Song of Bernadette (1943)

"...excellent story...  Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide

Editor's Note Jennifer Jones won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her screen debut in this true story. Jones plays young French peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous, who sees a vision of a "beautiful lady" near her home in Lourdes in 1858. Based on the novel of the same name by Franz Werfel, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE explores Bernadette's trials and tribulations from her impoverished family to her difficulties at school to the derision her visions bring upon her and at last to her affliction with bone-marrow cancer. Under the incisive eye of director Henry King, the film is seen through Bernadette's perspective but at the same time focuses upon the effect that Bernadette has upon her family, her champions, and her detractors. The acting is excellent, and no detail has gone untouched in the art direction, costumes, and cinematography. Best of all, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE stands among a rare group of Hollywood films in which visual integrity is matched step for step with thematic zeal.

	Anne Revere
	Charles Bickford
	Jennifer Jones
	Lee J. Cobb
	Vincent Price
	William Eythe
	Gladys Cooper
	Franz Werfel - Based on Novel By
	Henry King - Director
	William Perlberg - Producer
	George Seaton - Screenplay

In 1858, in the French town of Lourdes, a spiritual peasant girl sees a vision of the Virgin Mary in a cave. Inspired, she mines the cave until she hits water--holy water that will cure the ailments of those who believe. The citizens of Lourdes react to the situation in a variety of ways, however, ranging from amazement to anger. Academy Award Nominations: 12, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay. Academy Awards: 4, including Best Actress--Jennifer Jones.