What an utterly wonderful film this is, I watched it based on a few reviews I'd glanced over and was not disappointed. From a time of film making where story telling and acting were order of the day, as opposed to violence and special effects.

Two beautiful performances from Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth, both are wonderful in their respective roles, Blyth was such a screen beauty, such a shame her career didn't sky rocket.

A great story, and such an unusual premise, you could be forgiven for thinking that the situation would be ordinary and dull, but far from it. The closing action is brilliant, and done in a way that looks very believable.

A wonderful movie 9/10

One needs to enter into the atmosphere of this taut emotional story to really appreciate the fine acting done by all. Have seen "Thunder on the Hill" countless times and it's still riveting. The dialogue unfolds splendidly like a fine dramatic stage play of intrigue and mystery.

Claudette Colbert gives a fine performance as Sister Mary who is haunted by certain memories of her past and yet feels compelled to do what is right according to her conscience even though it conflicts with those in authority especially Mother Superior (Gladys Cooper).

Ann Blyth as Valerie really does make one feel that life is very precious - no one wants to die when there's so much to live for especially when young, very much in love and with plans to marry being dashed by this unjust verdict of guilty which will destroy everything.

Philip Friend as Sidney, Valerie's intended, is distraught with despair but eventually comes round and being convinced of her innocence tries to help in some way, offering Valerie his love and support in their emotionally charged scenes together.

Michael Pate as simple-minded Willie does add texture to the story of intrigue in the beginning - he holds an important letter - his voice and minor dialogue reveal a well-acted character role.

Robert Douglas as the doctor is suave and believable (well-oiled you might say) and he cares for his wife's delicate mental condition to the extent of becoming very possessive and controlling which becomes his downfall eventually.

It's a strong story of deep human conflict that everyone can relate to. One of my favourites.

....sister Mary comes to me ,speaking words of wisdom:"don't let it be".

The director was famous for his extravagant (and brilliant ) melodramas ,not only as Douglas Sirk ("Written on the wind" "Imitation of live" "there's always tomorrow ),but also as Detlef Sierck (his real name in Germany)("Das Mädchen vom Moorhof" "La Habanera" ;he also tried his hand at thrillers ,as "Lured " (a remake of Robert Siodmak's "Pièges" (=traps),another exiled director who used to work in France before the war)and "sleep my love" attest.In "Thunder on the hill" ,Sirk combined both genres in a single classy movie.

Some will say it's full of implausibilities : all these people who have got something to hide in a case of murder,all gathered in a convent/hospital,because of the flood which prevent them from leaving the place:it's the rule of many an Agatha Christie book;and like in the famous writer's books ,it's a non-professional who investigates : a nun playing the role of Miss Marple.

Implausibilities are all in the game of melodrama too :there are more of them in the first twenty minutes of "the magnificent obsession" than in any thriller you can think of!And melodramatic,"thunder on the hill" is .It's a tear-jerker (not meant pejoratively) of the first order,with great scenes:

-The first scene between Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth,and the sudden revelation:it packs a real wallop.

-Willie and sister Mary in the fog on their boat ,trying to get to Norwich where "the only person who cares for the condemned woman lives".Willie destroying the boat.

-The scene where Sister Mary desperately rings the bell,a sequence to rival the best of Alfred Hitchcock or Robert Siodmak.

People cry rivers in "thunder of the hill" but anyway Sirk is one of those rare directors who CAN make you cry effortlessly:a person who did not cry when he saw the final of "imitation of life" is a liar.

Religion plays a prominent part in this work ,and the convict who laughed at a "divine intervention" was proved wrong.The last scene is an affirmation of the faith in God;a subject which would emerge again in Sirk's final melodramas (Someone tells Rock Hudson in "magnificent obsession" that a man -Jesus Christ- spent his whole life to help his fellow men and Annie ,the black servant's only dream in "imitation of life" is a great funeral and to be with the Lord).

There are numerous characters and Sirk succeeds in making all of them interesting,with the exception of the nasty nurse,a character we have seen too many times on the screen .Willie,for instance,was probably inspired by Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame"-Quasimodo-.Claudette Colbert shines in her part of a nun with a strong guilt feeling ,because she feels responsible for her sister's death;the rest of the cast is up to scratch ,and "thunder on the hill" is one of Sirk's sleepers.Do not miss it.