Come To The Stable (1949)

Two French nuns (Loretta Young, Celeste Holm) come to America to set up operations in a local stable in order to raise money for a children's hospital. Directed by Henry Koster (MY COUSIN RACHEL). Oy! A treacly sentimental slice of hokum with Loretta Young and Celeste Holm looking all beatific and pious as they obnoxiously hustle and annoy everyone around them but we're supposed to excuse them because they're nuns! These merciful penguins don't resemble the holy terrors from my childhood. Inexplicably, this sugary faith based movie received seven, count them, 7 Oscar nominations including three for acting (Young for best actress, Holm and Elsa Lanchester for supporting actress) despite the fact that their performances are adequate at most. Not as bad as GOING MY WAY (what could be?) but the schmaltz is piled nearly as high but thankfully no Barry Fitzgerald! There is one mildly amusing sequence with Holm playing a tennis match in her habit. With Hugh Marlowe, Thomas Gomez, Dooley Wilson, Dorothy Patrick and Mike Mazurki.