The Nuns of Saint Archangel

The Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/ Italian nunsploitation film directed by Domenico Paolella. It is also known as: Sisters of Satan (UK) and The Nuns of Saint Archangel (US). The action, based on a true story, is set in the 16th century at the convent of Sant Arcangelo, near Naples, then under Spanish rule.

Synopsis: Sister Julia (Anne Heywood) is an ambitious nun who wants to replace the current mother superior. She is not the only nun vying for the position of mother superior and with the help of Don Carlos she is able to eliminate all of her rivals. Her niece Isabella has recently joined the convent and as part of Julia’s deal with Don Carlos she is supposed to give her virgin niece to him for his helping her obtain the mother superior. When word gets out that that the nuns have been naughty at Saint Archangel. The church sends an investigator who uncovers all the dirty secrets that the nuns of Saint Archangel have so desperately tried to hide.

Before Domenico Paolella directed Story of a Cloistered Nun, he would make his debut into the Nunsplotation genre with The Nuns of Saint Archangel, a film that is arguably one of the genres greatest entries. The Nuns of Saint Archangel, is also known under the title of The Nun and The Devil. The film is filled with beautifully composed and lit compositions that look like masterfully crafted works of art. Domenico Paolella also makes full use of iconic images most notably during the scenes where the nuns of trail are being tortured. Another moment is which his direction excels is when Isabella a nun and her lover Fernando try to connect physically with each other as they talk between two fences that are about five feet or more apart.

The acting is not only good it at times is excellent with the standout performance being that of Anne Heywood as the devious mother superior Julia. Heywood is totally convincing in the role as she meticulously climbs her way to the top. Her final moments are mesmerizing as she gives one of cinema’s greatest death thralls as she contorts on the floor after drinking poison. In one of her earliest roles Ornella Muti stars as the young novice Isabella. Through out the film she looks unglamorous and at times androgynous like when she dresses up like a boy. This is far from the more seductive type roles she is known for; still she does an admirable job.