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The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 film which tells the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, who, from February to July 1858 in Lourdes, France, reported eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was directed by Henry King. The movie was adapted by George Seaton from a novelization of Benadette's story, written by Franz Werfel. The novel was published in 1942 and was extremely popular, spending more than a year on the New York Times Best Seller list and 13 weeks atop the list.
StorySpoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Image:Songofbernadette.jpg Vincent Price and Jennifer Jones in a scene from The Song of Bernadette Bernadette prefers to go on with an ordinary life, work, and possible marriage, but because she has seen the Virgin Mary, she is forced to take the veil instead. She is subjected to normal although rigorous spiritual training and hard work, but also emotional abuse from a cold and sinister novitiate director (a positively cadaverous Gladys Cooper) - her former teacher at school, who is skeptically jealous of all the attention Bernadette has been receiving as a result of the visions. Bernadette is diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone, which causes intense pain, yet she has never complained or so much as mentioned it. The novice mistress, for whom pain and suffering are the only path to holiness, realizes Bernadette's saintliness, begs for forgiveness in the chapel, and becomes an ally of Bernadette. Knowing she is dying, Bernadette sends for the priest from Lourdes and tells him of her feelings of unworthiness and her concern that she will never see the lady again. But the lady appears in the room, smiling and holding out her arms. Only Bernadette can see her, however, and with a cry of "I love you!", she reaches out to the apparition, and falls back dead. AnalysisThe plot follows the novel by Franz Werfel, which is not a documentary but a highly romanticized hagiography blending historical fact and fiction. Bernadette's real-life friend Antoine Nicolau is portrayed as being deeply in love with her, and vowing to remain unmarried when Bernadette enters the convent. No such relationship is documented as existing between the two. The government authorities, in particular Imperial Prosecutor Vital Dutour (played by Vincent Price) are portrayed as being much more anti-religion than they actually were, and in fact Dutour was himself a devout Catholic who simply thought Bernadette was hallucinating. Other portrayals come closer to historical accuracy, particularly Anne Revere and Roman Bohnen as Bernadette's overworked parents, Charles Bickford as Father Peyramale, and Blanche Yurka as formidable Aunt Bernarde. Bernadette's death in particular is cinematic. She would not have had enough breath to talk that much. Peyramale was not present at her deathbed, having himself died two years before. What is uncertain is whether or not she had a vision before she died. Witnesses said that some hours prior to her death, they saw Bernadette looking across the room with great concentration as she did when experiencing a vision, but she didn't say anything. Her last words were a phrase from the Hail Mary. Awards
In the first Golden Globe Awards in 1944, the film won three awards, for Best Director - Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Motion Picture Actress (Jones). CastThe film stars Jennifer Jones, William Eythe, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb, Anne Revere, Gladys Cooper and Linda Darnell. Jennifer Jones had made movies before, under her real name of Phylis Isley. Zanuck had her credited as "introducing Jennifer Jones as Bernadette" in order to make the public think she was an unknown. Many of the production staff believed the lady should not be visible to the audience but that Bernadette's adoration of something she saw plainly should "render the invisible visible to others", as Werfel's book said the real Bernadette did. The choice of Darnell (then a few months pregnant) with her reputation as a so-called soft-porn model angered Werfel, who threatened to take his name off the picture. Selznick was determined to use her, so he told Werfel that he had picked an unknown for the role of the Virgin Mary. He draped Darnell in heavier garments and veiling than the historical Bernadette reported for her lady, and filmed her in brilliant light. Darnell is recognizable in the final scene where she comes into Bernadette's room. The lady's few lines are also spoken by Darnell. It is difficult for modern viewers to understand the fuss made about Darnell's casting. If she did make soft-core porno, those films are not shown today. Darnell's most-often seen performance (other than the one in The Song of Bernadette) is as dance hall girl Chihuahua in the famous John Ford Western, My Darling Clementine (movie). She clearly plays a "slutty" character, but the film is by no means "soft core porno". See alsoReferences
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