The Trouble with Angels (1966)

82% of users liked it
(5,943 ratings)

The Trouble With Angels opens on the first day of school for a new batch of students at St. Francis Academy, run by a very strong-willed Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell). She is used to having things her way, but she may have met her match in the headstrong and independent Mary Clancy (Hayley… More The Trouble With Angels opens on the first day of school for a new batch of students at St. Francis Academy, run by a very strong-willed Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell). She is used to having things her way, but she may have met her match in the headstrong and independent Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills) and her newfound friend, Rachel Devery (June Harding). Mary, easily bored and ready to rebel at the drop of a hat, comes up with an endless series of "scathingly brilliant" schemes designed either to amuse her and Rachel, torture insufferable schoolmate Marvel-Ann, or in some way help them get ahead. Rachel, who would never come up with such ideas on her own, is delighted to go along with them. The duo starts right away by convincing several of the girls to join them in giving fake names to the sisters that register them. Future escapades include guided tours of the nuns' living quarters, illicit cigarette smoking that brings about the fire brigade, replacing sugar with soap bubbles, and many others. Several times the Mother Superior is on the brink of expelling the girls, but she relents, knowing something of their home lives and that they will benefit from the more nurturing environment of the school. By the end of the film, the girls have indeed grown, and Mary, in particular, has developed a special love for the Academy. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Ida Lupino
Written By: Blanche Russell, Jane Trahey, Blanche Hanalis
Genres: Kids & Family, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 30, 1966 Wide
On DVD: Nov 11, 2003

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Nun comedy fluff Roz Russell and Hayley Mills fills family bill.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Silly fluff with top-notch performers. No one else could say "scathingly brilliant" with as much scathing brilliance as Hayley Mills, and Russell is magnificently wry as Mother Superior.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

I watched this for Rosalind Russell... sadly, it was not all Rosalind could be. Cute in some ways, but still eh. TOTALLY DUG the 60s outfits and hair, however.
AJ V

This movie is a lot of fun, and if you went to a Catholic school too, like I did, it'll bring back memories. It's really funny, and the story is good, I recommend watching it.
Film C

i love this movie it reminds me a bit of st trinians really so if you do like st trinians then you'll like this movie its funny and sweet hearted worth a watch!
Lanning :

Update 07/29/08: I just watched this again for the umpteenth time. It never fails to move me. I'm jumping it up to five full stars and adding it to my Top 100. End update. And speaking of Hayley Mills, this is a classic.… More
Update 07/29/08: I just watched this again for the umpteenth time. It never fails to move me. I'm jumping it up to five full stars and adding it to my Top 100. End update. And speaking of Hayley Mills, this is a classic. Rosalind Russell was a huge talent. And if you can believe it, Ida Lupino directed this. No, Hayley, you cannot become a nun. Please. But I'm convinced that it's what you must do. Where is June Harding? She was so good in this. Rosalind Russell is an all-time all-star.
Red L

1966 movie. Sentimental. Story of two troublemaking kids attending Catholic school. Predictable.
Sunil J

Silly fun.