History Film / SisterAct

* DrivesLikeCrazy: Father Thomas, who somehow was the designated driver even if doesn't have a license.
* EducationMama: [[spoiler: Initially,]] Rita's mom does not bless her choir participation. It's made quite clear, albeit obliquely, that the reason she disapproves of her daughter's desire to sing and instead tries to force her to focus only on education is not a general "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" or "you have to have better opportunities and do better than I did" mentality, but because her husband tried the same path, failed utterly, and died leaving the family destitute. So it isn't that she disparages Rita's dream, but that she finds it [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids impractical]] and [[ThisIsReality unrealistic]] and is afraid pursuing it could cost her, the same as happened to him.

* ContinuityNod: Sister Mary Clearance's cover is blown when [[spoiler: Mr. Crisp finds a copy of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine with Deloris on the cover]], which appeared during the credits of the first film.

** The musical changes the name of Vince LaRocca to Curtis. In the original West End production he was Curtis Shank; in the Broadway version, he was Curtis Jackson.

* {{Nepotism}}: Curtis' idiot nephew, [=JT=] works for him.

* QuirkyMiniBossSquad: Curtis' goons, Joey, [=JT=] and Pablo.

* AdaptationalLocationChange: The musical is set entirely in Philadelphia, instead of the Witness Protection moving Deloris from Reno to San Francisco like in the movie.

* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Deloris' reaction when Eddie wants to disguise herself as a nun.

** The seemingly useless Rita has a beautiful singing voice and spiritual side.

* ActorAllusion: This isn't the first time Creator/HarveyKeitel played [[Film/Bugsy a mobster]].

* EveryoneHasStandards: However unruly and eccentric most of the other students are in their own ways, many of them still find Jamal's Afro-pride speeches OTT and ridiculous. Also, as troublesome as Rita is in her own way, she does help stop a fight between Jamal and Frankie by pushing the former down onto his seat.

* EveryoneHasStandards: However unruly and eccentric most of the other students are in their own ways, many of them still find Jamal's Afro-pride speeches OTT and ridiculous.

* HollywoodNuns: All over this movie. And subverted in many ways.

* HeroicSacrifice: Reverend Mother ''lied'' to Vince, Joey and Willy when saying that "Mary Clarence" is indeed a nun, when she knows she's really not. Remember, Reverend Mother ''is'' a nun (and a highly conservative one to boot), and lying is a big deal for them (as it's one of the Ten Commandments). But, if she didn't, they would have killed Deloris, which justified her reason to break a Commandment.
** It's not the first time Reverend Mother "lied" in this movie--see ILied below.
** It's also possible that she realized that Deloris, while not an avowed nun, ''did'' have the spirit and heart of one, so she was, on a technicality, telling the truth.
** It may also be a form of ExactWords - Deloris isn't a nun, but Sister Mary Clarence (the "person" which just happens to occupy the same physical space as Deloris) ''is'' a nun, at least an honorary one.
** There's also Deloris herself working to free Sister Mary Robert from Vince's goons. She ends up shoving Mary Robert out of the moving car, choosing to save her (and by extension, the other nuns) rather than escape.
** Blink and you'll miss it, but right as Vince is about to shoot Deloris ([[spoiler: and Lt. Souther shoots him instead]]), the Reverend Mother instinctively moves forward with her arms extended, as if she intended to [[TakingTheBullet Take the Bullet]].

** TheTriple

-->'''Deloris''': You know, before I came here, I had a career, I had friends--I had clothing that fit. Before I came here, I was okay.
-->'''Reverend Mother''': Oh, really? From what I've heard, your singing career was almost non-existent, and your married lover ''wants you dead.'' If you're fooling anyone, it is only yourself. God has brought you here. ''Take the hint.''

* BritishStuffiness: Reverend Mother (it's Maggie Smith, after all). However, this gradually modifies, especially in the sequel.

* ArcWords: In the second movie: "If you want to be somebody, if you want to go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention."

* DrivesLikeCrazy: Father Thomas in the second film.

* AdaptationExpansion: The musical necessarily does this with more characters getting their own musical numbers, including Mother Superior, Curtis, Lt. Souther, and even Curtis' henchmen.
* AdaptationNameChange: The musical changes the name of Vince LaRocca to Curtis. In the original West End production he was Curtis Shank; in the Broadway version, he was Curtis Jackson.
* AdaptationPersonalityChange: The Mother Superior is even more of a DeadpanSnarker in the musical.
* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: In the musical, Delores and Lt. Eddie Souther went to high school together, where she called him "Sweaty Eddie." During the story it's also more heavily implied that they're developing romantic feelings for each other.
* AdaptationalLocationChange: The musical sets the story in Philadelphia in 1978.

* AdaptationNameChange: Deloris' real name is Doris Wilson with Deloris Van Cartier being a stage name. Her gangster ex-boyfriend Vince has been renamed Curtis.

* CoolOldLady: Many of the nuns who sing “[[Music/TheTemptations Ball of Confusion]]” at the retirement home definitely count as this.

* DoWrongRight: After calling the other nuns out for having an ice cream party without permission, calling it a sinful indulgence, she then gets on them for not getting Butter Pecan.

One of the most popular comedies of TheNineties, and up there with ''Film/{{Ghost}}'' as one of Whoopi Goldberg's most famous roles, with a cast of beloved character actors and a magnificently long-suffering Maggie Smith as the Mother Superior. The film also drew praise from both Catholics and actual nuns, as the film portrays Catholicism in general and nuns in particular as warm, welcoming, and human (as opposed to some of the other [[NunsAreSpooky popular]] [[NaughtyNuns portrayals]]). The biggest draw is probably the music itself, which reinterprets such classics as "My Guy" into a religious format. In 2006, the movie was [[ScreenToStageAdaptation made into a stage musical]], with songs by Music/AlanMenken.

* HeroicSacrifice: Reverend Mother ''lied'' to Vince, Joey and Willy when saying that "Mary Clarence" is indeed a nun, when she is really not. Remember, Reverend Mother ''is'' a nun (and a highly conservative one to boot), and lying is a big deal for them (it's one of the Ten Commandments). But, if she didn't, they would have killed Deloris, which justified it.
** It's hardly the first time Reverend Mother "lied" in this movie--see ILied below.
** It's also possible that she realized that Deloris, while not an avowed nun, ''did'' have the spirit and heart of one, so she was technically speaking the truth.
** It may also be a form of ExactWords - Deloris isn't a nun, but Sister Mary Clarence (the "person" which just happens to occupy the same physical space as Deloris) ''is''
** There's also Deloris herself working to free Mary Robert from Vince's goons. She ends up shoving the younger woman out of the car, choosing to save her (and by extension, the other nuns) rather than escape.

** Reverend Mother is more this in the second movie, after having gone through [[character development DefrostingIceQueen]].

* ChekhovsSkill: Deloris's backup singers wonder what will happen to the act without Deloris to "pick all the music and tell us where to stand and everything"; i.e., she is the group's music arranger as well as its lead singer, which comes in handy in the convent choir as well.

* HeroicSacrifice: Implied. Reverend Mother ''lied'' to Vince, Joey and Willy when saying that "Mary Clarence" is indeed a nun, when she is really not. Remember, Reverend Mother ''is'' a nun (and a highly conservative one to boot), and lying is a big deal for them (it's one of the Ten Commandments). But, if she didn't, they would have killed Deloris, which justified it.

* BaitAndSwitchGunshot: [[spoiler: When Vince has Deloris and the nuns cornered, about to shoot her, Eddie Souther fires a shot hitting Vince in the arm, saving Deloris]].

* BigBad: Vince, who will do anything to stay out of prison, killing anyone who could rat him out.

* BritishStuffiness: Reverend Mother (it is Maggie Smith, after all). However, this gradually modifies, especially in the sequel.

* ChekhovsGun: The 1960s songs "My Guy" and "I Will Follow Him" that were sung by Deloris and her backup singers are used again by the nun's choir but with a different arrangements.

* ChristianityIsCatholic: Justified; how many people know that Anglicans and Orthodox Christians, among others, have nuns?
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When Deloris goes to the cops to report Vince murdering his driver, they reveal that he's a mobster with all kinds of criminal endeavors which they've recorded on tape. Deloris's only concern: "...quick question. Am I [[HomePornMovie on any of those tapes?]]"

** Reverend Mother is more this in the second movie, having gone through a DefrostingIceQueen in film #1.
* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Had Deloris waited a day to try returning Vince's wife's mink coat, she wouldn't have walked in on him murdering someone, which is what kicks off the plot.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Vince's hitmen Joey and Willy are very reluctant about killing a nun, even if it's someone they know dressed as a nun. Just the fact that she may have found God in her time at the convent is enough to make Joey and Willy uncomfortable and they even go along with her when she starts praying. Although he won't admit it, even Vince seems to have difficulty bringing himself to shoot Deloris while she's in a nun's habit, and his brief moment of stalling is just enough for the police to catch up to him.

* EveryoneHasStandards: At the beginning of the film, Deloris is carrying on with Vince knowing full well that he's married and is generally a smart-mouthed, unpleasant person. She's almost tempted to return to him when he tries to buy her off with a gorgeous mink coat...but then she finds his wife's initials in it. Even the opportunistic Deloris can't bring herself to do that--"You don't ''earn'' other people's wives' fur coats, OK?"-- and declares that enough is enough. Unfortunately, this sudden pang of conscience makes her witness Vince murdering someone, and kicks off the plot.

* GroinAttack: Deloris does this to both of Vince's goons after a prayer on her knees.
* HeroicSacrifice: Reverend Mother ''lied'' to the thieves when saying that "Mary Clarence" is indeed a nun, when she is not. Remember, Reverend Mother is a nun (and a highly conservative one to boot), and saying lies is a big deal for them (it's one of the Ten Commandments). But, if she didn't, they would have killed Deloris, which justified it.
** It's hardly the first time Reverend Mother "lied" in this movie--see ILied entry below.

* ILied: Reverend Mother says this after the monsignor reminds her of her "vow of hospitality." Bonus points for ''that'' being the lie, as she just didn't want to put up with Deloris.