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      The White Sister

      Released Sep 5, 1923 2h 23m Drama Romance List
      Reviews 75% Audience Score Fewer than 50 Ratings After her father, Prince Chiaromonte (Charles Lane), dies in a freak accident, Angela Chiaromonte (Lillian Gish) finds out that her jealous half-sister, the Marchesa di Mola (Gail Kane), has invalidated her claim to an inheritance. When news arrives that the man they both love, Capt. Giovanni Severini (Ronald Colman), has died in battle on the Middle Eastern front, a penniless Angela enters the convent and resigns herself to a life of piety -- until a mysterious message changes everything. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Robert E. Sherwood LIFE The White Sister, which represents Lillian Gish's first independent production, is just about saddest picture we have ever seen. Oct 6, 2021 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: B Mar 10, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member another movie about a woman finding her voice even though its a silent pic Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Gish gives a solid performance in an overlong silent melodrama which still manages to entertain. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member The White Sister (1933) I saw "The White Sister" which is the talky remake of this silent movie. In this version Helen Hayes plays Angela Chiaromonte and handsome Clark Gable plays the love interest, Giovanni Severi. The story is pretty much the same, with the poor Italian princess being promised to a rich banker but falls for a dashing young aviator instead. Captain Severi goes off to war and is shot down behind enemy lines and missing in action. Thinking Giovanni is dead, the distraught Angela becomes a nun. Then Giovanni is able to make it back home, only to find that Angela is now married to God. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm a bit surprised how few reviews there are for this film, because after viewing quite a few Lillian Gish films - this might just be my favorite. The story is epic, and the film is lavish - the scenery, costumes, story, cinematography, effects, and even the melodramatic acting & gesticulation are quite beautiful & intense. The story is one of betrayal, love, faith and commitment - and although its values will seem dated to a modern audience, I found it to have a timeless aspect. Funny enough, if this film had dialog I would probably hate it - it would be too over the top and dramatically annoying . . . but the beautiful cinematography, images and score work together to capture the scale of epic emotion. I viewed this on TCM, and the score listed was apparently commissioned by them - but the film is worth watching just to listen to the score. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review dave j Friday, August 5, 2011 (1923) White Sister SILENT ROMANCE Basic plot which takes place in Italy has Ronald Coleman (Lost Horizon) as a top war soldier, Capt. Giovanni Severini going off to war asking his fiance Angela played by Lillian Gish to wait for him after an assignment somewhere in Africa! A massacre happens with the assumption that the soldiers from that particular unit are all killed in action, motivating Angela to find solitude as a nun for the local church that took care of her after her devastating shock! Plot becomes very emotionally effective once he returns! At one time or another, the only print that was available was the 67 minute version which is an avoid, and it wasn't until 2009 is when the lost footage was finally restored again with the correct running time of 143 minutes with a resonating musical score! As a realist, I have to say this is one of the most realistic portrayls of natural people I had ever seen in terms of it's situations, especially about nuns- I thought the first 3/4 was an absolute masterpiece. However, I wish the final 30 minutes had a better resolution! Also, if you're going to see a romance film involving love ones going off to war- see this one instead of "Dear John" which is unrealistic trash! Strong 3 out of 4 stars Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member ok story about a poor girl who loses it all including love and becomes a nun. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The White Sister

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis After her father, Prince Chiaromonte (Charles Lane), dies in a freak accident, Angela Chiaromonte (Lillian Gish) finds out that her jealous half-sister, the Marchesa di Mola (Gail Kane), has invalidated her claim to an inheritance. When news arrives that the man they both love, Capt. Giovanni Severini (Ronald Colman), has died in battle on the Middle Eastern front, a penniless Angela enters the convent and resigns herself to a life of piety -- until a mysterious message changes everything.
      Director
      Henry King
      Screenwriter
      Charles E. Whittaker, George V. Hobart
      Production Co
      Inspiration Pictures
      Genre
      Drama, Romance
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 5, 1923, Limited
      Runtime
      2h 23m