The Song of Bernadette

Movie Review: The Song of Bernadette

Year of Release: 1943
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Henry King
Cast: Jennifer Jones, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price, Gladys Cooper

Plot outline: The story of Bernadette Soubirous, who, from February to July 1858 in Lourdes, France, reported 18 apparitions of "a Lady" (IMDb).

Adapted from a novelization of Bernadette Soubirous' story written by Franz Werfel, The Song of Bernadette is an eloquent story and a hymn to the everlasting beauty of innocence and faith. Unquestionably, the movie is tedious and repetitious; it takes two hours and forty minutes to explore a singular mystical experience and its almost wholly spiritual effects. It lingers too fondly over images that lack visual mobility, and it goes in for dialectic discourse that will clutter and fatigue the average mind. But, it is done with great reverential dignity and - except in one aspect - good taste. It is played with exceptional authority by a large and completely excellent cast. And, through Jennifer Jones who plays the difficult role of Bernadette, it achieves a rare quality of sweetness that lifts it above its common faults. There is fine appreciation of the character of Bernadette in this movie, largely because of the simplicity and beauty of Miss Jones in the role. Her large, sad eyes and soft face, her wistful mouth and luminous smile are a thoroughly appealing exterior for the innocence which shines from within. And her manner, both dignified and humble, modest yet confident, is a wonderful contrast to the shadings of lay and clerical personalities which confront her on all sides. Charles Bickford gives a strong interpretation of the Catholic dean of Lourdes who champions the guileless maiden when he perceives her unshakable sincerity, and Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb and Charles Dingle etch the attitudes of townsmen trenchantly. Anne Revere, Roman Bonen and Sig Ruman are touching as simple folks, and numberless other actors are true in supporting roles. One might question the taste of the producers, as well as the dramatic effectiveness, in their use of a visible, effulgent woman to represent "the lady" whom Bernadette sees. This white-robed, seraphic vision is too obvious a bit of pageantry to convey the overpowering exaltation of divine and miraculous grace. And the use in the musical background of soaring violins, choral voices and chimes is a curious representation of the emotional response of a peasant girl. It would seem that this phase of the picture could have been handled much more imaginatively. (NYT)

My judgement: ***1/2 out of 4 stars