The Singing Nun (MGM) (1966)

ED SULLIVAN INVITES A GUEST STAR Ed Sullivan, playing himself, asks Debbie Reynolds, cast as Sister Ann, to appear on his television show in Metro-GoldwynMayer’s **The Singing Nun,’? heartwarming drama of a nun with a great gift for music. Looking on are Greer Garson and Agnes Moorehead, with the cast also starring Ricardo Montalban, Chad Everett and Katharine Ross. The picture, filmed in Panavision and color, features the world-famous Nun’s Music. Still 1843-38 The Singing Nun Mat 2-C NOTHING “ANGRY” ABOUT CHAD EVERETT Chad-Everett is a paradox among the generation of “angry young men” prevalent in Hollywood. He confesses being happy about the way his career is going and he’s not mad at anyone. Signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to an exclusive contract, Everett completed his first major role for the studio with Ann-Margret in “Made in Paris,” then went directly into “The Singing Nun” opposite Debbie Reynolds, Everett disagrees with critics who describe Hollywood as a place of the past. “Not so,” he declares. ‘Hollywood is just as glamorous and exciting as it ever was, and it’s a place of opportunity for the actor who has come prepared.” Perhaps the word “prepared” is the clue to Chad’s success. He has spent a great deal of time and effort in the pur STTTTUITUMTUTULULTLLULILULODIDULUULEDROLIOALUOTLHLOS PRN ROG LULU IU UCLCELOLPeO CLEC LO TL RLOLUoE UL ees CAST ETHITLUMUITELLULULUALUGOOLEOALUOLOGLUCOTURAUOLUOUUOUOLUOALOAUUOT OA TOORCOUUAAUOOR UGA UCOA COA UOOA UGCA Gad Ra UTNE TUTTE TTT EET UUATTLITIUTETNLT NTNU Sister: ANM 225-5 ne ee Debbie Reynolds Father Clementi .............. Ricardo Montalban Mother Prioress .....<..---.-s.s0<2-2-Greer Garson Sister Cluny. ee Agnes Moorehead Robert Gerarde ___..........-......-_-Chad Everett NicolesArlien). 20.22. es Katharine Ross HIT nis elie cca ent een Ed Sullivan SISTERH AACN noo ran feces Juanita Moore Dominic, Arlen) 220-2. Ricky Cordell Mr. Atlion t= 5.0. oe eee Michael Pate Fifzpatnickvs: ccc". Lo oreo: ae Tom Drake Mr DUNKS ec c:.25oeee Larry D. Mann Marauder <4. .o. ten Charles Robinson Sister Michele ___............. Minique Montaigne SistertElise see eee Joyce Vanderveen SisteniBrigitle s2.cseesee Anne Wakefield Sister:Gerfruder a2. ee Pam Peterson SistersMarthe: 2--..2....--fs23 Marina Koshetz Sister Therese -.._............-------Nancy Walters SistersElizabethnee 2.2 Violet Rensing Sister Gonsuella <2.2:).:....222Inez Pedroza Directed by Henry Koster. Produced by John Beck. Co-Produced by Hayes Goetz. Screen Play by Sally Benson and John Furia, Jr. Story by John Furia, Jr. Music Score by Harry Sukman. Choreography by Robert Sidney. Associate Producer: Hank Moonjean. Director of Photography: Milton Krasner, A.S.C. In Panavision and Metrocolor. Art Direction: George W. Davis and Urie Mc Cleary. Set Decoration: Henry Grace, Jerry Wunderlich. Film Editor: Rita Roland. Assistant Director: Kevin Donnelly. Make-Up by William Tuttle. Music Supervisor: Harold Gelman. Recording Supervisor: Franklin Milton. A John Beck Production. Presented by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. suit of his career and it is paying off. While at Wayne University, where he majored in drama and communications, Everett, together with other members of the Drama Department, toured India with a group of one-act plays at the invitation of the State Department. “That experience was priceless,” he says. “We had the opportunity of playing a variety of roles, often appearing in two or three different parts in the same play. It was repertoire theatre at its best for we were star, extra and stagehand rolled into one. It’s unfortunate there isn’t more of this type of theatre for the beginner. Every budding actor deserves the chance to be bad because that is the best way to learn. I’m not saying we actually were bad, but we did make mistakes and profited by them.” Following the trip to India, Everett studied acting in Rome and was offered a role in “Ben-Hur” which he turned down, feeling he wasn’t ready. “That decision was the best I ever made,” he says. “When I returned to finish my studies at Wayne, I won the chance to play opposite Jeanette MacDonald in the Detroit production of ‘Bittersweet.’ The advice she gave me was invaluable.” Everett’s performance in the Noel Coward operetta was seen by William Orr of Warner Brothers, who signed him for a starring role in “The Dakotas” TV series, This brought him to Hollywood, where his years of training provided him with the versatility for well-rounded acting assignments. Debbie Reynolds, as Sister Ann, consults with Chad _ Everett, cast as a recording studio executive, in “The Singing Nun,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s _heartwarming drama of a young Dominican nun with a great gift for music. The Singing Nun Still 1843-32 Mat 1-B WHEN DEBBIE REYNOLDS REALLY WANTS SOMETHING, SHE GOES AFTER IT, INCLUDING HER NEW ROLE IN “THE SINGING NUN” Debbie Reynolds has never been one to ignore a challenge. More often than not, she steps right out and makes her own challenges. A case in point is her latest starring picture, “The Singing Nun.” Some months ago, when Debbie learned that plans were afoot at MGM to film a fascinating story inspired by the music of a talented Belgian nun who became an overnight sensation as the composer and singer of hit records, she picked up the telephone and said, “T want to play the role.” She is frank to admit there was a time in her career when her bid might have received scant attention, since the part was a marked departure from any she has played. That, however, was before “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” another role she fought for and which won her an Academy Award nomination as one of the five best actresses of the year. “T have found from experience,” said Debbie, “that the only way to get a picture you want is to go after it aggressively. I was sixteen when I made my first movie. I have grown up in the business. Producers I have known for years and are my friends have had a tendency, until recently, to regard me as a little girl. This is pleasing to the feminine ego. It is also limiting on an actress.” With her rousing performance of the rambunctious Molly Brown, Debbie proved to any remaining skeptics that she had grown up with a bang, and in the process firmly established herself as an actress and performer of remarkable versatility. Her portrayal of the title role in “The Singing Nun’ is obviously more restrained but no less compelling in a film best described as a light-hearted drama with rich humor and captivating music, To capture the spirit of the characterization, Debbie quietly arranged through a Catholic friend to go into a convent in northern California. “Tt was a memorable experience,” she recalled. “The sisters were wonderful human beings who radiated happiness. The younger nuns were full of laughter and love of the life to which they had dedicated themselves. Remaining in In Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “‘The Singing Nun,’’ Debbie Reynolds portrays Sister Ann, whose original songs and recordings give her both celebrity and personal problems. In the course of her welfare work as a nun, she gaily rides a motorscooter. The heartwarming story of a young Dominican 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, it features the world-famous Nun’s Music. It was directed by Henry Koster. Still 1843-128 The Singing Nun Mat 2-E the convent even for a short time was most rewarding and helpful in portraying Sister Ann.” Adding further realism to her role, Debbie spent sixteen weeks learning to play the guitar. The result was calloused fingers and broken fingernails. Debbie feels the extra effort was worth it. In the picture she plays her own accompaniment when singing “Dominique,” the bantering ballad which has sold more than 1,000,000 records in the United States alone. Debbie also had to ride a motorbike for the role. This is not simple in a flowing nun’s habit but she managed it with only one spill. “While I got a bump or two,” she laughed, “I managed not to hit anyone else.” Debbie Reynolds, in her heartwarming role as Sister Ann, the young Dominican nun with a God-given gift for music, in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s ‘‘The Singing Nun.”’ The Panavision and color attraction features the world-famous Nun’s Music, with Miss Reynolds accompanying herself on the guitar to such songs as ‘‘Dominique,”’ **Sister Adele,’’? ‘‘Raindrops,”’ **Avec Toi’? and many others. The all-star cast includes Ricardo Montalban, Agnes Moorehead, Chad Everett, Katharine Ross, Ed Sullivan and guest star Greer Garson. The Singing Nun Still 1843-49 Mat 1-D So “The Singing Nun” comes to the screen as the kind of picture Debbie enjoys making most. “A family picture with fun,” she said. TOTAL 135 FILMS A total of 135 movies is chalked up by the stars of MGM’s “The Singing Nun,” in which Debbie Reynolds, Greer Garson, Ricardo Montalban and Agnes Moorehead play the leading roles. The heartwarming drama with songs marks Debbie’s 30th picture since her film debut in 1949. Ricardo Montalban has also appeared in 30 pictures, Greer Garson starred in 22 memorable offerings, while Agnes Moorehead comes out the champion, with 53 motion picture credits ! STELLAR TRIO IN “THE SINGING NUN” As Agnes Moorehead (left) listens, Greer Garson, as the Mother Prioress of Samaritan House, counsels young Sister Ann, portrayed by Debbie Reynolds in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s **The Singing Nun.” Heartwarming drama of a nun with a great gift for music, the picture is replete with songs which have achieved worldwide fame as the Nun’s Music. Co-starred in the Panavision and color attraction are Ricardo Montalban, Chad Everett, Katharine Ross and Ed Sullivan, who plays himself. Still 1843-33 The Singing Nun Mat 2-A