The Nun and the Devil

For the film known as "The Devil and the Nun", see Mother Joan of the Angels.

The Nun and the Devil (Italian: Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo) is a 1973 Italian erotic nunsploitation film directed by Domenico Paolella. It is also known as: Sisters of Satan (UK) and The Nuns of Saint Archangel (US). The action is set in the 16th century at the convent of Sant Arcangelo, near Naples, then under Spanish rule. The success of the film resulted in another period drama/nunsploitation film by Paolella released the same year, Story of a Cloistered Nun, an Italian/French/West German co-production starring Eleonora Giorgi.

The Nun and the Devil
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Domenico Paolella (as Paolo Dominici)
Written by	Tonino Cervi Domenico Paolella
Produced by	Tonino Cervi
Starring	Anne Heywood Luc Merenda Ornella Muti Martine Brochard
Cinematography	Giuseppe Ruzzolini
Edited by	Nino Baragli
Music by	Piero Piccioni
Release date	January 25, 1973 (1973-01-25)
Running time	91 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

The opening credits state that the movie is "Based on authentic 16th Century records and a story by Stendhal"—possibly Stendhal's L'Abbesse de Castro (1832) is meant.

Plot

The story involves the power struggles and sexual intrigues of a group of good-looking nuns at the Sant Arcangelo Convent and in particular the machinations of Sister Julia as she attempts, by any means possible, to succeed to the position of the dying Mother Superior. The nuns struggle with their vows of celibacy, some inclining to lesbianism whilst others invite male lovers secretly into their cells. Meanwhile, a corrupt church hopes to benefit from an aristocratic donation to the Convent, before launching an inquisition into the lubricious and corrupt activities of the inmates of the Convent. There then follow graphic scenes of torture as miscreant nuns are stripped naked and tortured with a variety of devices in order to elicit a confession of their misdemeanours. The film ends with a resonant condemnation of the power hungry and corrupt church by Sister Julia after she has been found guilty and compelled to take poison to end her life.

Cast

• Anne Heywood as Sister Julia
• Luc Merenda as Vicar Carafa
• Ornella Muti as Sister Isabella
• Pier Paolo Capponi as Don Carlos Ribera
• Martine Brochard as Sister Chiara
• Claudia Gravy as Sister Carmela (credited as Claudia Gravi)
• Maria Cumani Quasimodo as Sister Lavinia
• Claudio Gora as Cardinal d'Arezzo
• Duilio Del Prete as Pietro

Production

The production obtained permission to shoot the scenes in a real convent (Fossanova Abbey in Priverno, Latina, Italy) by withholding details of the plot. Heywood had previously played a nun in The Lady of Monza.

In popular culture

The electro-industrial band My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult has sampled the English-language dub of the film extensively in songs such as "And This Is What the Devil Does" and "Kooler Than Jesus".

External links

• Le monache di Sant'Arcangelo at IMDb