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The story of the peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous, a poverty-stricken, pure-hearted adolescent who saw a vision of a "Beautiful Lady" near her home town of Lourdes in 1858. The wonderous news spreads rapidly throughout France, leaving in its wake a variety of consequences: adoration, suspicion, and greed among the people of Lourdes...skepticism from the town doctor (Lee J. Cobb)...charges of insanity from the town prosecuter (Vincent Price)...threats of physical punishment, then support and guidance from the Dean of Lourdes (Charles Bickford), who finally becomes convinced that the miracle has, indeed, taken place. A true story that is both first-rate filmmaking and an inspiring tribute to faith, courage and the human spirit.
"...excellent story..." Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
Editor's Note
Jennifer Jones won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her screen debut in this true story. Jones plays young French peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous, who sees a vision of a "beautiful lady" near her home in Lourdes in 1858. Based on the novel of the same name by Franz Werfel, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE explores Bernadette's trials and tribulations from her impoverished family to her difficulties at school to the derision her visions bring upon her and at last to her affliction with bone-marrow cancer. Under the incisive eye of director Henry King, the film is seen through Bernadette's perspective but at the same time focuses upon the effect that Bernadette has upon her family, her champions, and her detractors. The acting is excellent, and no detail has gone untouched in the art direction, costumes, and cinematography. Best of all, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE stands among a rare group of Hollywood films in which visual integrity is matched step for step with thematic zeal.
Plot Summary
In 1858, in the French town of Lourdes, a spiritual peasant girl sees a vision of the Virgin Mary in a cave. Inspired, she mines the cave until she hits water--holy water that will cure the ailments of those who believe. The citizens of Lourdes react to the situation in a variety of ways, however, ranging from amazement to anger. Academy Award Nominations: 12, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay. Academy Awards: 4, including Best Actress--Jennifer Jones.
| Features | Full Frame - 1.33 |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
|  | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 6/3/2003 |
| Running Time: 159 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1943 | | Catalog ID: 2007529 | | UPC: 00024543075295 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: B&W |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1944) |  | Jennifer Jones, Winner, Best Actress | | James Basevi, et al., Winner, Best Art Direction, Interior Decoration, Black-And-White | | Arthur C. Miller, Winner, Best Cinematography, Black-And-White | | Alfred Newman, Winner, Best Music, Scoring Of A Dramatic Or Comedy Picture | |
Golden Globe (1944) | | Henry King, Winner, Best Director | | Jennifer Jones, Winner, Best Actress |
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