i have always say that some play by their very nature just can not be translate to film and and this one be a prime example . a a play and this be a very funny farcical satire of the catholic church and with a razor wit and a central character who be so shockingly unreal we have to root for her even when she start murder her parishioner ( one of whom make the fatal mistake of admit he have not sin since his last confession and so she feel she be send him straight to heaven ) . that just one example of how far outside of reality the play go and and in the make believe world of the theater and it work . however and that kind of heightened reality rarely work on film and and it certainly doesn not here . director marshall brickman have assemble a fine cast who do great work and but by present all this absurdity in a realistic fashion the comedy become tragedy and you be leave with an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach . seek out a production of the stage play instead and you would not be disappoint .