Madge Blake, born in 1899, was an American character actress known for her memorable roles on television. In The Trouble with Angels (1966), she brings her comedic flair to the story of rebellious schoolgirls and their interactions with strict nuns. With a career that spanned decades, Blake's presence in the film adds a layer of charm that resonates with cult cinema enthusiasts. Her portrayal in this film complements her television legacy, including her notable role as Aunt Harriet in the iconic series Batman.
The Trouble with Angels
The movie is set at St. Francis Academy, a fictional all-girls Catholic boarding school in Pennsylvania, operated by an order of nuns. Rosalind Russell plays the Mother Superior, who spends the movie at odds with Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills), a rebellious teenager, and her friend Rachel Devery (June Harding). The episodic story line follows the young women through their sophomore, junior and senior high-school years as they pull pranks on the sisters and repeatedly get into trouble. Both girls almost get expelled for smoking in a bell tower. Although Mary spends much of her time at St. Francis resenting the authority of the Mother Superior and puzzling over why any woman would choose the life of a nun, as time goes on she is touched by examples of the sisters' dedication, devotion, kindness, love, and generosity, and begins to see that their life is one of fulfillment, not deprivation. Mary receives "the call" senior year and, after graduation, remains at the school to begin her novitiate in the order.
