THE WHITE SISTER was a pretty decent silent film. However, when it made its way to sound in 1933, the film seemed overly melodramatic and silly. It's amazing what only a decade can do for the same plot. Part of this was the timing and part of it was the casting. While Ronald Colman sounds nothing like an Italian officer, in the silent it didn't matter. However, Clark Gable was too hard to believe in the sound version, as he seemed about as Italian as Chop Suey.
In addition to Colman, the film starred Lillian Gish in her prime. She was one of the biggest stars of the era and had made a career out of playing virginal types of characters. Because of this, she's a good choice for the film though occasionally she does lay it on a bit thick with the sentiment.
Thefilm is about two lovers, Colman and Gish. She is quite rich and he is a dashing young officer in the Italian army. However, when it appears that he's been killed in action in Africa, she is despondent. In addition, he father has just died and her evil half-sister destroyed the will. By Italian law, the older sister is the sole beneficiary, so now Lillian not only thinks she's lost her lover but is penniless and without a home--while the half sister gains a title and a magnificent estate.
Naturally, Colman is found three years later and he returns to Gish--only to find that she's now married...to God!!! Can this sweet nun somehow STILL find happiness? Tune in to see.
The overall plot of the two versions are similar, however, a couple subplots which are in the silent version have been excised in the latter. There was no evil half-sister or being homeless and the final climactic scenes about the volcano were deleted as well. This did tend to give the film more focus and romance in the later film, but it also tended to make it a bit less interesting--especially since with only the love story, there isn't enough to merit watching. So, my advice is to see this original--it's a darn good silent though it's also very, very hard to believe. And, if possible, avoid the 1933 film. it's just not particularly good in any way--though Helen Hayes tries her best.
By the way, in the original version that was NOT filmed, in the end Gish's character DID renounce her vows and marry Coleman. It sure would have been interesting had they done it that way.
In addition to Colman, the film starred Lillian Gish in her prime. She was one of the biggest stars of the era and had made a career out of playing virginal types of characters. Because of this, she's a good choice for the film though occasionally she does lay it on a bit thick with the sentiment.
Thefilm is about two lovers, Colman and Gish. She is quite rich and he is a dashing young officer in the Italian army. However, when it appears that he's been killed in action in Africa, she is despondent. In addition, he father has just died and her evil half-sister destroyed the will. By Italian law, the older sister is the sole beneficiary, so now Lillian not only thinks she's lost her lover but is penniless and without a home--while the half sister gains a title and a magnificent estate.
Naturally, Colman is found three years later and he returns to Gish--only to find that she's now married...to God!!! Can this sweet nun somehow STILL find happiness? Tune in to see.
The overall plot of the two versions are similar, however, a couple subplots which are in the silent version have been excised in the latter. There was no evil half-sister or being homeless and the final climactic scenes about the volcano were deleted as well. This did tend to give the film more focus and romance in the later film, but it also tended to make it a bit less interesting--especially since with only the love story, there isn't enough to merit watching. So, my advice is to see this original--it's a darn good silent though it's also very, very hard to believe. And, if possible, avoid the 1933 film. it's just not particularly good in any way--though Helen Hayes tries her best.
By the way, in the original version that was NOT filmed, in the end Gish's character DID renounce her vows and marry Coleman. It sure would have been interesting had they done it that way.