The Song of Bernadette (1943)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(3,001 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

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Henry King, Karen Arthur
Written By: George Seaton
Genres: Drama, Faith & Spirituality, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 21, 1943 Wide
On DVD: Jun 3, 2003
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

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.
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.
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....
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Over-produced, quasi-religious historical drama.
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.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
The Song of Bernadette is not a great film, but it is a very good film. It is characteristic of the kind of earnest prestige or super-spectacle picture that was always a stumbling block for an art form built on commerce and exploitation, but it is
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Like most DVD offerings in this very fine series from Fox, the transfer is pristine.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Like most DVD offerings in this very fine series from Fox, the transfer is pristine.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I loved this movie, it's one of my favourite movies about saints. Jones gives a fantastic performance, and you get to see Vincent Price in an early small role. It's such a great story, and it's true!
Jeremy S

Great Spiritual Film.
moon r

years ago, local television in chicago, a town heavy with catholics, made a big deal out of a film representation of the miracle at lourdes, france, something i had never heard of or knew about. the lead actress demonstrated through the story the power of simple faith...and i learned… More
years ago, local television in chicago, a town heavy with catholics, made a big deal out of a film representation of the miracle at lourdes, france, something i had never heard of or knew about. the lead actress demonstrated through the story the power of simple faith...and i learned from that performance, i learned about the power of art to transform lives. and the lead actress, in the meager performance of her duties, lead that class in my book. she died today, 12-17-2009, Jennifer Jones, and i never got the chance to personally thank her. thank you, Jennifer.
Dimitris S

Fictionalized lives of well-respected names (usually) start off promising and by the end,a feeling of unaccomplished desire destroys the viewing pleasure. Bernadette Soubirous must have been a diligently eloquent woman whose firm beliefs of her visions were part of her level-headed… More
Fictionalized lives of well-respected names (usually) start off promising and by the end,a feeling of unaccomplished desire destroys the viewing pleasure. Bernadette Soubirous must have been a diligently eloquent woman whose firm beliefs of her visions were part of her level-headed character.King's adaptation from Werfel's historical novel of the eponymous saint possesses the romanticized elements of a Hollywood film with a small dose of maleficent antagonists / unrequited love but that doesn't remove the strong components of Jones' acting and the wonderful production design and supporting cast.

Cast

            Jennifer Jones as Bernadette Soubirous

            Charles Bickford as Peyramaie Dean of Lourdes

            Gladys Cooper as Sister Vauzous

            Vincent Price as Dutour

            Lee J Cobb as Dr. Dozous

            Anne Revere as Louise Soubirous

            Blanche Yurka as Bernarde Casterot

            Mary Anderson as Jeanne Abadie

            William Eythe as Antoine Nicolau

            Edith Barrett as Croisine Bouhouhorts

            Aubrey Mather as Lacade

            Sig Rumann as Louis Bouriette

            Fortunio Bonanova as Louis Napoleon III

            Tala Birell as Madame Bruat

            Marcel Dalio as Callet

            Eula Morgan as Mme. Nicolau

            Jean Del Val as Estrade

            André Charlot as Bishop of Nevers

            Moroni Olsen as Chaplain

            Hooper Atchley as Policeman

            Charley Bates as Bouhouhorts' Boy

            Roman Bohnen as Francois Soubirous

            Eugene Borden as Gendarme

            Lionel Braham as Baron Massey

            Nana Bryant as Convent Mother Superior

            Davison Clark
            
            Edward Clark as Hospital Attendant

            Harry Cording as Stone Mason

            Jerome Cowan as Emperor Napoleon

            Elvira Curci
            
            Adrienne D'Ambricourt
            
            Frank Dae
            
            Linda Darnell as The Virgin Mary (uncredited)

            Jean De Briac
            
            Pedro de Cordoba as Lecrampe

            John Dilson
            
            Charles Dingle as Jacomet

            Fernanda Eliscu
            
            Edythe Elliott
            
            Fred Essler as Minister of Justice

            Edward Fielding
            
            Antonio Filauri
            
            Curt Furberg
            
            Margaret Hoffman
            
            Arthur Hohl as Monk

            Edward Keane
            
            Charles La Torre as Duran

            Frank Lackteen
            
            Fritz Leiber as Monk

            Frank Leigh as Cleric

            Connie Leon
            
            Mae Marsh as Woman

            Alphonse Martell
            
            Louis Mercier as Huckster

            Belle Mitchell
            
            Dickie Moore as Adolar

            Patricia Morison as Empress Eugenie

            Alan Napier as Psychiatrist

            Alla Nazimova
            
            Nestor Paiva as Baker

            Alex Papana
            
            Nino Pipitone as Mayor's Secretary

            Frank Reicher as Dr. St. Cyr

            Julian Rivero as Dominican Monk

            Steve Roberts
            
            Ruth Robinson as Nun

            Merrill Rodin as Jean Soubirous

            George Sorel as Franciscan Monk

            Edwin Stanley as Mr. Jones

            Tom Stevenson as Doctor

            Minerva Urecal
            
            Edward Van Sloan as Doctor

            Charles Wagenheim as Peasant

            Geraldine Wall as Nun

            Ermadean Walters as Marie Soubirous

            Lucille Ward
            
            Ruth Warren
            
            Cecil Weston
            
            Ian Wolfe as Minister of the Interior

            Pat Dillon as Bouhouhorts' Boy

            Louis V. Arco
            
            Harry Denny as Priest

            Muni Seroff
            
            Armand Cortez
            
            Irina Semochenko
            
            Manart Kipper as Charles Bouhouhorts
See full cast