Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

TheLittleSongbird Despite being a huge classic film fan, it took me a while to get round to watching 'The Song of Bernadette'. Partly because of being so busy, but also, although being an admirer of a lot of the cast and crew, finding that the subject matter didn't appeal to me for a while.Goodness knows why though, because finally getting round to it 'The Song of Bernadette' was a miracle of a film. Sure it is a long film, perhaps a little too long (the only thing that counts as a debit against it for me, and it is so small because what it does right is enough to fill a novel), but contrary to one might think its point of view that it portrays is valid and very sincerely put across, not heavy-handedly or in a way that's biased. It also, from personal view, doesn't contrive to move audiences, or convert viewers and sceptics to its way of thinking. The emotional impact comes from how well it explores its subject matter and how much the sincerity and poignancy shines through every frame and performance.Before one forgets, 'The Song of Bernadette' is a surprisingly quite faithful account of the story of Bernadette Soubirous, which is an amazing story in itself, some may ask how idealised it is, actually considering other films based on true stories/history etc and the subject matter it doesn't actually feel that idealistic. It manages to do the seemingly impossible in making capture the main events, spirit, background and atmosphere of Werfel's novel and making everything cohesive while condensing things necessarily to the point from a book so rich in detail to the point of bloat.There are so many that make 'The Song of Bernadette' a film miracle. The luminous black and white photography wholly deserved its Oscar, that, the atmospheric lighting and sumptuous production values help make 'The Song of Bernadette' one of that year's (that half of the decade even too) most visually beautiful films. Alfred Newman's score adds so much to the film to the extent that the film may have been a completely different one without it, and it's hardly surprising it's garnered a soundtrack album of its own considering how well it stands up as music on its own. It's stirring and achingly gorgeous music, some of my favourite work of his.Scripting doesn't resort to preachy sermonising or bias, instead it's very intelligently written and as aforementioned the argument it makes is valid and sincere, and it makes sense. The dialogue itself does provoke thought some time after. The story is incredibly moving and inspiring, also being careful not to paint its characters too black and white. Despite being a long film, the production values, music and performances are so wonderful, Henry King's direction so sensitive and the emotions so high that one is riveted throughout.Jennifer Jones, in her debut performance (in her own name that is, having done a few other previous projects under a different name), seldom gave a more touching or better performance, of her five Oscar nominations this was the only time she won one and it was a very deserved win from personal view.In support she is particularly well aided by Gladys Cooper, on fiery form, Vincent Price, impeccably giving his character menacing colour and unusual restraint, and Charles Bickford, suitably sympathetic. The Virgin is sincerely portrayed as a symbol of hope by Linda Darnell, am also of the opinion that the film and role were not trying to say anything comparing who was greater between Mary and Jesus, it was just a symbol.Overall, a miracle of a film. Whether one is converted is very dependent on the person, personally I watched 'The Song of Bernadette' expecting to be challenged but still admire it a good deal, finished it feeling very moved and inspired. 10/10 Bethany Cox

deickos One of the best films of all time and maybe Henry King's best - the real story of Saint Bernadette. Henry King tells the story as should be told - no more no less. We should remember France was under the Nazi yoke at the time - making such a film was a real message of hope and faith for the suffering French. This is great art beyond any doubt.

jarrodmcdonald-1 'I've seen her! I've seen her!' Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) exclaims at a crucial point in the story, as she tries to convince the non-believers in her village that her visions are authentic. 'I've seen this film! I've seen this film!' one might as well say in response, and let it go at that. But then, what if there were throngs of people swarming around your television, telling you that this is a holy shrine and the experience you have had watching a two and a half hour movie was like an epiphany, a revelation? Would they someday make a movie about your watching this movie?This kind of story over-exaggerates the simplicity of a young girl's life, so that the ordinary can seem extraordinary. It doesn't work for me. Also, I think the film encourages people to buy into the idea that something dramatic has to happen-- that you have to go to Lourdes for a real miracle to happen. What about the many miracles that are happening back in your home community each day-- a dyslexic child learning how to read in a local school due to the work of a dedicated teacher; or a lovely elderly person sharing their stories with the young generation and giving them hope that they can make the world a better place? Or what about the simple miracle of a long-simmering family feud having ended, because one relative has finally reached out to another. You don't have to go to Lourdes to witness that.At any rate, back to our film. In the last few minutes, the priest (Charles Bickford) tells our main character that she has suffered. Of course, she has suffered. The audience has suffered, too, for 156 minutes. It's a wonder most viewers didn't lose their faith in good motion picture entertainment. No. It's a miracle.

burkewhb I loved this movie. Jennifer Jones was magnificent as Bernadette, and Lee J. Cobb, Charles Bickford, and Vincent Price were all great also.I have visited Lourdes twice and was inspired by the beauty, peace, and inspiration it offers. This movie is beautiful and Jennifer Jones' performance is wonderful and believable.Many people don't realize that the greatest miracle of Lourdes was Bernadette's identifying the beautiful lady she was seeing as The Immaculate Conception. Being an uneducated peasant girl, Bernadette had no idea what these words meant. Further investigation by the Church revealed that nobody, not the priests in her parish, not the nuns in her school, or anybody in her own family had ever revealed the words, Immaculate Conception, to her. Since Bernadette could not have made these words up herself, she could only have gotten them from the Virgin Mary Herself. Of course, atheists and other skeptics will refute this, but as the movie correctly states, "To believers no explanation is necessary, to unbelievers no explanation is possible."