Sister Act **** (1992, Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Harvey Keitel, Wendy Makkena, Mary Wickes, Bill Nunn) – Classic Movie Review 3557

Director Emile Ardolino’s 1992 blockbuster comedy Sister Act stars Whoopi Goldberg as Las Vegas showgirl Deloris, who sees her mobster lover Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel) kill a stoolie and becomes a nun on the run from his hitmen, hiding out in a convent under a witness protection programme. While Deloris coaches the church choir in swinging singing, Vince sets out to track her down.

The laughter is simple and Joseph Howard’s screenplay is only moderate in Ardolino’s affectionate, gentle and funny comedy. But the performances of Goldberg and Maggie Smith as the convent’s Mother Superior turn it into something special.

Best of all are the musical numbers, with Goldberg doing a Supremes-style act and later teaching the nuns to sing gospel versions of 60s hits like ‘My Guy’ (retitled ‘My God’) and ‘I Will Follow Him’. Sister Act sweet and happy showcase for Goldberg’s good-natured clowning, and Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena and Mary Wickes are excellent value, too, as other nuns, Sister Mary Patrick, Sister Mary Robert and Sister Mary Lazuras.

Also in the cast are Bill Nunn as Goldberg’s protector Eddie Souther, Robert Miranda, Richard Portnow and Joseph Maher.

It was a big hit: it cost $31 million and took $134 million at the US box office, grossing $232 million around the world. So a sequel followed quickly: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993).

A Broadway musical later followed, netted five Tony nominations in 2011, including Best Musical, with Disney veteran Alan Menken writing the music.

In June 2015 Disney announced that it is producing a Sister Act remake, with Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah (10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde) to pen the screenplay.

On 7 December 2018, it was confirmed that Regina Y Hicks and Karin Gist were hired to write the script of Sister Act 3, planned for a release on Disney+. In December 2020, it was revealed Whoopi Goldberg had signed on to return as Deloris and that Tyler Perry would be producer.

Emile Ardolino is the highly successful director of Dirty Dancing (1987), 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990) and Gypsy (1993). Tragically, he died of AIDS on 20 November 1993, aged 50.

RIP Bill Nunn, who died on 24 September 2016, aged 62.

The cast are Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier, Isis Carmen Jones as Little Deloris Wilson, Maggie Smith as Reverend Mother, Harvey Keitel as Vince LaRocca, Bill Nunn as Lieutenant Eddie Souther, Mary Wickes as Sister Mary Lazarus, Kathy Najimy as Sister Mary Patrick, Wendy Makkena as Sister Mary Robert (singing voice: Andrea Robinson), Joseph Maher as Monsignor O’Hara, Robert Miranda as Joey, Richard Portnow as Willy, Rose Parenti as Sister Alma, Jim Beaver as Clarkson, Jenifer Lewis as Michelle, Charlotte Crossley as Tina, A.J. Johnson as Lewanda, Lois de Banzie as Immaculata, Max Grodénchik as Ernie, Joseph G. Medalis as Henry Parker, Michael Durrell as Larry Merrick, Toni Kalem as Connie LaRocca, Eugene Greytak as Pope John Paul II, and Guy Boyd as Detective Tate.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3557

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/