Evening star., 1937-03-03

PROBABLY reIlldlIleQ AWAKE carly tlilo
morning thinking over its implica-
tions.
"Cloistered" is an unusual picture;
one that possesses an amazing impact
because of its complete naturalness.
It differs from the routine celluloid
drama as night differs from day.
Whether it is good box office, which
the routine film strives always to be,
remains to be seen. Certainly 1t
merits examination by those who are
curious about a story Of convent life
that never before has been told with
such extraordinarily quiet emphasis.
The film has running time of ap-
proximately IS minutes. Not for
second of that hour-and- five minute
interval Is there bit of acting in it.
Its scores of characters, beyond per-
haps one or two, did not know it was
being made They were completely
themselves; always oblivious of the
fact that their venture into religion
in its ultimate phase was being i'm
printed on celluloid for a curious
world to see.
That is the chief virtue of "Clois-
tered" Its complete simplicity leads
the spectator at times to deeper un-
derstanding of the effects, if not the
essence, of mysticism. If he has been
puzzled before at the type of mind
that can separate itself, with happi-
ness, from the world which seems so
natural, here Is film that speaks
with an impressive eloquence in an
swer to his baff1ement.
+ X 4
THERE is beautiful photography In
this unusual better, unique"
film Its excellence may be product
of the imagination, in part at least,
for one no sooner sees the habits, or
garb, of the novitiates and nuns than
the mind begins to work upon the
implications of them. That they take
leave of more than the world of
women's fashions is Immediately evil
dent. A far deeper quality of renun-
citation of the ways of other men and
women is implied.
If "Cloistered" carries a negative
suggestion anywhere in its unique
treatment of a refreshing subject, it
is the sense that it gives of eyes pry-
ing into something hitherto undis-
closed. That sense, however, is re-
lieved by the producers foreword.
Those highest in the councils of the
Roman Catholic Church are recorded
as having assented to the making of
the film; its making, indeed, in such
a manner that there was no aware
ness on the part of its participants.
The latter, incidentally. are members
of the Order of the Good Shepherd.
The convent where two years were
spent in the making of the film is To-
Gated in France.
Unlike the average film, "Cloistered"
Is not one that can easily be recon-
mended or condemned with regard to
audience merit. 1t falls into no es-
tabliShed categorieS. 1t has no stars,
no direction, no special lighting or
other effects and yet it tells story
Of compulsive appeal. 1t is far from
q film appealing to members of one
sect. In short, it is picture that
makes profound impression by be-
ing unlike any other picture one has
seen or is likely to see.
X X \
WHEN Alfred Lunt became a ham
hoofer in Idiots Delight" !"
there were those who felt new
warmth for the Theater Guild. In
Lunt's portrayal in that play the
guild demonstrated it could take down
its hair and be charmingly human.
Yet. walking out into that night of
new-found affection for that group,
one said it never could happen again.
Well, it has happened.
Not perhaps with quite the same