Bad Sister

In the 1937 film "Bad Sister," Barbara Stanwyck stars as Hazel Woods, a charming and manipulative new nun at St. Adeline's Catholic Boarding School. Hazel has risen through the ranks of the Catholic Church, but beneath her angelic façade lies a fatally flawed individual seeking excitement and experience. As she navigates her new role at the school, Hazel catches the eye of James Bryan, the nephew of Mother Superior, who becomes infatuated with her artificial charm. The Bryan family consists of James, his sister Zoe, and their devoted mother. Zoe, played by Bette Davis in her film debut, is a top student at St. Adeline's. She embodies all that is good and virtuous, adhering strictly to the school's rules and values. Hazel's actions begin to cause tension in the school, but no one suspects her true nature due to her masterful manipulation of those around her. As the story unfolds, Hazel develops an unhealthy obsession with James, using her cunning and beauty to manipulate him. Meanwhile, a series of mysterious events and misfortunes begin to plague the school, but Zoe remains oblivious to the reality of Hazel's sinister intentions. As the school's Headmistress starts to uncover Hazel's true intentions, tensions erupt and Zoe becomes increasingly entangled in her brother's disastrous infatuation with the deceitful nun. Through her well-meaning but naive pursuit of the truth, Zoe unwittingly threatens Hazel's carefully constructed facade. When Zoe discovers Hazel's true nature, however, she is torn between her sense of justice and loyalty to her family, who seems to accept Hazel as part of their community. With her discovery, Zoe becomes trapped between her duty to call out the imposter and the potential fallout that will have grave effects on those she cares for most.