SYNOPSIS

The subject of this comedy was Sister Bertrille, a  bright, effusive young novice - the former Elsie Ethington - who brightened the lives of all at the ancient Convent San Tanco, situated on a hilltop near San Juan, Puerto Rico. Not the least of Sister Bertrille's attributes was that she could fly. How? Well, "when lift plus thrust is greater than load plus drag," any object can fly, including Sister Bertrille, who weighed only 90 pounds. Whenever a stiff wind caught the starched Cornett worn by her order, off she went.

These aerodynamics were not always pleasant. Occasionally Sister Bertrille would get dunked in the ocean or be thrust in the midst of unlikely goings-on, and once she was almost shot down as an enemy aircraft (a pelican once fell in love with her, too). Least impressed was her staid, conservative Mother Superior. But Sister Bertrille got along well with the wise and humorous Sister Jacqueline, and with Sister Sixto, the Puerto Rican nun who fought a running battle with the English language. Sister Bertrille was also admired - from a distance - by Carlos Ramirez, the rich, handsome playboy owner of a discotheque in town who was a patron of the convent.

Believe it or not, The Flying Nun was commended by some religious orders - for "humanizing" nuns and their work. It was based on the book The Fifteenth Pelican, by Tere Rios.