanting to build the hospital. The movie tries walking a fine line between laughs and drama and for the most part it works. I think there are a few bits that push too hard for comedy and you'll see one such scene early one when the "joke" about the nuns driving too fast is played to the extreme. The main reason this movie works is due to its more dramatic and religious moments. The film is never preachy nor does it try to convert people; instead it just makes you feel good. The sequence where the nuns go to the gambler to try and get him to give away the land ends is a very dramatic sequence that I won't ruin but it's incredibly touching. Another terrific scene is when the nuns try to get the local Bishop to buy into their ideas even though it seems impossible that they'll be able to pull them off. Apparently this drama was so successful when first released that a sequel was planned but never produced. It's easy to see why this movie would bring a crowd in but it deserves to be better known today.

Charming tale is easy to take and just as easy to forget...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 27 February 2012]

COME TO THE STABLE is a film I avoided seeing for a long, long time but I finally got around to seeing it tonight on TCM. I thought it would be sticky, sentimental and slick--and it was.

Yet, it's done in an entertaining manner with just the right amount of warmth and lightness of touch to make it a commercial hit. But in all honesty, it's an unremarkable tale about two nuns who go about their mission of building a children's hospital on good faith that the Lord will provide a means of doing so. And, of course, He does exactly that in time for a happy ending.

The actors are given very light material but the performances are first rate. Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are spirited and charming as the nuns, Thomas Gomez is excellent as a racketeer with a heart of gold and Elsa Lanchester excels as a dotty painter.

Hugh Marlowe displays a fine sense of humor as a man whose life in the country is turned upside down by an invasion of happy nuns intent on building a hospital near his grounds. He is the real surprise of the film, much more animated than usual (better than he was in "All About Eve") as a composer annoyed by the well-intentioned sisters who invade his privacy.

It's a film of gentle humor and a few well-earned chuckles along the way, directed in journeyman style by Henry Koster and well photographed by Joseph LaShelle. Not easy to understand is why Young and Holm were nominated for Oscars, since their material is hardly substantial enough to warrant the prestigious award. On the other hand, the supporting role Elsa Lanchester plays is a standout and Dooley Wilson is fine as Marlowe's multi-faceted butler and driver.

Faith and determination can move mountains

[stretchrunner · 9/10 · 26 November 2001]

"Come to the Stable" is a charmingly entertaining tale of two French nuns attempting to establish a children's hospital through their faith in God and their fellow man. This story, set in the post-WWII New England,is not a Christmas movie per se but it does embody the spirit of the season. Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are wonderful as the nuns - Loretta as the feisty Sister Margaret and Celeste as Sister Scholastica with the unshakeable faith. Elsa Lanchester is yet again exceptional, this time in her role as the reluctant aide to the nuns. Hugh Marlowe is wonderful as the harried and frustrated songwriter/neighbor.

This movie is about determination and faith and accomplishing the improbable. Sit back and allow this magnificent cast to entertain you. The experience will be well worth it.

These nuns are so gosh-darn sweet that folks just keep giving them stuff...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 26 January 2016]

"Come to the Stable" is a schmaltzy family drama...the type that was VERY popular in the 40s and 50s. With films like "Going My Way", "The Bells of St. Marys", "The Trouble With Angels", so it's obvious that the American public liked films about nuns. "Come to the Stable" is in the same category. They are all enjoyable family films that slather on the sentiment and are inoffensive to non- Catholics as well.

The film begins with a couple nuns coming to the US from France. Sister Margaret (Loretta Young) plays an American nun serving in Europe and she's accompanied by Sister Scholastica (Celeste Holm). Sister Scholastica is supposed to be French...so they have Ms. Holm say VERY little...though the rare times she talked, she sounded reasonably good. Anyway, they're in the US to start a hospital and armed with faith and a lot of good old fashioned chutzpah, they are able to convince a lot of folks to donate to their cause...including a mobster (Thomas Gomez) and cranky songwriter (Hugh Marlow). It's all quite pleasant and the acting quite nice. But it's also rather inconsequential and not exactly a must-see film.

And Then There Were Nuns

[lugonian · 10/10 · 25 April 2010]

COME TO THE STABLE (20th Century-Fox, 1949), directed by Henry Koster, from the story by Claire Booth Luce, stars Loretta Young in her most perfect screen role. Not quite the retelling of the three Wise Men following the star in the Heavens as they locate the Baby Jesus born in the stable surrounded by Joseph and his Mother Mary, but one about two nuns from the Order of Holy Endeavor on a mission of faith fulfilling their promise to God.

With its opening parallel to the three wise men, the film begins with two wise nuns, Sister Margaret (Loretta Young) from Chicago, and Sister Scholastica (Celeste Holm) of France, having arrived in Connecticut by train, walking miles through the snow with the twinkling star up above. Having spent and survived their war years in France helping underprivileged children, their mission now is to build a children's hospital in the town of Bethlehem. Their journey leads them to the barn where they find Miss Amelia Potts (sensitively played by Elsa Lanchester), an artist who specializes in religious pictures, and the Matthews family acting as models for her latest painting, "Come to the Stable." During the course of time, the nuns take up residence with Miss Potts, acquire the friendship and assistance of Anthony (Dooley Wilson), employed and living in the home of Robert Mason (Hugh Marlowe), a young composer, and his great dane called "Arson," on the other side of the hill from Miss Potts. Finding the perfect location to build their hospital, the nuns learn the land owner to be Luigi Rossi (Thomas Gomez), a bookie/ racketeer who conducts his business in midtown New York. Regardless of circumstances, they intend on meeting with him with the hope he would be so kind and donate the land to them, which doesn't seem possible. As much as the Bishop (Basil Ruysdael) and Monsignor Talbot (Regis Toomey) feel the nuns are fighting a lost cause, the Bishop agrees on giving them, along with the other assisting nuns, three months to earn enough money to pay for property and adjoining building for their church, much to the dismay of Mr. Mason who doesn't want the hospital placed "in his own back yard."

Filled with sentimental charm in the style of Leo McCarey's THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S (RKO, 1945) starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman, COME TO THE STABLE is great on comedy as well with the sisters getting into the habit of unwittingly annoying Mr. Mason for special favors, and their way of passing through some tough thugs (one of them played by Mike Mazurki) in order to visit with their head boss (Gomez, in excellent portrayal). Aside from Sister Margaret being a driver with a lead foot, the scene worth mentioning is the one where the sisters come to Manhattan in Mr. Mason's borrowed jeep, leaving it in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral to enter the church and light a special candle, only to return to find a parking ticket placed on the windshield. What's done with the ticket comes as an element of surprise, especially from the officer watching at a distance. Scenes such as these are played in a straightforward manner, which performs much funnier for its viewers.

While Loretta Young deservingly earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, Celeste Holm's secondary performance as the French nun who expertly plays a good game of tennis should not go unnoticed. Even though a native born French actress as Annabella could have been more accurate in the role, Holm's French accent is so perfect and convincing one would think she was actually born and raised in France. Hugh Marlowe, a fine actor with a very pleasing voice, is ideally cast as the harassed songwriter who not only finds the nuns to be a little troublesome to him, but more of a bother when he is told that his latest composition, "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" to be an old religious hymn he's unwittingly acquired in his head after listening to nuns chanting during church service nearby. Also in the cast is Dorothy Patrick as Marlowe's girlfriend, Kitty Blane.

Often categorized as a Christmas movie, COME TO THE STABLE actually isn't. Though its opening takes place during or around the Christmas season, the love, care and kindness enriched by others is felt throughout its three month time span in which its set. An inspirational movie with a message of not giving up hope when situations prove impossible. In Sister Margaret's case, her faith in the Lord and prayers to her patron St. Jude, patron saint of hopeless cases. A delightful film from start to finish, COME TO THE STABLE is worthy viewing not only around Christmas but any time of the year. While Loretta Young never portrayed a nun on screen again, she would enact that particular role in an episode or two on television for her "Loretta Young Show" in the 1950s, but none as memorable as her portrayal as Sister Margaret, who's faith is stronger than herself.

Displayed on video cassette in 1995, cable broadcast history for COME TO THE STABLE consists of American Movie Classics (1990s), Fox Movie Channel and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: February 27, 2012) (****)

Pleasant viewing but unremarkable.

[eddax · 7/10 · 15 January 2010]

Admittedly, this movie would've done less for me if I hadn't first watched Loretta Young in The Farmer's Daughter. I think it always helps to be already appreciative of a star's talent before watching a movie of theirs. I'm not a Celeste Holm fan, so I don't think she particularly stood out here, even if she did score an Oscar nomination. I also would definitely have not watched this movie if I hadn't been curious of Young and Elsa Lanchester's also-Oscar nominated performances (sadly, Lanchester failed to impress as well).

It's about two French nuns (one of whom inexplicably has a British accent) who are on a holy mission (aren't they all) to build a hospital in a US town named Bethlehem. They have no money but whaddaya know, somehow they win over snooty residents, get free land from a gangster, and somehow scrounge up enough money for it. I make it sound sappier than it is, really. It's actually pleasant viewing that didn't venture into cheese, though personally it wasn't as uplifting as it was meant to be (maybe because I'm not Christian).

Beautiful poignant story, in the vein of Bells of St. Marys.

[rcl1316 · 10/10 · 10 February 2001]

"Come to the Stable" is a beautiful, sentimental movie, in the vein of "Bells of St. Marys" and "Going My Way." I saw it many years ago before buying the video and seeing it again. Loretta Young, unquestionably one of the great actresses of all time, is outstanding as a dedicated nun. So is Celeste Holm. It is easy to see why they were nominated for oscars. The picture itself received (I believe) six nominations.

The picture has you pulling for these dedicated nuns to accomplish their task. As with movies of this era, of course they do.

It is well worth watching.

What a surprise...

[crash5 · 10/10 · 30 January 2003]

For some reason we bought this movie years ago. Every time I started to watch it I fell asleep before the end. It sat in storage for years and I took it out last week and FINALLY watched it from beginning to end. What a surprise! It's a heartwarming movie. It's definetly a period film, but it's not corny. I think I like the respect that God gets in the storyline. A 10 out of 10, just because!!

A view from 2018

[lthes81 · 5/10 · 10 December 2018]

Mama and I used to watch this old flick with great enjoyment. Although not Catholics, we both enjoyed its sweet simplicity, beautiful music and inspiring ending. Now, in 2018, with the clarity of vision one gains as years pass, I see the two nuns who, given an inch, take a mile; several, in fact. I don't particularly care about 'God's will,' which they determine matches their own, as much as I care about the people they impose upon. I doubt if anyone would bend to their will now as they did in post-war years. The only thing that still gets to me and brings tears is the memorial window to Luigi Rossi, Jr., who now has a resting place his father can visit. Otherwise, it's an exercise in how to blatantly use people.

When nuns wore habits - and makeup!

[gregcouture · 22 April 2005]

I saw this charming, slickly produced film as a young parochial grammar school kid at a theater in downtown Boston (near where my family lived at the time) and remember being tremendously amused at the scene where the two sisters, played by Loretta and Celeste (saddled with having to approximate a French accent), blithely tore up a parking ticket, placed on the windshield of their borrowed open WW II-era Jeep, thinking it was just an advertisement. Sister Celeste tosses the pieces into the air as they drive off from in front of New York's St. Patrick Cathedral where they'd illegally parked. (I doubt that she felt obliged to confess that little venial sin, do you?) There's a lot more to be amused and entertained by, of course, and the behind-the-camera artisans, as well as the well-chosen actors, especially Hugh Marlowe and Elsa Lanchester as well as Misses Young and Holm, all contributed some very professional work. Henry Koster, the director, was an old hand at keeping a project such as this from slipping entirely into a bath of over-the-top sentimentality.

So much has changed since those somewhat more innocent times and a gentle story such as this, with two ladies encased in those heavy, enveloping habits (with only their perfectly made-up faces visible to the world, by the way), is almost inconceivable today. See it and be transported back to a time when goodness, sincerity, and religious beliefs that don't descend into fanaticism were the order of the day, at least in Hollywood movies aimed at the family trade.

One interesting little tidbit: in one scene Hugh Marlowe's character (a song writer) sings the Academy Award-nominated song, "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" (which didn't win - and you'll hear why), and his singing voice was dubbed by Ken Darby, who was chiefly responsible for directing most of the choral work in many of Twentieth's films for many years. I have a suspicion that Mr. Darby probably rejected quite a few male candidates who wanted to join the Fox studio's choir if they didn't sound any better than he did!

Good Christmas fare appealingly presented

[Neff-2 · 9/10 · 10 December 1999]

Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are two nuns from a French convent on a mission to establish a children's hospital in a rural village much to the consternation of composer Robert Masen (Hugh Marlowe) who would like to see his place in the country stay just like it is. Against all odds the indomitable sisters move Masen and several other unlikely contributors into making the hospital a reality. It's fine family viewing with a warmth an innocence unseen in today's more cynical Christmas pics.

Religion Was Never this Way as "Come to the Stable Shows" ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 22 January 2006]

Loretta Young's beautiful Oscar-nominated performance, as a nun, in the wonderful "Come to the Stable," highlights this beautiful film.

This film deals with a group of nuns who are committed to building a children's hospital and what they must go through to get the necessary approval as well as the funds.

After a very difficult time in procuring money, they attain their goal only to get a thumbs down from the church that feels it has other obligations to attend to.

There is a heart warming performance by Thomas Gomez, as a parishioner who is widowed and has lost his only son to World War 11. Stingy, he finally donates in memory of his son. His remembering of his son was so poignantly done.

Elsa Lancaster and Celeste Holm were each nominated for best supporting actress for their performances. Holm plays a mean game of tennis in one scene.

A beautiful film of the human spirit.

They are the lillies of the snowy plains.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 20 December 2018]

While the winter setting of what appears to be Bethlehem Connecticut isn't exactly identified as a Christmas movie, I couldn't see a better time to watch this sweet look at the lives of two nuns (Loretta Young and Celeste Holm) from a French convent (one American born) who decide to settle in the small town named after the place where Jesus Christ was born many Christmas's ago. It is their desire to build a children's hospital, but they find many obstacles in their way from the local dioceses which would love to help them, but just doesn't have the resources. Through the help of an eccentric artist (Elsa Lanchaster) and a handsome, wealthy local (Hugh Marlowe), Young and Holm settle nicely in the community, win over the affections of the locals and prove that even when financial issues stand in the way of a worthy goal, miracles can happen.

Having won my heart in the Christmas classic "The Bishop's Wife", Young proves once again that with those sweet looks of hers is a woman of character behind her movie star presence. Like Deborah Kerr in "Black Narcissus", her spirit takes her past all of the obstacles she faces, but unlike that British classic, this 20th Century Fox family film is a delightful comedy where the nuns are treated respectfully as human beings who have their eccentricities and pasts and are completely no-nonsense about getting what they want without having to step ruthlessly on other people's toes. Young and Holm are a deliciously funny pair together, joined later by a gaggle of nuns who arrive from France once the two have settled in and found a place for them to set up their hospital.

The two leading nuns individually have their humorous secrets, with Young a former war jeep driver who can speed through the snow without causing an accident and do u-turns in the middle of Fifth Avenue, by St. Patrick's Cathedral of course. Meanwhile, Holm's nun is a former French tennis champion who gave up the sport when she took her vows but wows Marlowe and friends in a game where she proves that even in a heavy habit, she has what it takes to keep up with the best of them. These scenes add some fun farce to a basically serious story told in a light manner. Under the direction of Henry Koster (who directed Young in "The Bishop's Wife"), the cast is excellent, the script practically perfect, and even the actors in smaller roles (which includes Dooley Wilson as Marlowe's handyman who reluctantly lets Young drive the jeep, Dorothy Patrick as Marlowe's lady friend (who is Holm's rival in the tennis match) and sultry Marion Martin in a brief bit as Marlowe's sexpot secretary, shine. While the similarities to "The Bishop's Wife" are obvious, this has enough sweetness and light to shine any time of the year, and would even bring a tear to the eye of Ebenezer Scrooge before he got his ghostly visits on Christmas Eve.

Still one of my favorite Christmas movies

[cherold · 8/10 · 15 December 2014]

I guess this isn't exactly a Christmas movie but rather a general light religious one, but I've always wound up watching it in December so I think of it as holiday fare.

I like this movie a lot. More than anything else, this is because of Elsa Lanchester's performance as a jittery artist. Even though it's not a huge part, whenever I think of the movie I think of her.

This movie does a solid job of being religious without being insufferably so (as opposed to twaddle like Song of Bernadette). The movie is light and breezy, trading on the charming site of two nuns steamrolling mobsters and doing whatever it takes to reach their goal.

The movie is light and fun and has a lot of charm to it. It has its issues - that long, slow song you're forced to listen to twice, the fact that there appears to be zero need for the hospital the nuns want to build - but it's so pleasantly amusing that you can't be too bothered by that.

All the same, I'm glad neither young nor Holmes won an Oscar, because they are quite unexceptional. Lanchester might have deserved one, but I haven't seen the winner so who knows?

Charity does not cover this multitude of sins.

[Irie212 · 5/10 · 23 September 2009]

Let me start by saying that the greatest film about religion that I have ever seen, bar none, is "The Passion of Joan of Arc," the silent 1928 Carl Th. Dreyer classic that was based in large part on the actual transcripts of Jeanne d'Arc's trial at Rouen in 1431. It is stunningly unsentimental, utterly believable, brilliantly realized, and the performance by Maria Falconetti as Joan is justifiably praised as among the best ever put on film. God is a positive presence in faithful Joan, but the Catholic church is far from a positive presence in the film.

In comparison, movies like "Come to the Stable," along with "Going My Way" and "The Bells of St. Mary's," are commercial products, period. "Come to the Stable" is the work of a distinguished Jewish producer (Samuel Engel of "My Darling Clementine" and "Daddy Long Legs"), so we can safely conclude that the studio's motives had less to do with religious belief than with big box office. That's not an insult; it's just Hollywood, which is also responsible for the movie's qualities- - charming performances, skilled writers, journeyman direction. But it is religious propaganda-- simple-minded, predictable, and slick. At no point is there the slightest doubt that the ending will jerk the tears of the faithful and honor the Roman Catholic god with hymns and redeemed characters.

The most remarkable aspect of this movie never seems to be mentioned by reviewers: The French nuns (Loretta Young, Celeste Holm) who arrive in America after World War II have a plan to build a children's hospital, but they are not in the least concerned with where such a facility might actually be needed. Indeed, the location they choose is a town that doesn't want, or apparently need such a hospital. There's not one child in the whole movie, ill or well. The nuns chose the New England town not for any epidemiological reasons, but because it's called Bethlehem. Logically, then, we can assume that if there had been a contemporaneous outbreak of poliomyelitis among children in Sodom (there are at least four in America), these nuns would, at most, pray for the little Sodomites from the chapel of their empty hospital in Bethlehem.

Sublime film of faith, trust and divine providence

[SimonJack · 10/10 · 2 January 2017]

This is a delightful story of faith and trust in divine providence, and of healing and conversions. "Come to the Stable" is from a Christmas story by Claire Boothe Luce, who also co-wrote the screenplay. While the plot is fiction, it has close similarities to a real story in 1947 and some real people then living around Bethlehem, CT. The plot also has connections to World War II, which had recently ended.

The setting is a rural area of NW Connecticut. The opening scene seems surrealistic, stark. It's night time and bright stars fill the sky with some clouds ahead on the horizon. Two nuns are walking in the snow on a road that goes through a barren terrain. Gentle snow-covered hills - with no trees or buildings in sight until the end of the scene. They stop when they come to road signs: "Jordan, Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem." The nuns have walked a few miles from the train station and have reached their destination. They hear Christmas carols as they near the stable studio of Amelia Potts (played by Elsa Lanchester), a well-known painter of religious scenes.

Sister Margaret (played by Loretta Young) is a native of Chicago who attended school in France. She then joined a religious order there, the Sisters of Holy Endeavor. Sister Scholastica (played by Celeste Holm) is a native of France. They came from near Villers, France. (There are a few towns with the prefix Villers in the area of Normandy.) The nuns ran a hospital for children. The Nazis used it as an observation point, and when an American armored division was advancing, the nuns evacuated the hospital - all but about 100 children who couldn't be moved. Sister Margaret asked for God's help and promised the Lord that if she could get through to the American general and the hospital would be spared, she would return to her own country and build a children's hospital there. When the shelling was done, the town all around was leveled but the hospital wasn't touched. So, here they are now in America.

Robert Masen (played by Hugh Marlowe) was among the American troops that stormed the beaches in Normandy. And, the only son of Luigi Rossi (played by Thomas Gomez) was killed during the Normandy invasion, near Villers. In the movie, Sister Margaret is a snappy jeep driver. Sister Scholastica says, "During the war, the GIs taught Sister Margaret all about the jeep." All of the acting is superb, with Dooley Wilson in a wonderful role as Anthony James, Masen's hired hand.

How the nuns happened to come to Bethlehem, was, as Sister Margaret says, by divine providence. In France, they received a postcard from America. It showed the painting, "Come to the Stable," and on the back it described the work of Amelia Potts in Bethlehem, CT. So, that's how these two nuns began their pilgrimage to find a place to build a children's hospital. They have a devotion to St. Jude, the patron saint of the impossible, and will name the hospital after him.

The story is a wonderful tale of providence indeed guiding these sisters in their mission. To anyone else, it would seem impossible. But, the message of the movie is the great faith of these women and their trust in providence to achieve their goal. The bishop (played by Basil Ruysdael) says, after he has met the nuns, "Something tells me that an irresistible force has been let loose in New England." Later, Monsignor Talbot (played by Regis Toomey) says, "Excellency, it is that irresistible force." Bishop, "Against which, quite obviously, there is no defense. There hasn't been for nearly 2,000 years."

In 1949, Connecticut had just one Catholic diocese. It's seat was at Hartford, 40 miles away from Bethlehem. The drive to New York to find Luigi Rossi was just 100 miles. But there were no Interstate highways then.

Luce no doubt got her idea for this story from some real events and people in 1947. That year, two French nuns arrived in Bethlehem to found a contemplative Benedictine abbey. They were from an abbey northeast of Paris. They were taken in by artist Lauren Ford (1891-1973), a painter of Christian and children's themes. A prominent Protestant, Robert Leather, had a pine-covered hill in town, which he cherished as a place of prayer. He wanted it to be preserved as a sacred place, so he donated the land for the abbey.

Regina Laudis flourishes today on 400 acres. It became known years later after Hollywood actress Delores Hart joined the order in 1963. She later served more than 10 years as prioress. As of the time of this writing, Mother Delores Hart is still alive and a vibrant member of the Regina Laudis Abbey. The abbey has a gift shop that sells many of the things the nuns make - similar to what the movie shows. It sells many craft items, food items, religious goods and CDs of the nuns singing Gregorian chant.

"Come to the Stable" is a warm, inspiring film that the whole family will enjoy at Christmas or any time of year. As the bishop says toward the end of the film, "Sometimes the simple, blind faith of such sisters is really sublime, magnificent." The movie had its premier in New York on July 27 and was released across the U. S. in September. It was a smash hit at the box office, and finished the year in 15th place for domestic ticket sales. It received seven Academy Award nominations.

Sweet and Funny

[gkshaw63 · 9/10 · 23 January 2021]

This is a holiday favorite! Loretta Young is wonderful as a persistent but lovely nun. Celeste Holmes is precious as a young French tennis pro turned nun. The way duo power through the nay sayers to reach their goal is both touching and funny.

Sacred Geometry in Community

[higherall7 · 9/10 · 30 January 2021]

When I first saw this movie, it reminded me of the time our mother sent my brother and I outside in the dead of winter night. We were armed with pots under the street lamps collecting fresh snow that she would add vanilla extract to in order to make us ice cream. That how this film feels to me. We first see Sister Margaret and Sister Scholastica trudging over a sloping snow covered hill towards some destination under a starry sky. There is cold in the air and yet the scene exudes warmth. The two nuns, bundled against freezing temperatures, tread with lighthearted determination and appear certain that they will arrive at their destination.

Nowadays, I do not think you could make ice cream from fresh snow without concerns about pollution and perhaps ingesting toxins of an unknown nature from the environment. I also do not think you could view a scene of two single women walking alone in an open field in the world of today without harboring some concern about their safety and welfare. Perhaps the wholesome, benign veneer has been snatched like a heated blanket from the frosty toes of Life. You would not think so settling down to watch this film.

The sense that the sisters are coming from an openly spiritual community and arriving under the aegis of some kind of divine guidance is quite palpable. Although I am hard put to recall seeing nuns wearing lipstick, the unusual spiritual sensitivity you find in Loretta Young's face and the hopeful sincerity that you find in Celeste Holm's aspect convinces the movie viewer of their goodhearted spiritual authority. The expectation of inevitable success in their mission here in Bethlehem ever appears unflappable to outside influences coming from the world of Man.

This is essentially a spiritual fairy tale revolving around several kernels of truth. Elsa Lancaster as Amelia Potts, a painter of religious pictures, receives the Sisters with a mystified skepticism. Similarly Hugh Marlowe, as songwriter Bob Mason, accommodates their needs with pained annoyance. But their presence in this New England town reveals intriguing strands of synchronicity between all the major characters. Dooley Wilson shines as Anthony James, helping the sisters out with their transportation needs, and Thomas Gomez as Luigi Rossi, comes across as a racketeer with a fugitive heart of gold, if you can believe that.

There is a compelling calculus of encounter that renders all the characters in a kind of Sacred Geometry of Dignity as the final scene resolves the story. You cannot help but feel that you have before you graphic evidence that man is basically good as the sisters achieve their ultimate goal in Bethlehem. Director Henry Koster puts all his actors to their marks with nary a misstep in musical counterpoint to Cyril J. Mockridge's rousing and inspiring score. While Bob Mason joins his little community with a face uplifted in prayer, wondering about the relationship between his latest popular song and a ancient Gregorian chant.

Wonderful Christmas Film!!

[hennystruijk · 9/10 · 15 December 2018]

This is one of the best Christmas films ever! With 3 acting Oscar nominations, wonderful cinematography, and a very real message--see this if you can!!! You won't be disappointed!!

Uninspiring story of two nuns who have no respect

[deexsocalygal · 3/10 · 29 April 2021]

Instead of a story that makes you rute for the nuns this one made me feel ashamed of nuns. This movie is about two nuns who come from France to look for property to buy to build a hospital. The 1st scene shows two nuns who arrived by boat & are out walking around looking for property. The first person they see they knock on his door & wake him up out bed not once but three times. Each time the poor man is tired & annoyed but the nuns could care less. They end up getting what they want - free use of his vehicle & he even pays for the gas. Next scene the nun is shown speeding, screeching & sliding in the dirt, turning in front of a city bus almost causing accidents, illegally parking, a cop giving them a Parking Ticket, & the nuns TEAR IT UP! No respect for the man's vehicle or the law. Next scene the nuns find the property they want but it belongs to an Italian Mob boss. They don't care & go to talk him out of his property. When they get there he's busy behind a closed door & surrounded by men who tell the nuns he isn't available. The men who work for him keep telling the nuns that he's currently in a meeting but they just ignore them & refuse to leave. No respect. The men think they are only there to collect money for the church & give them money so they'll go away & not pester the boss who's told them he's not to be bothered. The nuns do not clarify that they aren't there to ask for money. They go ahead & TAKE THE MONEY THREE times from the men never clarifying to them that they aren't there to ask for money. They stubbornly refuse to leave & eventually push their way into his office interrupting his meeting. They have no respect for anyone. The boss gives them $100 thinking they're collecting for the church. Instead of giving it back they KEEP IT & tell him they want him to GIVE THEM HIS PROPERTY so they can build a church on it. He says no but they do not respect this & continue to hang around & beg from him while the person he was in a meeting with has to sit there. They finally get him to give in because when he hears they're from a town in France where his son was killed in the war he gets all sentimental with tears in his eyes & hands them the deed to the property. Next scene they go to meet the Cardinal & tell him about their deed & plans to build the church. He knows they need money to build a church & tells them no. They beg & plead saying they'll sell crafts to get the money. He says no. Then a truck pulls up &10 nuns get out. The nuns had already sent for these nuns to come help raise the money. Again NO RESPECT. The lady who has allowed the two nuns to stay in her house gets upset & tells them there is no room for 10 more nuns in her house & there isn't enough food to feed them all. Of course the nuns don't respect this & of course the Cardinal gives in & says its too late they're already here & gives them 3 months to come up with enough money to builda church. So they all move in, inconveniencing the poor lady who has no room or food. The next scene shows the man who lives next door to this property who had lent them his vehicle. He sees all these nuns suddenly walking past his property, bells tolling waking him up, his dog is barking & geese are wandering onto his front lawn. He goes to find out what's going on. He finds a huge yard sale with tables, crafts, & nuns selling stuff everywhere. Every nun he asks a question to tells him they don't speak English but when he thanks them they reply "You're welcome." So they're lying! This only causes the man to become more upset. We are supposed to find this funny but I didn't think it was. It was dishonest to lie & the man is only trying to find out what's going on. I didn't find this a feel good movie. I was embarrassed & angry at the behavior of the nuns.

come to the stable

[mossgrymk · 4/10 · 11 January 2021]

Nauseating nun movie whose corniness makes "Going My Way" look like a Wes Craven flic. And Loretta Young's about as Gallic as a bowl of menudo. C minus.

Ridiculous Nun Story

[lenad-42869 · 2/10 · 13 May 2023]

Annoying, "cutesy " joke of a story that leaves one wanting to slap these nuns, who impose themselves on everyone. The story is so preposterous it needed to be done in a comedic style, and the comic attempt fails miserably. The nuns start swarming a small beautiful country area like locusts, not caring about anyone else's way of life determined to get their way. Pathetic saccharine view of religion, nuns and the fools they dupe along the way, guilting them into giving and keep giving, to the point where they all become empty-headed vessels, replete with idiotic grins on their faces as an amorphous mass at the end. One of the most mind-numbing movies I've ever watched. The only reason I gave it a score above 1 was due to the dog's performance.