Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)

Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)

Blu-ray Company Release: Twilight Time

Starring: Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum

Plot: A Marine and a Nun, both shipwrecked on a Pacific Island, find solace in one another as the two wait out the war.

My Review and Thoughts:

Film: (5/5)

Starring the one and only classic actor Robert Mitchum. Truly a shining gifted one-of-a-kind and extraordinary actor, who starred in some of the greatest movies of all time. Mitchum in films like Thunder Road, Night of the Hunter, Cape Fear, and so many more created some of the greatest characters of all time. This film that I'm reviewing is no different, he creates the character of Mr. Allison in a wonderful way, so that the viewer can latch onto. This is an action, an adventure, and a drama.

This is an old movie forgotten by time but thankfully Twilight Time is able to bring it out on this wonderful special edition Blu-ray disc. The colors are vibrant and sound is amazing. The overall film is a stunning portrait of a man and a woman during war time finding a sort of peace with one another. 
Sounds simple but it’s so much more because the chemistry between the two of them is flawless.

The plot is interesting because Mr. Allison shipwrecks and becomes friends with a nun. Played by the stunning, beautiful, extraordinarily sexy and all-around fantastic actress Deborah Kerr. She is always able to create her characters in believable ways through emotions and giving personal touches to her many roles. She was able in her films to give shining performances that leave the viewer breathless and in awe of these performances. She owns the character of Sister Angela.

Kerr shinned in her years brightly with one performance after the other from 1947's Black Narcissus, 1953's Julius Caesar, 1953's From Here to Eternity, 1953's The End of the Affair, 1956's The King and I and so many wonderful, amazing others, that leave such landmark historical cinema achievements through her acting and chemistry and persona throughout her days.

Now this is directed by legendary cinematic master of acting and Directing, Mr. John Houston. The master of film. 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics: The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), Key Largo (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), The African Queen (1951), Moulin Rouge (1952), The Misfits (1961), The Man Who Would Be King (1975).

He is a legend and an icon and an all-around amazing character throughout his many successful years. He shinned at creating masterpiece films. Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison is one of those films that leave a wonderful lasting impression upon those who are viewing. It's flawlessly directed and anchored by the aforementioned performances.

John Houston was able to direct his performers in stunning, emotional and tension filled ways. He made you believe the ordeal and the actions taking place. Houston had a different and an interesting way of directing. He directed and created the film as it was happening. Most directors take the movie and edit it and then piece it together. Houston did it at the time he was filming it. He made sure he had the right shot and if he didn't he would shoot it again, cut it and shoot it again and piece the movie together as he was filming.

Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison is set during World War II on a Japanese island. Mr. Allison and Sister Angela are stranded. The plot deals with the growing affection to Sister Angela. This is actually based on the novel by Charles Shaw. Kerr was nominated for best actress for this role although she did not win. The movie was also nominated for best screenplay from a previously adapted source and also won the award. Shaw was truly a brilliant Australian novelist. His skill of storytelling can be seen and approached through this film. He enjoyed writing about the outback and the Australian way. He was truly a gifted writer that sadly died so young and his art form of written word was cut short. He was only 55 years old. He was not even alive to see his work made into the film I am reviewing.

I think what's interesting about the movie is it's a two person operation. You have Kerr and you have Mitchum as the main two focus points. You do have other Japanese characters that are basically just add-ins and you also have some marines toward the end. The shinning roles and main focus are the two outstanding and flawless characters by Mitchum and Kerr.

Now Mitchum needs no introduction to acting. He has garnered more amazing performances then can be mentioned. Without going into detail all I should have to say is 1955's The Night of the Hunter and 1962's Cape Fear. Both of those should sum up the beauty and quality of who Mitchum is and was.
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison is a wonderful film of direction and acting that stands out as brilliant, as it was then and as it is now.

Audio/Video: (5/5)

Extraordinary sound and video quality, the best I've ever seen it as. Twilight Time did a stunning restoration of this film, very vibrant in its colors, sound quality and stunningly heard through its crisp and clear volume.

LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH

Extras: (4/5)

A wonderful isolated music track by the musical god Georges Auric who mastered such films as Wages of Fear, The Innocents, 1946’s Beauty and the Beast and so many others.
Isolated Music & Effects Track / Fox Movie Tone News / Original Theatrical Trailer

Overall Product Review: (5/5)

A perfect classic watch of wonderful acting and an emotional story that shines on this wonderfully done Blu-ray from the amazing Twilight Time. A must see and a must watch for any movie lover.

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