The Song of Bernadette (1943)
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80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(3,093 ratings)
The Song of Bernadette is a reverent recounting of the life of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. As a teen-aged peasant girl growing up in the tiny French village of Lourdes in the 19th century, Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) experiences a vision of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto. At least, she believes… More The Song of Bernadette is a reverent recounting of the life of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. As a teen-aged peasant girl growing up in the tiny French village of Lourdes in the 19th century, Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) experiences a vision of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto. At least, she believes that she did. The religious and political "experts" of the region cannot accept the word of a silly little girl, and do their best to get her to renounce her claims. Bernadette's vision becomes a political hot potato for many years, with the authorities alternately permitting and denying the true believers' access to the grotto. No matter what the higher-ups may think of Bernadette, there is little denying that the springs of Lourdes hold some sort of recuperative powers for the sick and lame. Eventually, Bernadette dies, never faltering in her conviction that she saw the Blessed Virgin; years later, she is canonized as a saint, and the Grotto of Lourdes remains standing as a permanent shrine. The 20th Century-Fox people knew that The Song of Bernadette would whip up controversy from both the religious and the agnostic. The company took some of the "curse" off the project with a now-famous opening title: "To those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible." Jennifer Jones's performance in The Song of Bernadette won her the Best Actress Oscar. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Henry King, Karen Arthur
- Written By
- George Seaton
- Genres
- Drama, Faith & Spirituality, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 21, 1943 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Jennifer Jones won the Best Actress Oscar for this stodgy spiritual biopic of the French girl who saw visions of Virgin Mary in 19th century France.
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Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
If your spiritual tuning fork doesn't already hum to The Song of Bernadette's sentimental religiosity, this is an overlong (156 minutes), overpious, and often kitschy hagiography.
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Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
This DVD, part of Fox's 'Studio Classics' imprint, delivers an excellent, though not pristine, restoration. Likewise, the DD 2.0 stereo audio is quite good despite some minor wear. Extras start with a full-length audio commentary....
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Over-produced, quasi-religious historical drama.
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Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Based on the historical novel by Jewish author Franz Werfel, the beloved classic The Song of Bernadette stands head and shoulders over most religiously themed fare from Hollywood’s golden age.
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Cast
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Jennifer Jones
as Bernadette Soubirous
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Charles Bickford
as Peyramaie Dean of Lourdes
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Gladys Cooper
as Sister Vauzous
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Vincent Price
as Dutour
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Lee J Cobb
as Dr. Dozous
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Anne Revere
as Louise Soubirous
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Blanche Yurka
as Bernarde Casterot
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Mary Anderson
as Jeanne Abadie
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William Eythe
as Antoine Nicolau
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Edith Barrett
as Croisine Bouhouhorts
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Aubrey Mather
as Lacade
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Sig Rumann
as Louis Bouriette
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Fortunio Bonanova
as Louis Napoleon III
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Tala Birell
as Madame Bruat
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Marcel Dalio
as Callet
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Eula Morgan
as Mme. Nicolau
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Jean Del Val
as Estrade
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André Charlot
as Bishop of Nevers
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Moroni Olsen
as Chaplain
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Hooper Atchley
as Policeman
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Charley Bates
as Bouhouhorts' Boy
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Roman Bohnen
as Francois Soubirous
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Eugene Borden
as Gendarme
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Lionel Braham
as Baron Massey
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Nana Bryant
as Convent Mother Superior
- Davison Clark
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Edward Clark
as Hospital Attendant
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Harry Cording
as Stone Mason
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Jerome Cowan
as Emperor Napoleon
- Elvira Curci
- Adrienne D'Ambricourt
- Frank Dae
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Linda Darnell
as The Virgin Mary (uncredited)
- Jean De Briac
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Pedro de Cordoba
as Lecrampe
- John Dilson
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Charles Dingle
as Jacomet
- Fernanda Eliscu
- Edythe Elliott
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Fred Essler
as Minister of Justice
- Edward Fielding
- Antonio Filauri
- Curt Furberg
- Margaret Hoffman
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Arthur Hohl
as Monk
- Edward Keane
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Charles La Torre
as Duran
- Frank Lackteen
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Fritz Leiber
as Monk
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Frank Leigh
as Cleric
- Connie Leon
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Mae Marsh
as Woman
- Alphonse Martell
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Louis Mercier
as Huckster
- Belle Mitchell
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Dickie Moore
as Adolar
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Patricia Morison
as Empress Eugenie
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Alan Napier
as Psychiatrist
- Alla Nazimova
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Nestor Paiva
as Baker
- Alex Papana
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Nino Pipitone
as Mayor's Secretary
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Frank Reicher
as Dr. St. Cyr
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Julian Rivero
as Dominican Monk
- Steve Roberts
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Ruth Robinson
as Nun
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Merrill Rodin
as Jean Soubirous
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George Sorel
as Franciscan Monk
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Edwin Stanley
as Mr. Jones
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Tom Stevenson
as Doctor
- Minerva Urecal
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Edward Van Sloan
as Doctor
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Charles Wagenheim
as Peasant
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Geraldine Wall
as Nun
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Ermadean Walters
as Marie Soubirous
- Lucille Ward
- Ruth Warren
- Cecil Weston
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Ian Wolfe
as Minister of the Interior
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Pat Dillon
as Bouhouhorts' Boy
- Louis V. Arco
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Harry Denny
as Priest
- Muni Seroff
- Armand Cortez
- Irina Semochenko
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Manart Kipper
as Charles Bouhouhorts
