I was raised in a very devout, strict, blue collar, working class Roman Catholic family and attended Catholic grade school (run by nuns and priests) in the 50's and 60's. I was introduced to films like Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary's, The Bishop's Wife, Come to the Stable, Keys of the Kingdom, The Song of Bernadette, The Sound of Music, and countless others as a little boy and young teen.
When I got older, on some level I must have realized how hokey they were. However, I continued to enjoy them because they reminded me fondly of my childhood.
Of course, it was wasn't until decades later that stories about abuse and/or inappropriate sexual activity in Catholic institutions surfaced, were reported in the press, and became the subject matter for theatre pieces like Child's Play, Agnes of God, Mass Appeal, Doubt, and others.
It's not surprising that Charles Busch targeted some beloved 40's films for pointed satire in The Divine Sister. Making people laugh may be the best antidote for combatting the hypocrisy that they represent. |
