The Song of Bernadette (1943)

In 1858 France, Bernadette, an adolescent peasant girl, has a vision of "a beautiful lady" in the city dump. She never claims it to be anything other than this, but the townspeople all ... See full summary »

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

George Seaton (screenplay), Franz Werfel (novel)

Stars:

Jennifer Jones, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price

Won 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Jones	...	Bernadette
Charles Bickford	...	Father Peyramale
Vincent Price	...	Prosecutor Vital Dutour
Lee J. Cobb	...	Dr. Dozous
Gladys Cooper	...	Sister Marie Therese Vauzous
Anne Revere	...	Louise Soubirous
Roman Bohnen	...	François Soubirous
Mary Anderson	...	Jeanne Abadie
Patricia Morison	...	Empress Eugenie
Aubrey Mather	...	Mayor Lacade
Charles Dingle	...	Jacomet
Edith Barrett	...	Croisine Bouhouhorts
Sig Ruman	...	Louis Bouriette
Blanche Yurka	...	Aunt Bernarde Casterot
Ermadean Walters	...	Marie Soubirous

Storyline

In 1858 France, Bernadette, an adolescent peasant girl, has a vision of "a beautiful lady" in the city dump. She never claims it to be anything other than this, but the townspeople all assume it to be the virgin Mary. The pompous government officials think she is nuts, and do their best to suppress the girl and her followers, and the church wants nothing to do with the whole matter. But as Bernadette attracts wider and wider attention, the phenomenon overtakes everyone in the the town, and transforms their lives.

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Plot Keywords:

dump | virgin mary | france | church | miracle | 

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Taglines:

Here is greatness . . . wonder . . . and majesty . . . no human words can describe!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

April 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Franz Werfel's The Song of Bernadette

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

156 min 158 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Using an actress to play "the lady" was controversial enough, and further controversy fulminated when Loretta Young was passed over in favour of sultry Linda Darnell. At that time, Darnell had an almost pornographic reputation. Franz Werfel, the author of the book on which the film was based, threatened to remove his name from the project. To make matters worse, Darnell was pregnant. Nothing would change Darryl F. Zanuck's mind, and Werfel was told that an unknown actress was chosen. Wearing a little more drapery than the simple dress and veil described by the historical Bernadette, Darnell played the role in bright light.

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Goofs

One of the reports to the Commision is dated February 31,1860.

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Quotes

Bishop of Tarbes: [he has ordered that the grotto be closed until the Emperor gives the order to open it] I wonder, my dear Peyramale, who will win - the Emperor or the Lady?

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Crazy Credits

The credits say "Introducing Jennifer Jones as Bernadette", even though Jones had already appeared in several films under her real name, Phyllis Isley.

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Connections

Referenced in Fedora (1978)

User Reviews

Reverence with dignity

This is probably the best film on a religious topic ever made. Whereas many other films of this type wallow in sentiment which is a substitute for genuine reverence, this film is able to underplay the emotions and thus gives its subject a great deal of dignity. Jennifer Jones is totally convincing as the naive innocent who has an incredibly extraordinary experience which changes her life as well as the lives of everyone she touches and the lives of everyone who hears of her. The rest of the cast is also superb, including Lee J. Cobb as the careful doctor, Vincent Price as the petty politician, Charles Bickford as the stern priest, and Gladys Cooper as the envious nun. The FX are tender instead of dazzling, and thus they convince in a way that many FX totally miss. The settings, atmosphere, music, and cast add up to a truly moving and profound experience that few other films have achieved.