Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Film About Faith & An Amazing Event
Review: Based upon the real life story of St. Bernadette Soubirous, the film revolves around the events in which Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) sees the Blessed Virgin Mary. Jennifer Jones gives an excellent performance as Bernadette, in which she won the 1945 Acadamy Award for Best Actress, & alongside with co-star Charles Bickford & director Harry King she brings the story to life. When gathering wood with her sister & friend, Bernadette stops when they reach a small creek while the other two go on. Sitting on a rock in the grotto she suddenly sees a beautiful women with golden roses on her feet. She kneels down to pray with the lady when her friends return, they think that their friend is dead, & when she wakes as if from a dream they ask her what she was doing. After she tells them, her sister instantly blabs to their mother & then it gets all through the town causing many mis-fortunes for Bernadette after the authorities gets ahold of the story. The same women appears many times to Bernadette telling her the location of healing water in which help heals thousands of people. The film won three Acadamy Awards including Best Actress, Best Score & Best Cinematography.
Rating:
Summary: The most sublime and moving of Hollywood's religious films
Review: There are very few "religious" films that actually achieve a sense of spirituality that makes them work for believers and non-believers alike. "The Song of Bernadette" is one of those rare films, and owes a lot of its power to the Oscar winning performance of Jennifer Jones as Bernadette Soubirous, the young French peasant girl who in 1858 saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in a grotto near the town of Lourdes. While gathering firewood with her sister and a friend, Bernadette was told by the "beautiful lady" to return to the grotto every day for fifteen days. The common folk of Lourdes come to belief in young Bernadette's visions, while the authorities try to put a stop to the nonsense, and the church keeps its distance for the moment. As Bernadette, Jones is the calm center at the heart of the storm. The scenes in which Bernadette sees the Lady (an unbilled and pregnant Linda Darnell) are presented by director Henry King with a elegant simplicity. Bernadette has a strong and simple faith, which is how she is able to endure the battering by those around her. It is in her victory over these opponents that make this story work, and Bernadette's opponents are a superb cast of supporting players. Charles Bickford is Peyramale Dean of Lourdes, who has to deal with the idea that this lazy and less than intelligent peasant girl has seen the Virgin Mother, Vincent Price the cold hearted local prosecutor Dutour, Lee J. Cobb as the reasonable and scientific Dr. Dozous, Anne Revere as Bernadett's mother, and Gladys Cooper as Sister Vauzous, the nun whose jealousy of Bernadette has quite an emotional payoff in the film. A best selling version of Bernadette's story was written by Franz Werfel in 1942 and 20th Century Fox bought the rights to make an ambitious screen version which manages to avoid the faults of sentimentality. They also searched for a newcomer for the title role and looked at Anne Baxter, Teresa Wright, Linda Darnell and Gene Tierney before settling on Jones, who had small parts in two previous films as Phylis Isley and was renamed to have a clean slate as an actress. Winning the Oscar pretty much speaks to the success of their efforts. The film also deservedly won Oscars for Arthur Miller's cinematography and Alfred Newman's score. Ironically, Newman replaced the famous composer Igor Stravinsky on the film, and the second movement of Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements evolved from his original unused score. The long awaited DVD version of "The Song of Bernadette" makes up for the delay with some excellent extras, including the A&E "Biography" of Jones, a theatrical trailer, a World War II newsreel of Jones visiting the troops, and an excellent commentary track by two of Jones' biographers. This is classy treatment for one of Hollywood's classiest films.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST FILM OF 1943!!
Review: "The Song of Bernadette", released in 1943 was defeated in the Academy Award department by an inferior film, "Casablanca". This film is far superior with one of the finest casts ever assembled for a Hollywood motion picture. The story is enthralling and Jones' deservedly won the academy award for her outstanding portrayal of the poverty stricken asthmatic peasant girl favored at Lourdes in 1858 with eighteen apparations of the Blessed Virgin. The DVD is extremely high quality. The sound and picture have been restored beautifully. There are many extras also which merit high praise....An Audio COmmentary of the picture by Jones biographer Edward Epstein, the complete A&E biography of Jones, the original theatrical trailer, a movietone newsreel with Jones presenting American GIs an award, subtitles in English and Spanish and Audio in English and Spanish. The only complaint I have is that in the Spanish Audio the orginal Oscar Winning Musical Score has been all but replaced by a modern musical score that detracts from the film. Why they did this I will never know!!!! There was absolutely no reason for it. Thank God, though, the English version has been kept intact. Other than this, though, the DVD is extremely high quality and will disappoint no fan of this fine motion picture. A beautiful film, lovingly made in during Hollywood's Golden Age. This film withstands the test of time and will remain a beacon of achievement for Hollywood filmmaking forever! Enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: Best Religious Movie
Review: I bought the video of "Song of Bernadette" about 15 years
ago. I wanted to have my own copy, without commercials, so I could watch it at any time I choose. It is a wonderful movie, very well done and most respectful in its treatment of the miracle that happened to Bernadette, the poor peasant girl. Jennifer Jones, in her academy award winning role, was just marvelous!
I could watch it over and over and never tire of it. It is my
favorite religious movie. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: The Tale of Religious Grandeaur Told Marvelously!
Review: This film is, what I consider, the best religious epic ever made. There is only one way to describe it: Jennifer Jones. This Oklahoma girl shared her first major cinematic efforts and won the Oscar for Best Actress of 1943. I cry every time I watch Bernadette of Lourdes' efforts to show her French town that she did envision the Virgin Mary. Her performance is so rivetting that I was even saying to myself "I believe you, Jen. I do believe you!" Every Thanksgiving I watch this film, I don't know why, it's just the perfect time for it. This tale is told through the very sensitive direction of Henry King with simplicity, hope, and moral. This is a film for all ages, and really brings the true message of faith home.
Rating:
Summary: The most sublime and moving of Hollywood's religious films
Review: There are very few "religious" films that actually achieve a sense of spirituality that makes them work for believers and non-believers alike. "The Song of Bernadette" is one of those rare films, and owes a lot of its power to the Oscar winning performance of Jennifer Jones as Bernadette Soubirous, the young French peasant girl who in 1858 saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in a grotto near the town of Lourdes. While gathering firewood with her sister and a friend, Bernadette was told by the "beautiful lady" to return to the grotto every day for fifteen days. The common folk of Lourdes come to belief in young Bernadette's visions, while the authorities try to put a stop to the nonsense, and the church keeps its distance for the moment. As Bernadette, Jones is the calm center at the heart of the storm. The scenes in which Bernadette sees the Lady (an unbilled and pregnant Linda Darnell) are presented by director Henry King with a elegant simplicity. Bernadette has a strong and simple faith, which is how she is able to endure the battering by those around her. It is in her victory over these opponents that make this story work, and Bernadette's opponents are a superb cast of supporting players. Charles Bickford is Peyramale Dean of Lourdes, who has to deal with the idea that this lazy and less than intelligent peasant girl has seen the Virgin Mother, Vincent Price the cold hearted local prosecutor Dutour, Lee J. Cobb as the reasonable and scientific Dr. Dozous, Anne Revere as Bernadett's mother, and Gladys Cooper as Sister Vauzous, the nun whose jealousy of Bernadette has quite an emotional payoff in the film. A best selling version of Bernadette's story was written by Franz Werfel in 1942 and 20th Century Fox bought the rights to make an ambitious screen version which manages to avoid the faults of sentimentality. They also searched for a newcomer for the title role and looked at Anne Baxter, Teresa Wright, Linda Darnell and Gene Tierney before settling on Jones, who had small parts in two previous films as Phylis Isley and was renamed to have a clean slate as an actress. Winning the Oscar pretty much speaks to the success of their efforts. The film also deservedly won Oscars for Arthur Miller's cinematography and Alfred Newman's score. Ironically, Newman replaced the famous composer Igor Stravinsky on the film, and the second movement of Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements evolved from his original unused score. The long awaited DVD version of "The Song of Bernadette" makes up for the delay with some excellent extras, including the A&E "Biography" of Jones, a theatrical trailer, a World War II newsreel of Jones visiting the troops, and an excellent commentary track by two of Jones' biographers. This is classy treatment for one of Hollywood's classiest films.
Rating:
Summary: Universal Thematic Appeal
Review: The Song of Bernadette begins with the classic quote, "For those who believe in God, no explanation is necesary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible." That having been said, one need not be religious to enjoy this film. What makes the movie so enjoyable is that it contains man's universal struggle with religion and his sense of meaning. Vincent Price does an excellent job of portraying the fatalistic expert, while Church officials are accurately protrayed as questioners - but not outright denyers - of the possibility of miraculous events. Jennifer Jones is fantastic, and accurately portrays the reported humble nature of St. Bernadette. Definitely one to see at least once.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST FILM OF 1943!!
Review: "The Song of Bernadette", released in 1943 was defeated in the Academy Award department by an inferior film, "Casablanca". This film is far superior with one of the finest casts ever assembled for a Hollywood motion picture. The story is enthralling and Jones' deservedly won the academy award for her outstanding portrayal of the poverty stricken asthmatic peasant girl favored at Lourdes in 1858 with eighteen apparations of the Blessed Virgin. The DVD is extremely high quality. The sound and picture have been restored beautifully. There are many extras also which merit high praise....An Audio COmmentary of the picture by Jones biographer Edward Epstein, the complete A&E biography of Jones, the original theatrical trailer, a movietone newsreel with Jones presenting American GIs an award, subtitles in English and Spanish and Audio in English and Spanish. The only complaint I have is that in the Spanish Audio the orginal Oscar Winning Musical Score has been all but replaced by a modern musical score that detracts from the film. Why they did this I will never know!!!! There was absolutely no reason for it. Thank God, though, the English version has been kept intact. Other than this, though, the DVD is extremely high quality and will disappoint no fan of this fine motion picture. A beautiful film, lovingly made in during Hollywood's Golden Age. This film withstands the test of time and will remain a beacon of achievement for Hollywood filmmaking forever! Enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinatng Account of Saint Bernadette!
Review: The Song of Bernadette is a wonderful movie based on actual events and is about Bernadette Soubirous the young French peasant girl who saw miraculous visions of The Virgin Mary at Lourdes. It's is a very fascinating movie. BTW: Bernadette was later made a Saint by the Catholic church. I had this movie on tape and I'm hoping to buy the DVD now that it has been released to the DVD format and I recommend this movie!!
Rating:
Summary: Song Of Bernadette Is Finally On DVD
Review: About 3 Months ago I bought this DVD. I have watched it about 5 times and every time I watch it it brings tears to my eyes. I really love the specail features on this DVD. Here is a brief Description: Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) is a poor orphan who's main goal is to meet Christ. It is really amazing at the trajedies, and the sacrifices she makes to be able to see jesus. Great Movie. 5 Star Rating.
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