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Nasty Habits (1977) movie poster

Timeline

Nasty Habits (1977) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1977 · 96 mins · English
Directed by
Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Starring
Geraldine Page, Howard K. Smith, Mike Douglas, Eli Wallach, Rip Torn, Anne Meara

An outrageously funny tale set in a Philadelphia convent, where two determined nuns fiercely compete for the coveted role of head abbess. Their scheming, sabotage and relentless ambition spark a series of chaotic, slap‑stick moments as each refuses to let anything—or anyone—block her path to power.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (12)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Nasty Habits
  5. 5 Every angle

12 events in order · contains spoilers

Nasty Habits Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Nasty Habits (1977) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Abbess Hildegard dies before publicly endorsing Alexandra

    The aging Abbess Hildegard dies moments before she can publicly name Alexandra as her successor. The convent is thrown into confusion as the expected endorsement never occurs. With Hildegard gone, the power struggle within the abbey quickly takes center stage.

    Where
    Abbey of Philadelphia
  2. Conspiracy forged to win election

    Alexandra secretly joins forces with Sisters Gertrude and Walburga to engineer victory over Felicity in the election. They plot how to outmaneuver their rival and secure the leadership for Alexandra. The scheme relies on manipulating perceptions and silencing opposition.

    Where
    Abbey of Philadelphia
  3. Felicity's affair with Father Thomas revealed

    Sister Felicity is openly involved with Father Thomas, a Jesuit priest, which becomes a focal point in the power struggle. The affair provides political ammunition for Alexandra and her allies. Tensions rise as moral judgments threaten Felicity's position.

    Where
    Abbey of Philadelphia
  4. Surveillance installed throughout the convent

    Alexandra orders hidden microphones and cameras to monitor everyone within the convent. The surveillance aims to uncover plots against her and to secure the election outcome. A climate of paranoia takes hold as trust erodes among the sisters.

    Where
    Convent, Abbey of Philadelphia
  5. Gregory and Ambrose hired to steal letters

    Alexandra hires two Jesuit students, Gregory and Ambrose, to break into Felicity's sewing box and steal Father Thomas's compromising letters. The operation demonstrates the lengths to which Alexandra will go to neutralize Felicity. The heist sets the stage for further exposure and intrigue.

    Where
    Convent, Abbey of Philadelphia
  6. Break-in is discovered; hidden meaning remains

    The break-in is discovered, but the true intent behind the theft remains obscured. The revelation is enough to alarm some, yet the election outcome remains unaffected as Alexandra's supporters close ranks. The incident deepens the sense that the convent operates under a veil of secrets.

    Where
    Convent
  7. Alexandra wins the election by a landslide

    The election results come in and Alexandra wins by a landslide, securing her position as Abbess. Her ascent is celebrated by allies and resented by rivals who fear the consequences. The abbey begins a new era under her leadership.

    Where
    Abbey of Philadelphia
  8. Felicity expelled and excommunicated

    Once named Abbess, Alexandra expels and excommunicates Felicity, removing her from the order. Felicity counters by launching a very public campaign to topple Alexandra. The schism creates a public-relations crisis for the abbey.

    Where
    Abbey of Philadelphia
  9. Holy See discovers unofficial status of the order

    The abbey's notoriety attracts the Holy See's attention, which discovers that the order is unofficial with no formal ties to the Roman Catholic Church. The revelation challenges Alexandra's legitimacy and invites external scrutiny. Internal discipline collides with external governance.

    Where
    The Holy See (Rome)
  10. Gregory and Ambrose blackmail Gertrude and Walburga

    Gregory and Ambrose use their position to blackmail Gertrude and Walburga, coercing them into compliance. The leverage compounds the factional infighting and threatens to unravel the conspiracy. The sisters are drawn deeper into a dangerous game of power and secrets.

    Where
    Convent, Abbey of Philadelphia
  11. Gertrude and Walburga hire Sister Winifred to pay off the blackmailers

    Gertrude and Walburga respond by sending Sister Winifred to offer payment to the blackmailers, attempting to quell the coercion. The bungling sister's efforts only magnify the scandal and invite further exposure. The plan backfires as the web of deceit becomes public knowledge.

    Where
    Convent
  12. Scandal becomes public; the abbey's status is at stake

    The failed payoff and ongoing power struggle push the scandal into the public eye. The Holy See's impending judgment intensifies the pressure on Alexandra and the abbey. The order's unofficial status is exposed, threatening its very future.

    Where
    Abbey of Philadelphia

Last updated: February 18, 2026 at 23:46

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Timeline questions answered

Nasty Habits Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Nasty Habits (1977): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why didn't Abbess Hildegard publicly endorse Alexandra before dying?

Abbess Hildegard hoped to see her favorite, Sister Alexandra, take over as her successor, but she died suddenly before she could make any public endorsement. Without an official declaration, the decision fell to the political inner circle of the convent, allowing the power struggle to begin.

Foreshadowing: The opening scenes establish Hildegard's preference but also show her declining health, setting up the vacuum that triggers the election.

  • hildegard
  • alexandra
  • succession
  • abbess
  • death
Q2

How did Alexandra win the election despite the break-in being discovered?

Even though the break-in by Gregory and Ambrose was detected, Alexandra's supporters closed ranks and the election proceeded. She won by a landslide, likely because her faction had already secured enough votes and the scandal actually weakened Felicity's position by exposing her affair.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Alexandra, Gertrude, and Walburga actively marshaling votes and manipulating perceptions throughout the convent.

  • alexandra
  • election
  • win
  • landslide
  • votes
Q3

Why did Alexandra install hidden cameras and microphones in the convent?

Alexandra ordered surveillance to monitor everyone within the convent and uncover any plots against her. It was a preemptive move to protect her ascent to power by gathering leverage on potential rivals and ensuring no one could undermine her campaign.

Foreshadowing: The surveillance setup occurs shortly after Alexandra forms her alliance with Gertrude and Walburga, showing her methodical approach to securing power.

  • surveillance
  • cameras
  • microphones
  • alexandra
  • spying
Q4

What happened to the letters stolen from Felicity's sewing box?

Gregory and Ambrose successfully stole the compromising letters between Felicity and Father Thomas from her sewing box. However, the timeline does not clarify whether these letters were ever used publicly or what became of them after the theft, as Alexandra won the election before needing to deploy them as ammunition.

Foreshadowing: The heist is presented as Alexandra's contingency plan to neutralize Felicity, but her electoral victory renders the stolen evidence apparently unnecessary.

  • letters
  • stolen
  • felicity
  • thomas
  • heist
Q5

Why was Felicity expelled and excommunicated after Alexandra became Abbess?

Once Alexandra secured power as the new Abbess, she expelled and excommunicated Felicity as revenge for their political rivalry. Felicity's affair with Father Thomas provided the moral justification, but the move was primarily a consolidation of power to remove a vocal opponent.

Foreshadowing: The power struggle between Alexandra and Felicity runs throughout the election period, with Alexandra's victory guaranteeing consequences for her rival.

  • felicity
  • expelled
  • excommunicated
  • punishment
  • affair
Q6

What does it mean that the order was unofficial?

The Holy See discovered that the Abbey of Philadelphia operated as an unofficial order with no formal ties to the Roman Catholic Church. This means the entire institution lacked legitimate ecclesiastical authority, undermining Alexandra's claimed power and threatening the abbey's future existence.

Foreshadowing: The revelation comes after Felicity's public campaign attracts external attention, bringing scrutiny from Rome.

  • unofficial
  • holy see
  • order
  • legitimacy
  • church
Q7

How did the blackmail scheme between Gregory, Ambrose, and the sisters work?

After being hired by Alexandra to steal the letters, Gregory and Ambrose used their position to blackmail Sisters Gertrude and Walburga, forcing them into compliance. In response, Gertrude and Walburga enlisted the clumsy Sister Winifred to pay off the blackmailers, but this backfired and exposed the entire scandal publicly.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the blackmail escalating from Alexandra's original scheme, with the Jesuit students turning on their employers.

  • blackmail
  • gregory
  • ambrose
  • gertrude
  • walburga
  • winifred
Q8

What caused the scandal to become public?

The scandal became public because Sister Winifred's bungled attempt to pay off the blackmailers failed to contain the situation. Combined with Felicity's public campaign against Alexandra and the Holy See's investigation, all the hidden schemes unraveled simultaneously, pushing the convent's secrets into the spotlight.

Foreshadowing: The failed payoff is the catalyst that transforms internal convent politics into a public spectacle.

  • scandal
  • public
  • exposure
  • winifred
  • payoff
Q9

Why was Felicity's affair with Father Thomas significant to the plot?

Felicity's open affair with Jesuit priest Father Thomas served as political ammunition for Alexandra and her allies. It weakened Felicity's moral standing and provided justification for her eventual expulsion, while also drawing external attention to the convent's affairs.

Foreshadowing: The affair is mentioned early as a scandal that Alexandra exploits throughout the election narrative.

  • felicity
  • father thomas
  • affair
  • priest
  • scandal
Q10

What role did Sister Winifred play in the convent's downfall?

Sister Winifred was enlisted by Gertrude and Walburga to pay off the blackmailers Gregory and Ambrose. However, her incompetence amplified the scandal rather than containing it, contributing to the public exposure of the abbey's web of secrets and deceit.

Foreshadowing: Winifred is introduced specifically as the "bungling sister" tasked with resolving the blackmail situation.

  • winifred
  • blackmail
  • bungle
  • payoff
  • exposure

Movie threads

More Movies Like Nasty Habits, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Nasty Habits tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Satirical Power Struggles like in Nasty Habits

Absurd comedies where ambition turns institutions into chaotic battlegrounds. If you enjoyed the scheming nuns in Nasty Habits, you'll love these movies about chaotic power grabs within closed institutions. Discover other comedies where ambition leads to absurd betrayal and institutional hypocrisy is laid bare with a cynical, irreverent laugh.

  • satirical
  • scheming
  • absurd
  • irreverent
  • cynical
  • farcical
  • Tone: light, cynical, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a clear rivalry for a position of power within a closed community. The plot is driven by a series of escalating, often slapstick schemes—blackmail, sabotage, alliances, and betrayals—that reveal the characters' moral flexibility. The ending often leaves the institution's reputation in tatters, achieving a cynical victory for the protagonist.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared satirical lens, fast-paced comedic chaos, and focus on the absurdity of ambition within a rigid system. The tone is consistently light and irreverent, prioritizing laughs over genuine drama, and the pacing is brisk to keep the farcical energy high.

Slapstick Farce and Comedic Chaos like in Nasty Habits

Rapid-fire comedies where elaborate plans spiral into hilarious pandemonium. Fans of the fast-paced, slap-stick moments in Nasty Habits will enjoy these high-energy farces. Find movies with similar chaotic energy, where characters' scheming creates a domino effect of hilarious mishaps and the pacing never lets up.

  • chaotic
  • slapstick
  • farcical
  • fast-paced
  • absurd
  • scheming
  • Tone: light, absurd, playful
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is a chain reaction of events, often triggered by a single goal (like winning an election). Characters implement increasingly convoluted and risky plans that inevitably backfire or collide with others' schemes, creating a snowball effect of visual gags and witty dialogue. The structure is less about deep character development and more about sustaining a high level of comedic momentum.

Why they belong together: They share a primary focus on fast pacing, physical comedy (slapstick), and a light emotional weight. The experience is defined by a sense of controlled chaos and absurdity, making the viewer laugh at the ridiculousness of the situations rather than investing heavily in the stakes.

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Every angle

Nasty Habits (1977) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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