The Lieutenant Nun

The Lieutenant Nun
Directed byEmilio Gómez Muriel
Written byMax Aub
Marco Aurelio Galindo
Eduardo Ugarte
Produced byFrancisco A. de Icaza
StarringMaría Félix
Ángel Garasa
José Cibrián
CinematographyRaúl Martínez Solares
Edited byJorge Busto
Music byLuis Hernández Bretón
Production
company
Clasa Films Mundiales
Release date
  • 27 July 1944 (1944-07-27)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryMexico
LanguageSpanish

The Lieutenant Nun (Spanish: La monja alférez) is a 1944 Mexican historical adventure film directed by Emilio Gómez Muriel and starring María Félix, Ángel Garasa and José Cibrián. It is based on the life of Antonio de Erauso (a.k.a. Catalina de Erauso).[1]

The film's sets were designed by the art director Jorge Fernández.[2][3][4][5]

Plot

In 17th-century Spain, Catalina de Erauso (María Félix), a rebellious young woman confined to a convent, escapes her vows before taking her final veil. To avoid detection, she disguises herself as a man, adopting the name Alonso Díaz, and flees to the New World. Settling in colonial Spanish America, she enlists in the military and serves as a soldier under the command of Captain Juan de Aguirre (Ángel Garasa).

Due to her combat bravery, she is promoted to the rank of alférez (ensign). However, maintaining her secret identity becomes increasingly complex due to continuous romantic advances from local women and frequent involvement in violent brawls and duels. During a street fight, she accidentally mortally wounds her own brother, who serves as the local magistrate. Fatally injured during a later skirmish, Catalina confesses her true biological sex to a priest on her deathbed. She ultimately survives her wounds, and her unique military service and vow of chastity lead to a papal audience with Pope Urban VIII, who grants her a special dispensation to continue wearing male military attire.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ Klossner p.221
  2. ↑ "La monja alférez (1944)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "La monja alférez (1944)". Letterboxd. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "La Monja Alferez". Variety. 31 December 1992. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Fontes, Renzo (12 March 2015). "In 'La Monja Alferez' Maria Felix Played a Real Life Spanish Nun Who Lived Her Life as a Man". Remezcla. Retrieved 28 July 2026.

Bibliography

  • Klossner, Michael. The Europe of 1500-1815 on Film and Television: A Worldwide Filmography of Over 2550 Works, 1895 Through 2000. McFarland & Company, 2002.


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