The Song of Bernadette
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Movie Reviews of The Song of Bernadette
Movie Review: Bernadette gets the Fox dvd treatment
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally, one of the greatest films from the 40s gets released on dvd and Fox has done a wonderful job here. I will skip the details about the film itself (which have already been written here) except to say that it is a very compelling film and features one of the best casts ever. You don't have to be religious to enjoy the film either (I'm not) and despite the length, it doesn't seem that long (it's that good). Jennifer Jones gives an inspired performance and is luminous in her Oscar winning performance. The image quality is very good - there are a few noticeable nicks and scratches but nothing to be concerned about. A restoration comparison is provided and when compared with the older prints, it is excellent indeed.
Extras include a brief clip of a visibly nervous Jennifer Jones accepting an award from the GIs. Also, a superb A&E Biography titled "Jennifer Jones - Portrait of a Lady" which covers her life in detail and provides many excellent clips from her illustrous film career.
Commentary is provided by Jones biographer Edward Epstein, Hollywood historian Donald Spoto and Alfred Newman biographer John Burlingame. I was a tad disappointed with the commentary. Epstein is by far the most interesting with his commentary that discusses Jennifer Jones. Spoto is an expert on religion (as well as Hollywood history) and I found his thoughts on the relgious aspects of the film to be quite boring and seemingly pompous. Burlingame's comments on Newman are interesting but I would have rather heard about the film itself. What would have been wonderful - a commentary with Jennifer Jones! I wonder if Fox tried to contact her?
Overall, well worth the price and a valuable addition to your dvd library!
Movie Review: Great Film, but Donald Spoto is a windbag
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a welcome release in Fox's classic series, which is becoming a model of sensitive, affordable re-issues with good extras.
There are some useful contributions on the three-part commentary regarding the score and Miss Jones' career, but the pompous proclamations of film historian and self-proclaimed "theologian" Donald Spoto on the religious "truth" of the story render his portion of the commentary track unlistenable. Spoto does not so much comment as "preach" on the undeniable reality of Bernadette's story, haranguing and even yelling at the listener with such spit-hurling venom that he made this reviewer feel very blessed indeed to never have had to sit in one of his "film" classes.
In a way, though, Spotos' self-important, self-righteous, and obnoxious bombast serves a useful purpose, in, that it presents a complete contrast and anti-type to the beautifuly sincere, quiet, and strong performance of Jennifer Jones in the title role. She makes you belive, for the duration of the film, by nunderplaying her role with the most subtle of effects. Her softspoken authority provides the film's center, and not even the bloviations of the diabolical Dr. Spoto can lay a finger on that achievement.
Jones is brilliant, as are Bickford, Gladys Cooper (especially toward the end), and Vincent Price (his silent "voice-over" soliliquy at the shrine sends goosbumps up my spine.
So enjoy the film and turn off the ravings of the blustering Father Spoto.
Here is a case where some discussion of the FILM-MAKING (for example) might have served much better purpose than his badly delivered religious lecture.
Movie Review: A Truly Good Film about a Simple and Holy Girl
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Song of Bernadette" tells the story of a simple French peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous from the small town of Lourdes in France. This young girl saw a beautiful lady in a niche in a cave. In time, many from throughout France came to believe that this was a miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary. This lady eventually told Bernadette to dig up a spring and to drink and wash there. The waters of this spring almost immediately became the source for numerous miraculous healings. When asked her name by Bernadette, the lady said that her name was the Immaculate Conception, a title used to describe the Virgin Mary.
This film "The Song of Bernadette" relates this remarkable story in a very engaging and even sentimental way. You follow Bernadette through her struggles with her family, the local authorities, and the local Church as they all try to prevent her from continuing with the claim that she sees an apparition of a lady in the Grotto of Massabielle . But throughout all of these trials, Bernadette's simplicity and honesty silence all of her critics.
I would highly recommend this film to anyone interested in Lourdes or miracles. As well, the film is of interest to those curious about nineteenth century France or learning about the lives of saints. Finally, this movie is a classic and as such it should rightfully be enjoyed by anyone who is fond of beautiful cinematographic productions.
As well, this DVD includes the biography of Jennifer Jones, a woman who eventually lived a rather tragic life herself.
Movie Review: THE BEST FILM OF 1943!!
Summary: 5 Stars
"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!!
Movie Review: Wonderful!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this DVD for my step daughter's twelfth birthday. We watched the movie as a family on Easter Sunday. What a great experience!
The movie is set in nineteenth century France, and is based on the true story of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. This poor peasant girl witnessed an apparation of Our Blessed Mother and then had her life and that of her family and community altered in a profound manner. Jennifer Jones' portrayal of Saint Bernadette is outstanding. Vincent Price plays the sardonic masonic district attorney. Lee J. Cobb plays a most interesting character, a man of science, who cannot deny the miracle that has entered into Saint Bernadette's life. All told, this is absolutely wonderful family entertainment.
After watching the movie, I was compelled to investigate a bit more about Lourdes and Saint Bernadette. She did wind up as a religious. In death, she became one of the incorruptible Saints. Her amazing incorrupt body can be seen on the Internet, or, of course, by visiting her shrine in Southern France.
The movie well sums up this truly amazing and awe inspiring story:
"For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible."
See this wonderful movie. And be richly blessed in the process.