FILM REVIEWS

One of the most popular films of 1949, “Come to the Stable” has become a perennial showing during the Christmas season, due to its subject and message, not to mention its cast.

As directed by Henry Koster, this gentle, mildly enjoyable movie is based on a story by Clare Booth Luce (better known for the cult work, “The Women”).  It is made in the vein of, but not as good as, the popular religious feature “Going My Way,” except that it’s dominated by femmes.

The tale centers on two is the gentle French nuns (Celeste Holm attempting an accent, and Loretta Young, who doesn’t), who come to America in hopes of raising funds for a children’s hospital.

Traveling to a small New England town Bethlehem, the nuns befriend an eccentric painter (Elsa Lanchester), who allows them to use her studio for their operation.

Practical to a fault, the sisters find original ways to raise money for their cause. One of their “agents” is outwardly tough gambler (Mike Mazurki), who gets his raffish pals to invest in the hospital.  The eccentric nuns even play professional tennis to raise money.

Cautious to be moral without being too overtly religious, “Come to the Stable” is a typical Hollywood middlebrow, crowd-pleasing affair who will disagree with the cause of providing better care for children.  The box-office success must have impressed the Academy voters for the picture received no less than seven Oscar nominations, and it’s one of the few films to grant three of its women Oscar nods (see below).

Special Mention:

Dooley Wilson, who made a strong impression in “Casablanca,” makes an appearance her.

Cast

Loretta Young as Sister Margaret

Elsa Lanchester as put-upon artist, Amelia Potts

Celeste Holm as Sister Scholastica

Oscar Nomination:  7

Actress: Loretta Young

Supporting Actress: Celeste Holm

Supporting Actress: Elsa Lanchester

Motion Picture Story: Clare Booth Luce

Cinematography (b/w): Joseph LaShelle

Art Direction-Set Decoration (b/w): Lyle Wheeler and Joseph C. Wright; Thomas little and Paul S. Fox

Song: “Through a Long and Sleepless night,” music by Alfred Newman, lyrics by Mack Gordon

Oscar Awards: None

Oscar Context:

The winner of the Best Actress Oscar was Olivia De Havilland for “The Heiress,” and the winner of the Supporting Actor Oscar was Mercedes McCambridge for “All the King’s Men,” which swept most of the Oscars, including Best Picture.