Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison

US Marine “Allison” (Robert Mitchum) is shot down over a remote Pacific island and is lucky to make it safely ashore. Exploring what looks like an abandoned village he encounters it’s sole surviving human resident. A nun. “Sister Angela” (Deborah Kerr) is just as surprised to see him as he her, but soon they are working together as a most unlikely team. When they are overflown by a Japanese aircraft, they abandon their seaside dwellings and take up refuge, à la “Robinson Crusoe”, in a well concealed cave. What now ensues sees the pair play quite a perilous cat and mouse with the invaders, all whilst she steadfastly refuses to remove her bright white habit. Now there’s a fair degree of predictability about the story and it’s conclusion, but along the way we get a chance to enjoy a sharply and warmly written production that showcases both of these actors at their most engaging. Starting from polar opposites of attitude, beliefs and approaches to life we follow a path that isn’t afraid to throw up some obstacles to both character’s preconceived conceptions of life and love, and each of them seem to bounce off the other as if they were enjoying their time spent amidst the creepy crawlies, wild boar and menacing sons of Nippon. Mitchum proves charismatic and a perfect foil for a Kerr who’s depiction of her religious convictions are a little less entrenched than those she presented ten years earlier in “Black Narcissus”. It says a lot for both that they can hold this together for almost two hours by themselves, and it’s wartime message is neatly tempered by an unsentimental dose of humanity. Worth a watch, I’d say.