Usamah Harvey
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Adeel Hail
Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.
Kimball
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
SimonJack
Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills) and Rachel Devery (June Harding) arrive at the same time to begin their sophomore year in St. Francis School for Girls, somewhere in Pennsylvania. Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell) has overseen the school run by her religious order for some time. She has met and learned to deal with all kinds. But she's in for new experiences with Mary and Rachel. Mother is a resolute person, wise with age and experience. The question is – can the school survive these two characters?This is a wonderful story with comedy galore. It's also a fair look at the running of a Catholic boarding school in the mid-20th century. The setting is somewhat unusual because the school is housed in an old estate that also serves as the mother house and convent for the order. If anything, the film is very light on the things Catholic. Except for a couple of short chapel scenes, and Mother Superior saying grace before their first meal, it leaves out much of the daily practices of prayer, adoration and the Mass. The movie is a good blend of the pranks and hijinks that are the work of the two girls, and the wisdom of a religious woman as she metes out justice to discipline the girls. All of the cast are very good. Russell is very believable as a religious and experienced mother superior. The actresses playing the roles of other nuns contribute to making this the fine movie that it is. Binnie Barnes, Marge Redmont, Camilla Sparv, Mary Wickes and others were superb in their roles.Other girls were very good in their roles, but Mary and Rachel were tops as the spark plugs of the story. As Mother Superior adroitly observed and told her associates, Rachel is a follower, so it's Mary the leader, who will be the greatest challenge. Most of the comedy is in various scenarios that the two girls cook up. They usually spring from "a scathingly brilliant idea" that Mary has. It's a fun film that the whole family should enjoy. The ending might sneak up on some, but I had a hunch of what might happen from a couple of late scenes in the film. Hayley Mills was 19 years old when this film was made, and she progresses three grades from ages 16 to 19 nicely. Mills, the daughter of British film star John Mills and British playwright Mary Hayley Bell, became a major youth star after two smash hit Walt Disney movies. She starred in "Pollyanna" in 1960, and then took the world by storm in "The Parent Trap" of 1961. She had a number of other hit movies through the mid-1960s. But her stardom and huge film success ended by the time she was 30. At age 20, after filming "The Family Way" in late 1966, she began an affair with the director, Roy Boulting. He was 53 years old. She lived with him for five years until he divorced in 1971, and then she and Boulting were married. That lasted just five years, and by the time of her divorce in 1976, her bad film choices had dropped her out of the spotlight for good. She has continued to make movies, including some TV films and shows, and she acts on stage. Does anyone wonder that her parents likely urged Mills not to get involved with Boulting? Besides being married, he almost was old enough to be her grandfather. Here are some sample humorous lines from this film.Mother Superior, "Sister LIguori is my assistant and teaches mathematics. You'll find her methods newer than new."Mr. Petrie (played by Tim Hutton), "The finest educated minds in the country happen to be on our side." Mother Superior, "God is on ours."Mother Superior, "Will you please, in the future, remember that St. Francis is not a training school for counter spies."
Amy Adler
Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills) gets shipped off to a Catholic boarding school by her guardian, a wealthy, woman-chasing uncle, who doesn't want her around. Almost instantly, Mary makes her feelings about being at the school very clear to the woman in charge, Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell). She, Mary, hates it! Naturally smart and devious, Miss Clancy, with the help of new and only friend Rachel, starts to enact "scathingly brilliant ideas". This includes putting soap bubbles in the nuns' beverages, leading "tours" to the sisters' living quarters, which are strictly private, and much, much more. But, M Sup, having been witness to the teen's uncle's nature, decides not to expel her, only give Mary tons of dishes and chores. Slowly, Mary's attitude to the school begins to change, as she sees the sacrifices the sisters make for others. Especially meaningful to Mary is the day they hold a Christmas party for a women's nursing home and Mary sees how M Sup consoles and hugs a lady whose family doesn't bother to attend. Could there be angels unaware that they are angels? Yes! This is a classic Mills film which also boasts a terrific performance by Russell. Although made nearly 40 years ago, families will still get the biggest kick out of the teens' antics and the meaningful life lessons they learn from the lovely nuns. All supporting cast members are terrific, too, as is the school setting, the costumes, the amazingly great script and the equally fine direction. If you have never heard of the film or you just want to take a stroll down memory lane, Trouble with Angels is superior entertainment for any evening.
zorinant
Marcey Clancy is new at St. Francis academy for girls, while there she meets Rachel Derery. Through out the three years at the school the two girls go on a series of entertaining mischief.And become close friends.What an entertaining film this was! Hayley Mills delivers a energetic and spunky performance.One of her most entertaining roles.June Harding also brings some energy to her role as Marcey's friend Rachel. One of the thing that I love most about this film is the music score by Jerry Goldsmith.His score is up-beat and adds to the light hearted tone to the film. After watching this film who wouldn't want to be friends with Marcey and Rachel and go on their series of misadventures. I seriously recommend this timeless family film for those who want a funny and feel good film. Full of laughs and drama you will love this film just like I did.
johnstonjames
if ya want your daughters to seriously consider enlisting Catholic and becoming a Nun then have them watch this movie it's very persuasive. as a Protestant and a Baptist, i found myself a little weary and suspicious of the whole thing. i mean the difference between Catholics and Protestants is like cats and dogs really.as a long time Haley Mills(is Haley Catholic?)fan since childhood i rather enjoyed this. it's better than you would think it would be. Haley Mills and Rosalind Russell are quite good and a lot of this is very funny. i mean really, any movie that shows Haley Mills of all people, smoking in the girl's bathroom and smoking a cigar is worth a viewing in my book. how scandalous. and the scene where they put Marble Ann's face in a plaster mold was excruciatingly funnyi can't say this was a great movie, but it was a lot more intelligent than you would think it would be. certainly more intelligent than it's brain dead junky sequel 'Where Angels Go Trouble Follows'. and this film was also directed by a woman director at a time when there were really no women in the industry directing mainstream commercial films. also the films over-serious ending doesn't ruin it, it actually has some depth.i sort of preferred the sequel however, because the sequel was such a brain dead piece of junk it was more interesting to watch. this movie simply had to much quality behind it to be as much fun. do you think your daughter would forgive you if you named her Marble Ann? i think someone should test that.
