The Song of Bernadette (1943)
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The Song of Bernadette is a reverent recounting of the life of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. As a teen-aged peasant girl growing up in the tiny French village of Lourdes in the 19th century, Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) experiences a vision of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto. At least, she believes that she did. The religious and political "experts" of the region cannot accept the word of a silly little girl, and do their best to get her to renounce her claims. Bernadette's vision becomes a political hot potato for many years, with the authorities alternately permitting and denying the true believers' access to the grotto. No matter what the higher-ups may think of Bernadette, there is little denying that the springs of Lourdes hold some sort of recuperative powers for the sick and lame. Eventually, Bernadette dies, never faltering in her conviction that she saw the Blessed Virgin; years later, she is canonized as a saint, and the Grotto of Lourdes remains standing as a permanent shrine. The 20th Century-Fox people knew that The Song of Bernadette would whip up controversy from both the religious and the agnostic. The company took some of the "curse" off the project with a now-famous opening title: "To those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible." Jennifer Jones' performance in The Song of Bernadette won her the Best Actress Oscar in 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Jennifer Jones - Bernadette Soubirous
- Gladys Cooper - Sister Vauzous
- Lee J. Cobb - Dr. Dozous
- Blanche Yurka - Bernarde Casterot
- William Eythe - Antoine Nicolau
- Aubrey Mather - Lacade
- Fortunio Bonanova - Louis Napoleon III
- Marcel Dalio - Callet
- Jean del Val - Estrade
- Moroni Olsen - Chaplain
- Jerome Cowan - Emperor Napoleon
- Nana Bryant - Convent Mother Superior
- Ian Wolfe - Minister of the Interior
- Harry Denny - Priest
- Harry Cording - Stone Mason
- Charles La Torre - Duran
- Dickie Moore - Adolar
- Hooper Atchley - Policeman
- Pat Dillon - Bouhouhorts' Boy
- Merrill Rodin - Jean Soubirous
- Linda Darnell - The Virgin Mary (uncredited)
- George Sorel - Franciscan Monk
- Arthur Hohl - Monk
- Roman Bohnen - Francois Soubirous
- Julian Rivero - Dominican Monk
- Ermadean Walters - Marie Soubirous
- Mae Marsh - Woman
- Nino Pipitone - Mayor's Secretary
- Charles Wagenheim - Peasant
- Charles Bickford - Peyramaie Dean of Lourdes
- Vincent Price - Dutour
- Anne Revere - Louise Soubirous
- Mary Anderson - Jeanne Abadie
- Edith Barrett - Croisine Bouhouhorts
- Sig Rumann - Louis Bouriette
- Tala Birell - Madame Bruat
- Eula Morgan - Mme. Nicolau
- André Charlot - Bishop of Nevers
- Edward Clark - Hospital Attendant
- Alan Napier - Psychiatrist
- Pedro de Cordoba - Lecrampe
- Edwin Stanley - Mr. Jones
- Charles Dingle - Jacomet
- Edward Van Sloan - Doctor
- Fred Essler - Minister of Justice
- Charley Bates - Bouhouhorts' Boy
- Nestor Paiva - Baker
- Tom Stevenson - Doctor
- Frank Leigh - Cleric
- Louis Mercier - Huckster
- Fritz Leiber - Monk
- Frank Reicher - Dr. St. Cyr
- Eugene Borden - Gendarme
- Lionel Braham - Baron Massey
- Geraldine Wall - Nun
- Patricia Morison - Empress Eugenie
- Ruth Robinson - Nun
- Manart Kipper - Charles Bouhouhorts
- Director(s):
- Henry King
- Writer(s):
- George Seaton
- Producer(s):
- William Perlberg
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- 1943 - The Song of Bernadette - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1943 - The Song of Bernadette - Golden Globe - Best Picture
- 1943 - The Song of Bernadette - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
- 1943 - The Song of Bernadette - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture
- 1943 - The Song of Bernadette - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Actress
