MovieChat Forums > The Flying Nun (1967) Discussion > This was a stupid show

This was a stupid show

posted 16 years ago by bubblepup
51 replies | jump to latest

Come on, people. The premise of this show was so, so, stupid. A nun that can "fly?". It's one thing to become airborne due to your cornet (that magically doesn't fly off your head) but it's another thing to fly when you want to or control your flight. I just saw an episode with Paul Lynde where Sally Field is flying next to an airliner - how unbelievable is that? I love sitcoms of the 60s but this one was SO stupid. Also, the ridiculous accents that all the other actors have - why was this supposed to take place in Puerto Rico in the first place? You'd think they could have found real bilingual actors who could play the part but no, they get non-Spanish speakers who think they can fool the public. In fact, in some episodes, when they were supposedly speaking Spanish, they weren't! I speak Spanish and that WASN'T Spanish but rather some mangling of Spanish mixed with Italian or whatever. The show was filmed in L.A. where there are thousands of actors with Spanish accents. Then there was an episode where they held a Jewish wedding at the convent and everyone sang "Hava Nagila" - unbelievable! I'm Jewish and I'm shaking my head. I like dated shows but the problem with The Flying Nun is not that it's dated but rather IT'S STUPID. I only rented to see the psychedelic episode with The Sundowners.

All very stupid but I enjoyed watching Sally Field. It's no wonder that today she wants to distance herself from this mess of show. Gilligan's Island is stupid too but better!

[–] anantiquemoon 16 years ago

I loved it. What is wrong with a bit of silly fantasy, I would much rather see fantastic 1960's tv,
Like Flying nun, My Mother the Car, Addams family, Mr Ed, My Favorite Martian, Munsters and a whole host of others, than the reality show junk they show nowadays... tell me that stuff isn't contrived, in a rotten script.

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

Admittedly, there were some things that really were a stretch (given that you could accept the premise of the show to begin with) - like flying alongside the jet plane. However, I love this show dearly!

"Samantha! You picked a lemon in the garden of love!"

[–] rabit818-1 15 years ago

It must be the LSD of the time that gave the green light on this. Nevertheless, it is funny and wholesome at times.

[–] praxagora 15 years ago

I just saw an episode with John Astin as Father Lundigan, where she flies next to his plane. It must be the precursor to the episode you mention with Paul Lynde.
Yeah - it's stupid, but it's fun and it's funny.

And yes, the show's premise was silly, however there are lots of contemporary shows that seem even flimsier. 'Lost' and it's use of time travel immediately come to mind.

As for the 'faux Spanish' you mention, I haven't yet heard this in the shows that I've seen, but could they have in fact been speaking Latin? Nuns of the era would certainly have been fluent in it.
Just a thought.

Also - might I mention that the show was called 'The Flying Nun'? What exactly were you expecting - high art? C'mon - just enjoy it for what it was, a fun trifle from the 60's.

[–] solex10 14 years ago

Excuse me, buddy, but Lost is science fiction, and the predicament is eventually explained in a sensible way. By contrast, The Flying Nun is a dumb as a box of hammers and then some, and that's why real nuns were pissed off with it.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] jejozi 12 years ago

A sensible way??? LOL!!! Excusing the stretch to reality by calling it sci fi means nothing, because you can write off TFN as fantasy.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] monet2004 14 years ago

Ease up! Why are you trying to make sense out of a comedy from the 1960s!? You wanna know what was stupid -- 80s teen movies! I personally found this show charming, funny and light-hearted. You seem to want to make sense out of a flying nun. For pete sake, it was just a tv show!

[–] spike71 14 years ago

It was a comedy that no one had to "get into." Just honest, clean, pure entertainment. Unrealistic??? Absolutely, but it was lighthearted,cute and provided us some good laughs. And I agree with the other poster, I'd much rather watch The Flying Nun compared to what's on today. It was so nice to be able to turn on the TV and not have to worry whether it was safe for the entire family.

In regards to your comments about them not having Spanish-speaking people, budgets weren't what they are today. Nor were they necessary. People were satisfied with some low-budget family entertainment. Nothing fancy, just some nice shows everyone can watch.

[–] holborne 14 years ago

I don't see why it's inherently a stupider concept than a witch married to a human who always ordered her to stop using magic, or a guy whose best friend is a talking car with super powers.

[–] phillindholm 14 years ago

OR, a guy who's MOTHER is reincarnated as a CAR.

[–] holborne 14 years ago

Exactly.

[–] solex10 14 years ago

Okay Sherlock The Clueless, here's why both are better than The Flying Nun:

1)A witch with powers is easier to believe than a novice nun who can fly because her hat catches the wind and she's light

2)The concept behind Knight Rider was artificial intelligence serving man in a compact form (computers inside cars have come true somewhat, with the presence of computer-based GPS systems/maps being a part of cars now, and things like OnStar inside most GM cars.)

There is nothing great about the The Flying Nun; it was insulting to Latino people, to women and men with brains, and was just plain silly, period-no wonder Sally Field turned down the offer to come back in a 'reunion' consisting only of her (and maybe) Alexandro Rey-she'd rather appear in the well written, realistic, adult drama she's in now than *beep* like The Flying Nun. Her previous show, Gidget was a lot better, funnier, and realistic than The Flying Nun, and should have been on the air longer.

[–] dwacon-2 14 years ago

Surprising they cancelled Gidget and put Sally in this.

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[–] solex10 14 years ago

Same here. Gidget was the better series, showed off Sally Field's beauty (especially her beautiful bare feet!) and had more of a future than The Flying Nun ever did (although The Flying Nun is now being shown here in Canada on CTS) with four sequel TV movies (three live action, one animated) showing Gidget's further adventures. These movies alone demonstrate why Gidget was a better show.

[–] Illinoisguy1 14 years ago

I wonder if the only reason why this show (and Gidget) are still remembered today is because of Sally Field.

She was really the only "big" star from either of those two shows. Sure both had some well known guest stars, but of the regular cast none of them are(were) really household names as Sally Field is.

My brother likes both of these shows, but I just can't stand either one of them. I make fun of them and he gets mad at me. But I do like Sally Field in many other projects such as Norma Rae, Places in the Heart and now Brothers and Sisters.

And while I dislike this show and Gidget I can also understand why some do like it. I also agree that Field does have charm in both of the series, but her charm isn't enough for me to enjoy the premise of The Flying Nun. Even though I dislike the "breaking the fourth wall" as Gidget talks directly into the camera overall I think that show is at least based more in a reality that this show ever was.

Just my 2 cents.

[–] dreamcurse 14 years ago

As I understand it Gidget was canceled but then the reruns picked up in the ratings. By then it was too late to uncancel it so they put Sally Field in this.

[–] dwacon-2 14 years ago

It's never too late to un-cancel anything. Look at Futurama for instance...

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[–] thomasam32 11 years ago

That was a much different time and there weren't shows that came back like they do now. People didn't write in to bring shows back, and there wasn't as much tracking of public sentiment.

[–] 14 years ago

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