Satan Never Sleeps
Based on Pearl S. Buck's gripping novel, this film follows the story of a Catholic priest in China during the Communist Revolution. Father O'Banion (William Holden), a young Catholic priest assigned to a remote mission in China, meets a beautiful girl, Siu Lan (France Nuyen), whose affections he must deny in order to serve the church. And when the Red Army seizes the mission and inflicts a sinister hold over Lan and everyone else at the mission, the strength of O'Banion's faith and forgiveness are put to the ultimate test.
Member Reviews
Passable - 487Ferg
I think the story in this movie is a good one (makes me want to read the book) but the script is only fair. I am a huge William Holden fan, but his talents were wasted on this script, it really didn't give him enough to bite into. Clifton Webb was also good, but Frances Nuguyan was awful with her pathetic love sick puppy imitation. The scenes with the Red Army were overdone and seemed to just fill time. Wouldn't recommend.Not so bad, really - Neil1
Perhaps it was because it exceeded my expectations, or perhaps one has to be Catholic to appreciate some of its overtones, but I found the overall effort to be quite satisfying, in particular much of the dialog, the poignancy of the girl's 'unrequited love', and the Communists' icon-busting savagery, which I'm certain was even underplayed to some extent. All in all it was refreshing once again to see Catholic priests portrayed as the heroes the great majority of these servants of God truly are.Satan Never Sleeps... but you will. - Scotched
Too bad I am the first to review this film, as I'm not up to it.
"Satan Never Sleeps" has a good cast, not brilliant, but good.
It is weighed down with an illiterate script that attempts to find comedy in a story including rape. The acclaimed director, Leo McCarey gets full marks for bravery, but none for direction.
While I remeber seeing this when I was 18 years old, a recent viewing reveals my immaturity then, and this film's insensitivity now.
Pray we never sleep with these attitudes again.
Two stars, one for William Holden and one for France Nuyen, out of a possible five.
Member Reviews
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Passable - 487Ferg
I think the story in this movie is a good one (makes me want to read the book) but the script is only fair. I am a huge William Holden fan, but his talents were wasted on this script, it really didn't give him enough to bite into. Clifton Webb was also good, ...Not so bad, really - Neil1
Perhaps it was because it exceeded my expectations, or perhaps one has to be Catholic to appreciate some of its overtones, but I found the overall effort to be quite satisfying, in particular much of the dialog, the poignancy of the girl's 'unrequited love', ...Satan Never Sleeps... but you will. - Scotched
Too bad I am the first to review this film, as I'm not up to it.
"Satan Never Sleeps" has a good cast, not brilliant, but good.
It is weighed down with an illiterate script that attempts to find comedy in a story including rape. The acclaimed director, ...