As Sally Field explains in a new interview for this DVD collection, the ABC brass were desperate to get her back on TV after summer reruns of the already-canceled Gidget racked up tremendous ratings. The Flying Nun had just begun production, and the network fired its previously cast star to make room for Field, who reluctantly took the role. Moderately less annoying than Gidget, the series cast the actress as young Sister Bertrille, a naïve but warmhearted novitiate who shook up her stuffy convent in Puerto Rico—not only with her boundless energy and fierce determination, but also with her unexplained ability to fly sans aircraft. Although frequently running afoul of Sister Jacqueline (Marge Redmond) and the Mother Superior (Madeleine Sherwood), Bertrille consistently managed to extricate herself from laughably complex situations, sometimes with the help of nightclub owner Carlos Ramirez (Alejandro Rey). The flying scenes helped endear this show to baby-boom youngsters, while the irrepressible Field charmed even the most cynical adults. Granted, the plots don't withstand close scrutiny—heck, they didn't in 1967 either—but the 30 episodes from the first season here retain a certain inexplicable appeal. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)
The Flying Nun: The Complete First Season
Sony, 4 discs, 617 min., not rated, DVD: $39.95 Volume 21, Issue 4
The Flying Nun: The Complete First Season
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