Audrey Hepburn, The Nun’s Story (1959) directed by Fred Zinnemann

The Nun’s Story is a 1959 Warner Brothers film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans and Peggy Ashcroft. Based upon the 1956 novel of the same title by Kathryn Hulme, the story tells of the life of Gabrielle Van der Mal / Sister Luke (Audrey), a young Belgian woman who decides to enter a convent and make the many sacrifices required by her choice. However, at the outset of World War II, she finds that she cannot remain neutral in the face of the abject evil of Hitler’s Germany.

The book was based upon the life of Marie-Louise Habets, a Belgian nurse who similarly spent time as a nun. The film follows the book fairly closely, although some critics believe the film shows sexual tension in the relationship between Dr. Fortunati (Peter Finch) and Sister Luke that is absent from the novel (lol !) A major portion of the film takes place in the Belgian Congo, site of location shooting, where Sister Luke assists Dr. Fortunati in surgical procedures at a mission hospital.

• This post is part of the Celebrating Audrey Hepburn series, wich contains 350 high resolution pictures of the film icon Audrey Hepburn, including movie posters, stills, on-set pictures and fashion photoshoots (21 posts, 290 Mb) :
Beautiful Audrey Hepburn – Happy new year 2013 !
Audrey Hepburn, We will all go to Monte Carlo (1951)
Audrey Hepburn, Secret People (1952) starring Valentina Cortese
Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday (1953) starring Gregory Peck
Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina (1954) starring Humphrey Bogart and William Holden
Audrey Hepburn, War and Peace (1956) starring Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer
Audrey Hepburn, Funny Face (1957) starring Fred Astaire
Audrey Hepburn, Love in the afternoon (1957) starring Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier
Audrey Hepburn, Green Mansions (1959) starring Anthony Perkins
Audrey Hepburn, The Nun’s Story (1959) directed by Fred Zinnemann
Audrey Hepburn, The Unforgiven (1960) starring Burt Lancaster
Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) starring George Peppard
Audrey Hepburn, The Children’s Hour (1961) starring Shirley MacLaine
Audrey Hepburn, Charade (1963) starring Cary Grant
Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady (1964) starring Rex Harrison
Audrey Hepburn, Paris when it sizzles (1964) starring William Holden
Audrey Hepburn, How to steal a million (1966) starring Peter O’Toole
Audrey Hepburn, Two for the road (1967) starring Albert Finney
Audrey Hepburn, Wait until dark (1967) starring Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna
Audrey Hepburn, Robin and Marian (1976) starring Sean Connery
Audrey Hepburn, Always (1989) directed by Steven Spielberg