Based on the book by Pearl S. Buck 'Satan Never Sleeps' concerns two Catholic mission priests facing the communist takeover of China in 1949. Clifton Webb, in his final film role before retirement, plays the senior priest, while William Holden is his junior. Holden certainly was cast in alot of Asian set films, he was also in 'Bridge on the River Kwai', 'The Bridge at Toko-Ri', 'Love is a Many Splendord Thing', 'The Proud and the Profain', 'The World of Suzie Wong' and 'The 7th Dawn', I may have missed some.
An on going bit in this film has France Nuyen as a potential convert who is smitten by Holden, in fact this drives a fair bit of the plot; the rest of the plot is principally about Communist agitation and Clifton Webb's health.
'Satan Never Sleeps' isn't very good. A critical and financial failure, 31% on Rotton Tomatoes and $1.5 million box office on a $2.9 million budget. Also Holden sanctions the marriage of a woman and her rapist. **
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