Moments of Movie Wisdom: Redemption at the Mission San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Commentary

Sometimes, a single scene will stand out from the rest of a movie and remain strongly imprinted in your memory, even after your recollection of the rest of the film has faded. Some scenes from classic movies stick with us because they are very poignant, perhaps more so today than when these films were originally released decades ago.

Today’s moment of movie wisdom comes from “Nobody Lives Forever” from 1946. The scene takes place 50 minutes into the 100-minute film. Gladys Halvorsen (Geraldine Fitzgerald) takes Nick Blake (John Garfield) to the Mission San Juan Capistrano as a day trip from the Los Angeles hotel where they are both staying, and it proves to be an important turning point in the film and in Nick’s character arc.

Nick is a former GI who just got his honorable discharge from the Army after being injured during World War II. After getting out of the service, he immediately returns to his old business, being one of the smartest conmen in the country. After discovering that his former girlfriend (Faye Emerson) tried to chisel him out of the money he left with her, he and his friend Al (George Tobias) flee to Southern California with the bankroll.

Lobby card from the 1946 film "Nobody Lives Forever." MovieStillsDB

Once in California, Nick reluctantly gets pulled into an elaborate swindle staged by his desperate nemesis (George Coulouris), who needs his youthful charm to pull it off. Young widow Gladys has millions of dollars lying around, and the crooks want to relieve her of some of that excess wealth by tricking her into investing in a phony business venture. Nick skillfully lays the trap by befriending the young woman and earning her trust, even convincing her omnipresent lawyer (Richard Gaines) of his honesty. The only thing he didn’t consider was that, by spending all that time with Gladys, he would fall in love with her.

The Scene

This scene is noteworthy because it’s one of the few examples of location footage in Orange County from the Golden Era of Hollywood. Nick and Gladys’s car pulls up in front of the historic mission’s brick entryway, dated 1776. She is wearing a pure white blouse, headband, and hat, symbolizing her innocence compared to her unscrupulous companion. As they walk into the courtyard, a flock of white doves swoops down from the roof and flocks around the visitors. They make their way past the birds and the garden into the centuries-old chapel. Inside Father Serra’s chapel, whose ornate altar is illuminated with burning candles, they encounter a kind friar, who welcomes them and tells them about the church. The solemn background music highlights the reverence of the moment.

Sanctuary at California's most famous mission, in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Public Domain

When they hear schoolchildren singing hymns in the distance, the piety becomes a little too much for the guilty Nick’s conscience, so they go out into the garden. As they walk beneath the lush archways, Nick admits that the chapel reminded him of the wrecked churches he saw in Italy; he realizes he forgot about the horrors of the war too easily. He muses, “It’s too bad people can’t get along. The world’s a pretty nice place, if you’re happy.” “Are you happy?” she asks. “I wasn’t,” he admits, “till I met you.” They kiss passionately, and it’s clear that this isn’t part of Nick’s plan; he is genuinely falling in love with Gladys.

Its Significance

This scene marks a turning point in the story for Nick Blake, because it’s when he starts to think honestly about his whole life and character, past, present, and future. It all starts with his visit to the mission, which softens his heart. Gladys has no suspicion of Nick’s criminal ties, but she senses that he is troubled. Her decision to bring him to the historic mission in San Juan Capistrano is not accidental. Although it disturbs her to see how troubled he feels in the chapel, she wants to understand the confusing man better, since she already has grown very fond of him.

Lobby card from the 1946 film "Nobody Lives Forever" starring Geraldine Fitzgerald and John Garfield. MovieStillsDB

We don’t know whether Nick has ever been religious; he seems pretty uncomfortable and confused in the church. Nevertheless, he feels automatic reference for the sacred building and the faith which built and sustained it. This faith and the presence of a Higher Power convicts him of his actions, and he realizes that he can’t steal from Gladys. After this scene, he begins to turn his life around by trying to get out of the horrible deception in which he is involved.

A Joy Forever

It’s often quoted that “a thing of beauty is a joy forever.” This is certainly true of historic landmarks. They remain inspiring testaments to past generations years after their original construction, especially if well-maintained. It’s amazing to see a historic landmark like the Mission San Juan Capistrano in a movie made decades ago, realizing that this currently 247-year-old chapel was already 170 years old when this movie was released 83 years ago! Even in black-and-white, its beauty is breathtaking.

Fr. St. John O'Sullivan's remains are moved to the cemetery at Mission San Juan Capistrano, Calif., on Nov. 7, 1934. Public Domain

“Nobody Lives Forever” is a crime film, a romance, and a post-war veteran drama. What really distinguishes it, however, is the scene in the mission. It shows the historic building, but it also illustrates some important principles. One person can show someone who has gone astray that there is a better way to live. A single event can have a powerful effect on a person’s life. Most of all, it shows that historic buildings need to be preserved and cherished, since they can have a profound impact on the lives of people who visit them.

You can see this beautiful moment of movie wisdom on YouTube on the Warner Archive channel.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.