| The Nun and The Devil | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Domenico Paolella (as Paolo Dominici) |
| Produced by | Tonino Cervi |
| Starring | Anne Heywood Luc Merenda Ornella Muti Martine Brochard Muriel Catalá Claudia Gravy Maria Cumani Quasimodo Pier Paolo Capponi Claudio Gora Duilio Del Prete |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Ruzzolini |
| Editing by | Nino Baragli |
| Release date(s) | Italy: January 25, 1973 |
| Running time | Italy: 91 min. |
| Language | Italian |
The Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/ Italian nunsploitation film directed by Domenico Paolella. It is also known as: Sisters of Satan (UK) and The Nuns of Saint Archangel (US). The action, based on a true story, is set in the 16th century at the convent of Sant Arcangelo, near Naples, then under Spanish rule.[1]
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The story involves the power struggles and sexual intrigues of a group of good-looking nuns at the Sant Arcangelo Convent and in particular the machinations of Sister Julia (played by former Miss Great Britain Anne Heywood) as she attempts, by any means possible, to succeed to the position of the dying Mother Superior. The nuns struggle with their vows of celibacy, some inclining to lesbianism whilst others invite male lovers secretly into their cells. Meanwhile a corrupt Church hopes to benefit from an aristocratic donation to the Convent, before launching an inquisition into the lubricious and corrupt activities of the inmates of the Convent. There then follow graphic scenes of torture as miscreant nuns are stripped naked and tortured with a variety of devices in order to elicit a confession of their misdemanours. The film ends with a resonant condemnation of the power hungry and corrupt Church by the Sister Julia after she has been found guilty and compelled to take poison to end her life.
The story is based on true events at the Convent of Sant Arcangelo di Baiano at Naples in the 16th century.[1]
The electro-industrial band My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult has sampled the English-language dub of the film extensively in songs such as "And This Is What the Devil Does" and "Kooler Than Jesus".