The White Sister

The opening sequence of The White Sister is worth watching, if only to appreciate the filmmaking technology in 1933. There's a crowded, joyous festival in the town square, and it's filmed with inventive camera angles and movements that make you think you're watching a movie ten years ahead of its time. I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance, but the beginning was very entertaining.

Onto the plot: Helen Hayes is engaged to a man she doesn't love. Her father, Prince Lewis Stone-it seems like he's always playing her father, doesn't it?-approves of the match, but she longs for adventure and excitement. She's drawn to the boisterous festival, and during the commotion, she catches a glimpse of Clark Gable and immediately falls in love. They start meeting in secret until she gets bold enough to tell her father she wants to call off her engagement. How does Lew react? If you've seen his movies, you know he often doesn't make it to the end, and this one's no exception. Just as in Vanessa, Her Love Story, he dies, and Helen puts her grief ahead of her romantic feelings. There's a lot more drama included in this movie-it is a Helen Hayes picture after all-so if you like her, you might want to check this out. I liked Vanessa better, but you can rent both and see which one you prefer. In The White Sister, I never felt she loved Clark Gable enough to do what she does later on in the movie. No spoilers; if you're intrigued, rent it!