Although the scenes showing the 26 year old Ann Blyth as a Catholic school girl were a bit awkward, on the whole Sally And Saint Anne is a tender and well done family picture about growing up Catholic during the Truman- Eisenhower era. I only wish that Blyth had been given a song or two for the film.
Blyth plays Sally O'Moyne youngest and only girl in the O'Moyne family a rather eccentric clan where the parents seem to indulge children. Parents are Otto Hulett and Frances Bavier and Ann's three older brothers are Hugh O'Brian, Jack Kelly, and Lamont Johnson. These kids are indulged like the inhabitants of Lionel Barrymore's place in You Can't Take I With You. Still they're a lovable crew. They have an enemy in their lives like the Vanderhoffs in the person of John McIntire who wants to acquire a piece of land that grandfather Edmund Gwenn owns and isn't above using the power of being an Alderman to do it.
One day in Catholic school in a bit of a rush Blyth says a quick prayer to the statue of St. Anne and gets her prayer answered in one of those mysterious ways God works. After that St. Anne becomes a personal spiritual lifeline she goes to and somehow things work out. That last thing which involves brother O'Brian is a pip.
Blyth is one of the group of actresses who are well known Catholic lay people and they also include Loretta Young, Rosalind Russell, and Irene Dunne. I'm sure this was a project from which she derived great satisfaction.
And while the view of the Roman Catholic Church has changed considerably since 1952, Sally And Saint Anne is still a nice family picture especially for Catholics.
Blyth plays Sally O'Moyne youngest and only girl in the O'Moyne family a rather eccentric clan where the parents seem to indulge children. Parents are Otto Hulett and Frances Bavier and Ann's three older brothers are Hugh O'Brian, Jack Kelly, and Lamont Johnson. These kids are indulged like the inhabitants of Lionel Barrymore's place in You Can't Take I With You. Still they're a lovable crew. They have an enemy in their lives like the Vanderhoffs in the person of John McIntire who wants to acquire a piece of land that grandfather Edmund Gwenn owns and isn't above using the power of being an Alderman to do it.
One day in Catholic school in a bit of a rush Blyth says a quick prayer to the statue of St. Anne and gets her prayer answered in one of those mysterious ways God works. After that St. Anne becomes a personal spiritual lifeline she goes to and somehow things work out. That last thing which involves brother O'Brian is a pip.
Blyth is one of the group of actresses who are well known Catholic lay people and they also include Loretta Young, Rosalind Russell, and Irene Dunne. I'm sure this was a project from which she derived great satisfaction.
And while the view of the Roman Catholic Church has changed considerably since 1952, Sally And Saint Anne is still a nice family picture especially for Catholics.