Why a 90-pound nun could defy gravity with a starched hat
In short: In the 1960s, television logic dictated that if you have enough lift and thrust, anything can fly. For Sister Bertrille, this meant catching ocean breezes in her heavy cornette to soar over Puerto Rico. It was a fantasy premise treated with surprising aerodynamic sincerity.
The Flying Nun premiered on ABC in 1967, starring Sally Field as Sister Bertrille. While the show is often remembered for its outlandish premise, it distinguished itself from contemporary fantasy comedies like 'Bewitched' or 'I Dream of Jeannie.' Unlike those series, which focused on frantic efforts to hide supernatural abilities, The Flying Nun treated flight with a sense of logic. The nuns and Sister Bertrille openly acknowledged her gift, asking only for discretion to protect the privacy of their mission in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The mechanics of Bertrille's flight were grounded in specific physical variables: she weighed under 90 pounds (41 kg), the convent was situated on high ocean bluffs providing consistent wind, and her cornette—a heavily starched headpiece—acted as a makeshift wing. She even cited the physics of lift, thrust, load, and drag to explain her abilities. However, the 'physics' had limits; she could not fly during heavy rains that softened the starch in her hat, nor when an inner ear infection disrupted her balance.
Beyond the spectacle, the series functioned as a socially relevant sitcom. It was one of the few 1960s American shows set in a low-income ethnic community, focusing on literacy, education, and poverty. To ensure the show remained acceptable to the public, the National Catholic Office for Radio and Television served as an official adviser. Despite initial mockery from critics who used the title as a punchline, the series eventually shifted toward warmer, more grounded storylines that often required the writers to contrive reasons for flight simply to maintain the show's established premise.
For Sally Field, the role was a complex professional milestone. She initially found the concept ridiculous and refused the part until her stepfather warned her it might end her career. While she faced significant ridicule from the press and comedians, she viewed the experience as a crucial training ground that helped her develop the agency to speak up for herself in a demanding industry.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Flying Nun
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