The Flying Nun
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The Flying Nun was a sitcom produced by the ABC from 1967 until 1970.
The plot centered around the adventures of a group of nuns in the Convent San Tanco in Puerto Rico. The comic elements of the storyline were provided by the unexplained flying ability of a novice nun, Sister Bertrille, played by Sally Field. She could be relied upon to solve any problem that came her way by her ability to catch a passing breeze and fly (attributed to her small stature and heavily starched habit), but her flying talents caused as many problems as they solved.
The unusual premise caught the attention of the public and the program was a success, yet the storylines were limited, and by the end of the show's run, the writers were struggling to create new situations that would allow the heroine to take flight. Critics never responded favorably to the show, and credited most of its success to the appeal of Sally Field.
Also in the cast were Marge Redmond, Madeleine Sherwood, Alejandro Rey and Shelley Morrison.
The show was criticized by some, but not all, Roman Catholic nuns in the late 1960s. It also offered a difficult typecasting obstacle for its star, Sally Field, to overcome. Its brief run left such an indelible impression upon its viewers that, more than 30 years after it ceased production, it continues to be satirized and referenced in modern films and television.