BACKGROUND
This film was the uninspired directorial debut of writer James Clavell.  Clavell's work as a director for films and television was undistinguished, but it was as a writer that he made his mark. His most memorable achievement in film would be co-scripting the most famous World War II escape film, The Great Escape (1963), which starred Steve McQueen.  He is probably best known as the author of several excellent novels set in Asia - King Rat (1962), Tai-Pan (1966) and Shogun (1975).  Irish McCalla met James Clavell at a party hosted by Brett Halsey, who she was dating at the time. (Ultra Filmfax)  Halsey, the nephew of Admiral "Bull" Halsey, commander of the Pacific Allied naval forces during WWII, was a handsome beefcake actor of B grade delinquent motorcycle films like Hot Rod Rumble (1957) and High School Hellcats (1958).  Clavell's wife felt that Irish had a very strong face, perfect for playing the part of a nun named Sister Magdalena in her husband's new film.  She said that she could imagine Irish without makeup and felt she had a bit of the quality of Ingrid Bergman about her.  ("I figured if the guy's wife picked me out, then he [James Clavell] must be all right.")  Clavell, however, clashed with 20th Century Fox because they felt that Irish would be totally miscast in the role because she was too sexy to play a nun.  ("He had to really fight for me and I knew it. And he won. He said, 'Look, it's a small part. We're taking all your people; let me have one person.' Which I really commend him for sticking up for me like that when he didn't really know me that much.")  Irish hoped that playing a nun would help her get away from being typecast as Sheena.  Irish has said that she made up her mind "to be the nunnest nun he's ever seen." (The TV Collector)   Irish would play a small part as a nun who gets killed in the introductory sequence before the opening credits.  The original plan was to have the nun crucified by the Vietnamese guerillas but the Catholic Church objected to the inclusion of this scene and it was cut to the point where all we see is a hand nailed to a tree.

When Irish reported to the wardrobe department before filming began she was dismayed when the woman working there expressed disbelief that she was playing a nun.  "Aren't you Sheena?" she said, "You're gonna be a NUN??!!"  This incident merely strengthened Irish's resolve to prove she could do it. ("'Oh boy, she probably laid her way into this part.' That's what they always thought when they thought you didn't fit something") Irish lived near a church so she would go there when the nuns were taking out the children and watch the nuns.  She would also talk to the nuns occasionally and study their mannerisms.  When she reported back to wardrobe the same woman began to dress her in two or three filmy layers and Irish began to prepare herself as each layer when on. ("I just began to mentally become more pure, more perfect.")  Irish had wiped off all of her makeup and when the woman helped her into her headdress the wardrobe assistant said, "All right.  Now turn around."  Irish turned very slowly and when the woman saw her face she said, 'My God!'"  Irish told her not to take the Lord's name in vain and the woman said, "Oh, I'm sorry! I mean, I didn't...  You look exactly like a nun!"  

When she was on set Irish was approached by Neville Brand, the actor who plays Chen Pamok, the Eurasian commander of the Vietnamese bandits in the film (on left in photo right).  Brand said, "McCalla, I can't believe that all that that I know is under there; cuz I've seen you in the movies and television.  I feel like I shouldn't even swear around you!"  On set Irish always walked very smoothly and slowly and never came out of character. She said that she was always very friendly with the cast, the same way she always was, but always maintained the deliberate, measured gait she had learnt from the nuns.  She was only on the set for two or three days and at the end of the shoot James Clavell approached her and asked her to have lunch with him the following day. ("'Irish, I want you to do me a favour.  I want you to wear a very sexy dress tomorrow.'  Well, I've got like sheath dresses, I don't wear real low-cut things. He says, 'No, no, just something that really shows your figure, and I want your hair just flowing.  I want you as un-nunlike as possible.  And I want you to come on the set.'  So I did.  And the guys are looking.  And they're kind of looking me over and all of a sudden it's like: 'IRISH!'  And that just made me feel so good, cuz I thought, If I never work out her again, al least I've proved to them that I can be something besides a jungle girl traipsing around with a chimpanzee.") (The TV Collector)