The White Sister (1923) is the second of four adaptations of the novel, preceded by a 1915 production and followed by a 1933 sound film, starring Helen Hayes and Clark Gable, and a 1960 Mexican production.
The White Sister (1923) filming took place in studios in Rome and outdoor locations in Rome and Naples, with the desert scenes shot in Algeria. Lillian Gish involved herself in all aspects of the production. The Catholic Church provided guidance on religious matters. Gish stated it took 25 hours straight, with a 2+1/2-hour break, to film the scene in which she takes her final vows. The production lasted nearly twice as long as planned, due in part to inadequately equipped studio facilities.
Though Ronald Colman had done theatre plays and already appeared in two minor films in England, in 1920 set out for New York in hopes of finding greater fortune there than in war-depressed England. After two years of impoverishment, he was cast in a Broadway hit, "La Tendress" in which film director Henry King spotted him and cast him as Lillian Gish's leading man in The White Sister (1923). His success in the film led to a contract with Samuel Goldwyn, and his career as a Hollywood leading man was underway.
The film's world premiere was held at the 44th Street Theatre in New York on 5 September 1923.
(Evening Telegram, New York, N.Y., 5 September 1923)
Having a vested interest in the The White Sister (1923)'s success, Lillian Gish became closely involved in its planning, going with Henry King to the theatre to scout actors for the film. At a performance of La Tendresse, they discovered a 31-year-old Ronald Colman. A screen test was hastily arranged for the following morning, and Colman was quickly signed to the film. Two days later, November 18, a crew of 24 sailed for Naples on the S.S. Providence, with the plan to expand the cast and crew with regional talent upon arrival.