Thunder on the Hill
| Thunder on the Hill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Douglas Sirk |
| Produced by | Michael Kraike |
| Written by |
Oscar Saul Andrew Solt Charlotte Hastings (play) |
| Starring |
Claudette Colbert Ann Blyth Robert Douglas Gladys Cooper Michael Pate |
| Music by | Hans J. Salter |
| Cinematography | William H. Daniels |
| Edited by | Ted J. Kent |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal-International |
Release dates |
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Running time | 84 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Thunder on the Hill is a 1951 mystery drama film directed by Douglas Sirk. The picture was made by Universal-International and produced by Michael Kraike from a screenplay by Oscar Saul and Andrew Solt, based on the play Bonaventure by Charlotte Hastings. The music score was by Hans J. Salter and the cinematography by William H. Daniels.
The film stars Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth with Robert Douglas, Gladys Cooper, Michael Pate, John Abbott and Norma Varden.
Plot
Sister Mary Bonaventure is in charge of the hospital ward of a convent in the county of Norfolk, England. She is troubled by her own sister's suicide, which she confides to her Mother Superior.
A torrential rain closes nearby roads, causing Sergeant Melling of the police to bring condemned murderer Valerie Carns there. She is being taken to prison.
Valerie was convicted of poisoning her brother Jason, a pianist. Jason's physician, Dr. Jeffreys, is head of the hospital where Sister Mary now works. Valerie still proclaims her innocence, but Jeffreys insists that she gave Jason a fatal overdose of his medicine.
A photograph of Jason clearly disturbs Isabel Jeffreys, the doctor's wife. He gives her a sedative. Valerie appeals to Sister Mary to bring her fiance, Sidney Kingham, to the convent to see her. A servant tells Sister Mary about the sadistic behavior of Jason Carns and produces a love letter to him, clearly written by Isabel.
Mother Superior is upset by Sister Mary's meddling. She burns the letter. The nun still intends to tell Melling the police sergeant what she knows.
Dr. Jeffreys is the one who gave Jason the fatal dose, and he might be slowly poisoning Isabel as well. He lures Sister Mary to a bell tower, where he attacks her. She rings the bell. Sidney hears it, rushes to her aid and overpowers Jeffreys, who is arrested by Melling.
Sister Mary's faith is restored, believing the rain that delivered Valerie to her to be divine intervention.
Cast
- Claudette Colbert as Sister Mary
- Ann Blyth as Valerie Carns
- Robert Douglas as Dr. Jeffreys
- Anne Crawford as Isabel Jeffreys
- Philip Friend as Sidney Kingham
- Gladys Cooper as Mother Superior
- Michael Pate as Willie
- John Abbott as Abel Harmer
- Connie Gilchrist as Sister Josephine
- Gavin Muir as Melling
- Phyllis Stanley as Nurse Phillips
- Norma Varden as Pierce
- Valerie Cardew as Nurse Colby
- Queenie Leonard as Mrs. Smithson
- Patrick O'Moore as Mr. Smithson
External links
- Thunder on the Hill at the TCM Movie Database
- Thunder on the Hill at the Internet Movie Database
- Thunder on the Hill at AllMovie
- Thunder on the Hill at Rotten Tomatoes
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