Thunder on the Hill [Bonaventure] *** (1951, Claudette Colbert, Ann Blyth, Robert Douglas, Anne Crawford, Gladys Cooper) – Classic Movie Review 6675

Director Douglas Sirk’s 1951 thriller was his first A-project in the first year of his contract with Universal, following the modest B-movie Mystery Submarine (1950). It stars Claudette Colbert, Ann Blyth, Robert Douglas and Anne Crawford.

There are enjoyably creepy melodramatic goings-on at an English nunnery when an unholy rainstorm strands convicted murderess Valerie Carns (Blyth) there. She has been condemned to hang, but all-knowing nun Sister Mary Bonaventure (Colbert) knows better and tries to find the real killer. Apparently, at least according to the poster, six desperate people are hiding one guilty secret.

There is much fine, emotive acting from the well-assembled thespians, and Sirk is in his over-the-top element. Gladys Cooper was virtually born to play the Mother Superior.

In Britain it was called Bonaventure, the title of Charlotte Hastings’s source play.

Also in the cast are Philip Friend, Michael Pate, John Abbott, Connie Gilchrist, Gavin Muir, Phyllis Stanley, Norma Varden, Valerie Cardew, Queenie Leonard and Patrick O’Moore.

Thunder on the Hill runs 84 minutes, is written by Oscar Saul and André Solt, shot at Universal Studios in black and white by William H Daniels, produced by Michael Kraike and scored by Hans J Salter.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6675

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