The Singing Nun (MGM) (1966)

“THE SINGING NUN” ACCENTS A RISING NEW STAR—VERSATILE KATHARINE ROSS “T felt like a star when I made $1,250 a year. Today, when I am very much better paid, I feel like a novice,” says candid Katharine Ross, who makes her latest screen appearance in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “The Singing Nun.” “My first experience in the theatre was in San Francisco with the Actors Workshop,” she continued. “We tried all sorts of wonderful plays and experiments and I thought of myself as a potential Helen Hayes, another Katharine Hepburn. Now, after two years in Hollywood playing opposite such stars as James Stewart and James Garner, I know better.” As Nicole, a girl who fights against the poverty and ugliness in her life in “The Singing Nun,” Miss Ross plays the most demanding role of her career. Her brief experience in Hollywood started at the top with James Stewart in “Shenandoah,” a performance which led to one of the romantic leads in “Mister Buddwing” with James Garner. “T was particularly happy with my role in “The Singing Nun’ because Nicole is an unconventional girl who breaks the rules,” Miss Ross declared. “That type of role is particularly attractive to young players, and I am no exception. A part that calls for something entirely alien to your own character really gives you a chance to act.” She went on to say, “Even more important for me was the chance to work with such experienced artists as Debbie Reynolds, Greer Garson, Ricardo Mon talban and Agnes Moorehead. I did everything I could to observe, learn and absorb.” CHAMPAGNE GIVES WAY TO A PRAYER A suggestion made by Father Leo Lunders, the Dominican priest who served as technical advisor on MGM’s “The Singing Nun,” set an innovation in Hollywood. The traditional champagne toast on the first day of filming took second place to a prayer for the welfare of cast and company and the success of the project, with thanks for the opportunity to work. Father Lunders’ suggestion met with the unanimous approval of the picture’s stars, Debbie Reynolds, Greer Garson, Ricardo Montalban, Agnes Moorehead, Katharine Ross, Chad Everett, Ed Sullivan and Juanita Moore. “The Singing Nun” tells the heartwarming story of a young Dominican nun (Miss Reynolds) whose great gift for music makes her famous overnight. She did even more than absorb. She enrolled in the dramatic school run by Miss Moorehead and Richard Whorf. “Chad Everett, who is also in this picture, and I both did,” says Miss Ross. “Like me, Chad, who is almost as new in films as I am, wants additional experience away from the movie cameras, A dramatic school or actors laboratory gives it to you. It’s like an old-fashioned stock company—a new role every night, a new play, an untried manuscript.” Born in Los Angeles, Katharine saw much of the United States as a small girl, since her father, a Navy lieutenant, kept his family on the move, winding up in San Francisco. “When a boy on whom I had a mad crush joined the Workshop, I decided that’s where I belonged. It was wonderful. We tried everything from ‘The Devil’s Disciple’ to Jean Gent’s “The Balcony.’ ” The workshop gave Miss Ross her present career. During the San Francisco location of the “Sam Benedict” television series, star Edmond O’Brien Katharine Ross, one of the screen’s fastest-rising young actresses, plays her most dramatic role as an embittered and poverty-stricken girl who is aided by Debbie Reynolds, as Sister Ann, in MGM’s “The Singing Nun.” The Singing Nun Still 1843-106 Mat 1-E visited the Workshop and singled Katharine out for a six-minute role. Within 24 hours she had received more than a dozen film and TV offers. Today she lives in Westwood within easy access of the University Playhouse and refuses to let anything interfere with her studies at the MooreheadWhorf drama lab, because, she sighs, “T have so much to learn.” As her father (Michael Pate) looks on, an imbittered Katharine Ross spurns the help of Debbie Reynolds, as Sister Ann, in this scene from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s **The Singing Nun.”’ The moving drama of a young Dominican nun who attempts to aid the poor with the help of her great gift for music also stars Ricardo Montalban, Agnes Moorehead, Chad Everett, Ed Sullivan, as himself, and guest star Greer Garson. Filmed in Panavision and color, it features the world-famous Nun’s Music. Still 1843-137 10 The Singing Nun Mat 2-F RICARDO MONTALBAN, WHO AIDED DEBBIE REYNOLDS’ SCREEN CAREER 15 YEARS AGO, WITH HER AGAIN IN “THE SINGING NUN” Fifteen years ago, Ricardo Montalban was predicting a bright future for a pert, bouncy teen-age actress fresh out of high school, who could sing and dance up a storm and play a mean French horn. The picture that started her on the road to movie fame was titled “Two Weeks With Love.” The film’s star was Montalban. The promising youngster was Debbie Reynolds. So there was a gay reunion at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer when Montalban was co-starred with the same Debbie Reynolds, today more mature but no less bubbly, in “The Singing Nun.” “Although it is our first picture together since then, we have remained close personal friends,” said Montalban. Debbie plays the title role in the story of the young guitar-playing nun whose gift of music and composition of such toe-tapping tunes as “Dominique,” “Sister Adele” and “Raindrops” were to make her world renowned. Montalban is seen as Father Clementi, a priest whose faith in the talent of the “Singing Nun” makes it all come true. In a period when Latin Lovers were enjoying a run of popularity, Mexico City-born Montalban appeared in a string of successful romantic films opposite such stars as Lana Turner and Esther Williams. But while he is extremely proud of his Mexican heritage, the Latin image was to prove a handicap in his career. “There was some reference to my Mexican origin in every script,” he said, “and this limited the type of roles I was given to play. Then a good friend, Dick Powell, came to my rescue with the part of an ex-Marine in one of his TV shows. Since then, I have enjoyed far greater variety in the parts offered me.” Last year, Montalban returned to the stage to portray the King of Siam in “The King and I.” He scored an outstanding critical success for fifteen weeks, playing to standing-room-only SONGS “DOMINIQUE” Lyrics and music by Soeur Sourire English lyrics by Randy Sparks “SISTER ADELE” (SOEUR ADELE) ‘IT’S A MIRACLE” (UNE FLEUR) “BEYOND THE STARS” (ENTRE LES ETOILES) ‘A PIED PIPER’S SONG” (PETIT PIERROT) Music by Soeur Sourire, lyrics by Randy Sparks “BROTHER JOHN” *““LOVELY’’ Lyrics and music by Randy Sparks ““RAINDROPS” Lyrics and music by Randy Sparks (Inspired by “Chante Riviere” by Soeur Sourire ) “JE VOUDRAIS” “METS TON JOLI JUPON”’ “AVEC TOI’ **ALLELUIA”’ Lyrics and music by Soeur Sourire DECLINE DINNER OF POTATO PEELS First day jitters on MGM’s “The Singing Nun,” which has Debbie Reynolds, Greer Garson, Ricardo Montalban and Katharine Ross in leading roles, were apparent only in the gaggle of geese required for opening scenes. The screen play called for Agnes Moorehead to feed the noisy birds with bits of potato peel, but to this the wellfed “extras” turned up their beaks. The problem was solved when the highly discriminating geese were offered potato chips, instead of peels. Miss Moorehead could hardly shoo them off ! audiences in Los Angeles and San Francisco. After this triumph, he was able to write his own ticket and chose the characterization of Father Clementi in “The Singing Nun” from dozens of parts offered him. “First of all, it was a wonderful acting fart,’ he explained. “Then, too, it was different from anything I had ever tackled before and the story, told in terms of light-hearted drama with a brilliant musical score, appealed to me.” Says Miss Reynolds of her co-star: “Ric’s success couldn’t have happened to a nicer person, I have never known him to show the slightest sign of temperament, and his invariable good humor on a set is infectious.” Much of this, say Montalban’s friends, is due to one of Hollywood’s happiest marriages. Early in his career, he married Loretta Young’s kid sister, Georgianna, and they now make up a close-knit and devoted family which includes four children— Laura, Mark, Anita and Victor. Debbie Reynolds, as Sister Ann, comforts little Rickey Cordell after he has been injured in an automobile accident in this scene from “The Singing Nun.” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s heartwarming drama of a young nun with a great gift for music co-stars Ricardo Montalban, Agnes Moorehead, Chad Everett, Katharine Ross, Ed Sullivan, as himself, and guest star Greer Garson. Filmed in Panavision and color, the picture features the world-famous Nun’s Music. It was directed by Henry Koster. Still 1843-95 The Singing Nun Mat 2-D IT TAKES MORE THAN TALENT TO GET TO THE TOP, SAYS AGNES MOOREHEAD “The actor who stops working and studying is dead,’ declares Agnes Moorehead. Living up to her own words, Miss Moorehead is very much alive and busier than ever. She is one of the few stars who has illuminated all four major entertainment media during a notable career — screen, stage, radio and television. A perfectionist, her remarks on the acting profession were made to an intent group of young players hanging onto her words while she was starring with Debbie Reynolds and Greer Garson as the crochety but lovable Sister Cluny in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “The Singing Nun.” “Talent,” she emphasized, “is not enough, although that is difficult for young people in this jet age to appreciate. Proper speech, learning the manners of ladies and gentlemen, and constant training are essential.” During filming of “The Singing Nun,” Miss Moorehead was generally off on weekends to make stage appearances from California to Arizona, reappearing on the set Monday mornings bright-eyed and stimulated by her contact with live audiences. “I find my greatest satisfaction in working all the time,” she said, “even when I’m not being paid. I enjoy coaching budding talent and am happiest when I can convince youngsters that an actor must never stop learning.” In Miss Moorehead’s case, while she made her first stage appearance at the age of ten in musical stock with the St. Louis Municipal Opera, her lifelong interest in all phases of show business only whetted her appetite for a formal education. She has a PhD in Theatre Arts from Columbia University and a Masters in English and Public Speaking from the University of Wisconsin, obtained after she had graduated from Muskingum College in Ohio. She taught school and directed a drama club before going on to New York to study at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. Winning acclaim on Broadway in “All the King’s Men,” “Scarlet Pages” and “Candlelight” among other plays, Miss Moorehead became equally in demand in the then new medium of radio and it was through radio that she met Orson Welles and became a member of the Mercury Players, after which Welles cast her in his first motion picture, “Citizen Kane.” Asa screen actress, she won the New York Drama Critics Award as the best actress of the year in “The Magnificent Ambersons” and has since been nominated for the Oscar on four occasions. With this background, Miss Moorehead speaks with the voice of authority, and students who seek her assistance listen with respect. As one promising young actress remarked on the set of “The Singing Nun”: “After working with Miss Moorehead, I know I’m a better actress because I now realize how little I know and how much I have to learn.”