During the Chinese Civil War of 1949, the Communists constantly harass the two priests of a remote Catholic mission outpost.During the Chinese Civil War of 1949, the Communists constantly harass the two priests of a remote Catholic mission outpost.During the Chinese Civil War of 1949, the Communists constantly harass the two priests of a remote Catholic mission outpost.
Weaver Levy
- Ho San
- (as Weaver Lee)
Ronald Adam
- Father Lemay
- (uncredited)
Lin Chen
- Sister Mary
- (uncredited)
Anthony Chinn
- Ho San's Driver
- (uncredited)
Noel Hood
- Sister Justine
- (uncredited)
Ric Young
- Junior Officer
- (uncredited)
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- Writers
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was Clifton Webb's final film and one of only two of his sound films in which he appeared without his trademark mustache. The other was For Heaven's Sake (1950).
- GoofsIn the baptism scene at the end, Holden pulls the white garment over his head just as the name of the child is revealed. His hair is very tousled as his head subsequently emerges. The scene cuts to the proud/happy parents, then right back to Holden and his hair is miraculously restored to its customary neatness with no apparent time elapsed.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood (2001)
Featured review
Unsuccessful as either comedy or drama...
William Holden (looking disinterested) and fey Clifton Webb are priests in the 1940s serving at a Chinese mission and being terrorized by the Red Chinese Army. Holden is actually being terrorized in another way as well--by twinkling servant Frances Nuyen, who's anxious to snuggle up to the heavy-sighing Man of the Cloth. Director Leo McCarey helmed this adaptation of Pearl Buck's novel as either a comedy-drama or as a drama with a comedic undermining (I'm not sure which, as the tone of the film strays all over the place). There are Communist takeover sequences such as the crucifix thrown on the fire which should be harrowing, but McCarey directs it thoughtlessly, cartoonishly. We never really fear for Holden or Webb's safety because the direction is so dispassionate (and Holden is so laconic) that fear seems nearly unwarranted. I actually found the Nuyen-seducing-Holden scenes more tasteless than the violence, and the pat conclusion is tacked on for silly relief--but by then the viewer has no idea where to stand emotionally with "Satan Never Sleeps". It's a curiosity, but not a particularly good example of one. ** from ****
- moonspinner55
- Dec 9, 2006
- Permalink
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,885,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 5 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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