The Nun's Story
US (1959): Drama
Audrey Hepburn stars in this film as Sister Luke, postulant of a Belgian order of nuns. Though frequently disillusioned in her efforts to spread good will -- at one point she is nearly killed by a mental patient (Colleen Dewhurst) -- Sister Luke perseveres. Sent as a nurse to the Belgian Congo, an assignment she'd been hoping for, Sister Luke is disappointed to learn that she will not be ministering to the natives but to European patients. Through the example of no-nonsense chief surgeon Peter Finch, the nun sheds her idealism and becomes a diligent worker -- so much so that she contacts tuberculosis. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Sister Luke tries to honor the edicts of her order and not take sides, but this becomes impossible when her father (Dean Jagger) is killed by the Nazis. Realizing that she cannot remain true to her vows, Sister Luke leaves the order and returns to "civilian" life. The Nun's Story ends with a long, silent sequence in which Audrey Hepburn divests herself of her religious robes, dons street garb, and walks out to an uncertain future. There is no background music: director Fred Zinnemann decided that "triumphant" music would indicate that Hepburn's decision was the right one, while "tragic" music would suggest that she is doing wrong. Rather than make an editorial comment, the director decided against music, allowing the audience to fill in the blanks themselves. The Nun's Story is based on the autobiographical book by Kathryn Hulme, whose depiction of convent life was a lot harsher and more judgmental than anything seen in the film. (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)
8 nominations
· Best Picture 1959: Henry Blanke - Producer (Warner Bros.)
· Actress 1959: Audrey Hepburn
· Directing 1959: Fred Zinnemann
· Writing (Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1959: Robert Anderson
· Cinematography (Color) 1959: Franz Planer
· Film Editing 1959: Walter Thompson
· Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1959: Franz Waxman
· Sound 1959: George R. Groves (Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department)